Image via Complex Original
September marks the beginning of German American Heritage Month. This is a time when we recognize German contributions to American society. These contributions include, but are not limited to: Mercedes-Benz, hamburgers, and the printing press. All of those are great, but if there's one thing Germany has graced us with that we really appreciate, it's beautiful women.
From Heidi Klum to some of the country's reality TV stars, Deutschland has an incredible number of sexy exports. Unfortunately, a slumber party with a group of German women isn't an option for celebrating German American Heritage Month, but we have the next best thing. Check out our countdown of The 50 Hottest German Women and get ready to say "Ich Liebe Dich" with every click.
RELATED: 40 Sexiest Celebrity Instagrams
RELATED: Sexiest Terry Richardson Photo Shoots
RELATED: 50 Places to Have Sex Before You Die
50. Sandra Bullock
Occupation: Actress/Singer
Bullock's mother was a German opera singer and little Sandra even sang in the children's choir at Staatstheater Nürnberg. They might call the Oscar-winning actress America's sweetheart, but she's still the poster child for German hotties everywhere.
49. Xenia Seeberg
Occupation: Actress/Singer
Xenia starred in Lexx, the hit German sci-fi show as Xev. On the show, she showed off her sex appeal in skimpy outfits before eventually moving on to pose for Germany's Playboy.
48. Sarah Connor
Occupation: Singer
Calm down, Terminator, not that Sarah Connor. This Sarah Connor is one of the most successful German pop artists. Her albums have sold well in her home country, Austria, and Switzerland, but her American fame is stuck to a collaboration of "Sexual Healing" with Ne-Yo.
47. Katarina Witt
Occupation: Figure Skater
Throughout her career, Witt's won four World Championships, six consecutive European Championships, and two Olympic Gold Medals. It was her gift to her fans in appreciation for their support that we remember most, her nude Playboy spread in 1998.
46. Julia Jentsch
Occupation: Actress
We like our girls talented and Julia fits the bill. She's won the Bavarian Film Award for "Best New Actress," and she continues to impress with noteworthy roles in indlie flicks like Sophie Scholl - The Final Days and The Edukators.
45. Monica Ivancan
Occupation: Model/TV Personality
She's posed for Maxim, FHM and Playboy like some of her peers, but Monica is the only chick on our list with her own fitness DVD. We imagine it'll take us a few hours of observing her frog leg ab exercise to really understand how it works.
44. Nina Bott
Occupation: Actress
She started her career in the soap opera Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten, then she joined another soap opera Alles was zählt and then she joined her current soap opera Verbotene Liebe. Before you knock her range, just be thankful that she's on TV daily.
43. Eva Habermann
Occupation: Actress
After appearing in a number of German television shows, including Lexx, and The Crime Scene, Habermann moved onto film. She got her start in the made-for-TV special In Heaven You Write Love a Differently. The way you write love in heaven must look something like "Eva Habermann."
42. Jasmin Wagner
Occupation: Singer
Under the "Blümchen" moniker, Wagner became the most successful German pop artist during the '90s, selling millions of albums worldwide. She also started her own cosmetic line, Jamilia. Nothng like an entreprenurial chick.
41. Elisabeth Rohm
Occupation: Actress
Elisabeth Rohm played a lawyer on Law and Order, and she might want to consider taking up the profession full-time. With those piercing blue eyes, we'd probably let her clients get away with anything.
40. Susan Sideropoulos
Occupation: Actress/Singer
American soap operas are hard enough to understand, so chances are Sideropoulos' Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten doesn't make your DVR. Instead, listen to her rendition of "I'm So Excited" so you can hear her coo, "I know, I know, I know I want you."
39. Lena Meyer-Landrut
Occupation: Singer-songwriter
Since winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 for Germany, Meyer-Landrut's career has skyrocketed. Both her winning single "Satellite" and her debut album My Cassette Player debuted at No. 1 in Germany. It's easier to sell CD with a pretty face on them.
38. Sarah Brandner
Occupation: Model
Sarah Brandner hasn't just captured the heart of her soccer beau Bastian Schweinsteiger, she's caught ours too. After seeing her in Sports Illustrated in a painted on uniform, we Googled "I love you" in German.
37. Sina Schielke
Occupation: Athlete
She caught the eye of every sport enthusiast at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, but Schielke isn't just admired for her sprinting ability. Her beauty keeps her running through our dreams at night.
36. Janine Habeck
Occupation: Playboy Model
According to her IMDB bio, Habeck sent "test photos" to Playboy after she was told that she looked like a centerfold model by one of her friends. The result? Habeck became the German Playmate of the Year in 2005 and was awarded "Miss Centerfold" by ze German readers. Ms. Habeck, we'd like to conclude further testing. Can you send us more photos?
35. Mandy Capristo
Occupation: Singer
Being in the U.S., we forget that girl groups still flourish in Europe. That helps explain why Capristo's building a strong career with her group Monrose. Not only is she the youngest and the only blond in the threesome, but she's also known as "Strong Voice" because she's the go-to girl for hitting all of the high notes.
34. Janina Uhse
Occupation: Actress
Uhse was born into a showbiz family and she's been in the spotlight since childhood. She's best known for her role in one of the most successful German soap operas, Good Times, Bad Times. Now that she's older, Germany's watching her to see her next step into adult roles.
33. Annika Duerkopp
Occupation: Model
Maybe you're a connoisseur of sorts when it comes to Playboy i.e. your tastes aren't limited to just the American publication. If not, then maybe you'll want to pay the shipping fees from Germany to get Duerkopp's issue and learn a new language while you "read the articles."
32. Franziska Van Almsick
Occupation: Swimmer
Almsick won her first Olympic medal when she was 14 and over the course of her career, she's won nine more. We know, she's the type of girls that inspires you to swim across the ocean to find her, but we recommend just updating your passport.
31. Andrea Kaiser
Occupation: TV Presenter/Radio Host
Andrea is a well-known radio personality in Germany. Wow, a voice for radio and a body for that special folder on our external hard drive.
30. Jeanette Biedermann
Occupation: Singer/Actress
Prior to her successful careers as a singer artist and actress, Biedermann got her start in show business career as an acrobat when she was only six years old. Unlike like those little girls on Toddlers And Tiaras and 99% of child stars, she actually turned out okay..
29. Lena Gercke
Occupation: Model/TV Presenter
As the first woman to be crowned Germany's Next Top Model, Lena's extended her 15 minutes of fame and even built a career as a TV personality.She still models, and she hosts Austria's Next Top Model like her mentor Heidi Klum, who has already laid claim to the German version.
28. Tamara Sedmak
Occupation: TV Personality/Model
Who wouldn't want to offer the sexy Sedmak a job? She's hosted True Hollywood Stories in Germany, had her own travel show, and has been a weather girl. Germany gets a fit blond, America gets Al Roker.
27. Sophia Thomalla
Occupation: TV Actress
Once a competitive kickboxer in her youth, Thomalla has moved onto acting. She'll kick your ass and make you laugh about it on her new comedy show, Die dreisten Drei.
26. Palina Rojinski
Occupation: TV Presenter
Palina rose to fame by serving as a host for MTV Home, a variety show that includes celebrity interviews and skits. For one, a camera crew busts into an unsuspecting citizen's house in the middle of the night and asks them to give Germany a live tour on the spot. We wouldn't be opposed to the rude and jarring wake-up call if it were Palina stopping by.
25. Nina Eichinger
Occupation: TV Presenter/Actress
As the daughter of late MTV VJ Bernd Eichinger, Nina has decided to follow in her dad's footsteps. She served as a judge on the German version of American Idol titled Deutschland sucht den Superstar. She's also appeared in a number of movies and TV shows, including Die Superbullen - Sie kennen keine Gnade and Inga Lindström.
24. Julia Dietze
Occupation: Actress/Model
The actress has developed an extensive filmography since leaving modeling to focus on acting. Yet, regardless of her profession, Julia has always been a muse to someone; she grew up with an artist mother.
23. Isabel Edvardsson
Occupation: Dancer
Edvardsson was already a successful dancer before she won Germany's reality show Let's Dance in 2006, but it certainly helped launch her into the spotlight. Since winning, she has come back to the show for a guest spot, then as a judge, then as a competitor again. Viewers can't get enough of the blond's talent and long, nimble dancing legs.
22. Gina-Lisa Lohfink
Occupation: Model
Her early loss on Germany's Next Top Model only helped her career. After coming in 12th place, Lohfink has created her own line of sunglasses called "Gina-Lisa Eyewear", and has her own video game, Gina-Lisa Powershopping.
21. Katharina Jahaan
Occupation: Model
At 6'1, Jahaan fits the description of a model perfectly: tall, skinny and serious-looking. However, performance matters just as much as attitude and appearance. Judging from her pictures above, the girl is great at her job.
20. Natalia Avelon
Occupation: Actress
After we saw the Polish-German actress in the May 2011 issue of GQ Germany, we wanted to know everything about her. We found out that her next project is upcoming film Wunderkinder. If Natalia is on-screen enough, we might not even bother to read the subtitles.
19. Verona Pooth
Occupation: TV Personality
Before captivating TV audiences on the reg, Pooth represented Germany in the Miss Universe beauty pageant. Even though she didn't win the whole thing, her country should still be proud. She looks like a national treasure to us.
18. Cosma Shiva Hagen
Occupation: Actress
She's the daughter of the singer Nina Hagen, who named Cosma because she saw an UFO while she was pregnant. Her namesake is well deserved: her looks are out of this world. Seriously, though. We hope Hagen, who lives in L.A., gets more English-speaking roles soon.
17. Vanessa Struhler
Occupation: Singer
In 2002, Vanessa was the youngest contestant on Germany's American Idol, Deutschland sucht den SuperStar. The singer came in fourth place but has since released two successful albums. When she collaborated with German rapper, Trooper Da Don, they scored a No. 4 hit on the German singles chart. Meanwhile, Americans can't even remember who won American Idol last year.
16. Claudia Schiffer
Occupation: Model/Actress
Finally, a name Americans can pronounce. Schiffer came to international attention when she was picked to be the face of Chanel. After her Guess? ads hit North America, Schiffer cemented her place as one of the most successful supermodels of all time.
15. Juliette Menke
Occupation: Actress
Menke was a theater actress first. Her credits include Shopping And Fucking, Love? Sin Vol. 2 and Wonderful. Now she's focused on bigger roles, including the TV series Countdown.
14. Jennifer Sebnem Schaefer
Occupation: Actress/Model/TV Presenter
The half-German, half-Turkish former beauty queen has already conquered both of her native countries. She began her career as a model but quickly transitioned to acting in Turkey, where starred in such box-office hits as O _imdi asker (He Is In The Army Now) and Dünyayı Kurtaran Adamın o_lu (Son Of The Man Who Saves The World). We can't pronounce those titles, but we can definitely comprehend her appeal.
13. Fiona Erdmann
Occupation: Model
Erdmann was discovered on the second cycle of Germany's Next Top Model and won over fans because of her straightforward and fearless attitude. How fearless is Fiona? She went down a bobsled track in a wok and posed for Playboy in 2008.
12. Eva Padberg
Occupation: Model/Singer/Actress
Padberg has modeled for everyone from Ralph Lauren to Nintendo. She's also one half of a hit electro act, Dapayk & Padberg. She recently started her acting career and she helps judge Germany's Star Search. Just when you think she's the perfect woman, you find out she's helped out SOS Children's Villages and is an ambassador for UNICEF. Then, you realize she's actually an angel.
11. Barbara Meier
Occupation: Model
Meier was enrolled to major in mathematics before she was spotted by a scout for Germany's Next Top Model and invited to be part of the show. Since being crowned as the winner, she's been on countless magazine covers and has become the face of the Disneyland Resort Paris ad campaign.
10. Diane Kruger
Occupation: Actress
She starred alongside Brad Pitt in Troy, then again as the German actress and British spy in Inglorious Basterds. That Nazi ass-kicking really got us going, though. How appropriate for a German girl.
9. Florentine Lahme
Occupation: Actress
Lahme played a student nurse in the German soap Beloved Sisters for 250 episodes. Since then, she's starred in numerous TV movies and series, including the American mini-series Defying Gravity.
8. Collien Fernandez
Occupation: TV Personality/Actress/Model
Collien has appeared in a number of music videos with artists like Shaggy and Enrique Iglesias. These days, she's mostly known for getting kicked out of the Internationale Funkausstellung trade show in Berlin for asking Lady Gaga is she had a penis or a vagina during a press conference.
7. Anna Angelina Wolfers
Occupation: Actress
Anna is a regular on German TV series Sturm der Liebe, where she plays Leonie Preisinger. Her fame abroad has afforded the opportunity to take steamy pics like those from the shoot above, and that's the real win.
6. Heidi Klum
Occupation: Model/TV Personality
Before hosting Project Runway and Germany's Next Top Model, Heidi Klum was only, like, one of the biggest supermodels ever. She's a successful woman to be taken seriously, and she's still stunning. That makes it hard not to turn her catchphrase "Are you in or are you out?" into something sexual.
5. Anna Julia Kapfelsperger
Occupation: Actress
Kapfelsperger danced flamenco for more than 10 years before she went to college to study acting. After two years at a Berlin school of film and acting, she landed her first job on a German soap opera. She showed off her dance moves when her character traveled to Las Vegas to become a showgirl, which we fully supported; Las Vegas is a lot closer to us than Germany.
4. Julia Stegner
Occupation: Model
As a high fashion model, Julia has posed for everyone from the usual suspect designers to the beloved Pirelli calendar. Her status as one of her nation's finest exports isn't going anywhere.
3. Hana Nitsche
Occupation: Model
Nitsche was the runner-up on the second cycle of Germany's Next Top Model. She's also one of the latest ladies to say "Fur? I'd rather go naked" for PETA. We'd rather you go naked, too, Hana.
2. Bettina Zimmermann
Occupation: Actress
Zimmermann is best known for her work in German television and film. While waiting for her big mainstream break, the actress has kept busy by providing the voice for the German dubs of Cars and Kung Fu Panda.
1. Gisele Bundchen
Occupation: Model
Ladies like Naomi Campbell and fellow German hottie Claudia Schiffer argue that Gisele Bundchen is the only true remaining "supermodel." Vogue credits her as the sexy model who ended the "heroin chic" era. Many people know Gisele for her Brazilian heritage, but everyone forgets that Tom Brady's girl is also half-German. Of course, we didn't, and that's why we think she's the hottest German chick to ever exist.