When I was a kid, my father always used to sunbathe nude in our garden at weekends.
In public pools children of all ages were allowed to run around naked all the time.
Even today, I'm comfortable with getting naked in the sauna or gym changing room.
Maybe it's because I'm German.
Nudism is traditionally popular in Germany, a country considered buttoned up and conservative compared with, let's say, Italy.
In Germany, nudism is known as Freikoerperkultur (FKK), Free Body Culture.
Baring all is normal in saunas, swimming pools, the park and on the beach.
Summer in the parks of Berlin and Munich brings the chance of encountering a middle-aged, bronzed German wearing only a hat and the BILD-Zeitung, Germany's favorite tabloid.
Forget sausages and beer, the sign of true German-ness is publicly disrobing with absolutely zero self-consciousness.
For me, it's often just quicker and easier to do a clean strip at the pool or sauna than frantically trying to hide the bits that everyone else is already displaying without batting an eyelid.
Divided by the Iron Curtain, united by nudity
Germany's passion for clotheslessness finds its origins in late-19th-century health drives when stripping off was seen as part of a route to fitness and sunbathing a possible cure for TB and rheumatism.
In 1920, while the rest of Europe was still getting feverish over the sight an exposed ankle, Germany established its first nude beach on the island of Sylt.
Barely a decade later, the Berlin School of Nudism, founded to encourage mixed sex open-air exercises, hosted the first international nudity congress.
The Nazi era brought mixed fortunes for nudism, its ongoing popularity tempered by a moral clampdown.
Laws passed in 1933 limited mixed-sex nudism as "a reaction to the increased immorality of the Weimar state."
More restrictions followed amid claims the scene was a "breeding ground for Marxists and homosexuals."
Nevertheless, it remained popular, enjoying support among members of the paramilitary SS.
Rules were softened in 1942 but still subject to Nazi prejudices that predictably focused on Jews and other "undesirables."
But war didn't dampen Germany's enthusiasm for stripping off, even when the country was divided by the Iron Curtain.
After the war, nudism was equally popular in both German states.
Culled from CNN
The easiest way to bare it all in Deutschland is to visit one of the aforementioned public FKK areas.
As these are mostly located in areas with a mixed dressed/undressed crowd, there's no problem with partially disrobing until you feel comfortable.
There are no changing rooms, so undressing takes place in public -- but again, not one German is going to be offended by this.
Most FKK beaches on the coast will also have signs indicating textile-free zones.
After passing these signs visitors will need to disrobe immediately to avoid being reprimanded by the lifeguards who also enforce the rules.
Private FKK clubs welcome new members and offer trial memberships for beginners.
The days of bare-it-all Germany however seem to be in decline.
Most young people are fine with sunbathing topless in parks and pools, and like me have no qualms whatsoever with undressing for the sauna.
But the ideals of the German nudist movement are slowly dying away.
FKK clubs have complained about shedding members, in east Germany especially, since the Berlin Wall came down.
Maybe in today's Germany there's no longer a need for demonstrating liberty and freedom by shedding our clothes.
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