Utility poles in Germany
Wood in the country, lattice concrete in the east
Wooden poles along village roads, or lattice concrete masts with streetlights, are typical of Germany.
- Simple wooden poles along rural roads.
- In the east, lattice concrete masts that also carry streetlights.
- Wires running to stands on the roof of houses.
14 photos, grouped by the clue they show.
Key clue Wooden pole 7
Key clue Wires to the roof 1
Key clue Metal pole tag 1
Key clue Lattice concrete mast 5
Germany: what its poles look like
German towns have put many lines underground, but overhead lines are still common in villages. There you often see simple wooden poles, and wires that run straight to a stand on the roof of each house instead of to a pole.
Poles may carry small metal tags with numbers. In eastern Germany look for tall lattice concrete masts, often with a street light fixed to them.
Rural roads and villages show the most poles. The lattice concrete masts are typical of the former East Germany, while western villages lean more on wooden poles and roof stands.
Look-alikes: how to tell them apart
Germany vs 
Netherlands
The Netherlands next door has almost no overhead wires, so a German village with wooden poles and roof stands looks clearly different. Poland and the Czech Republic also use concrete poles, so check the signs and the language.
Questions about poles in Germany
Why do German houses have wires going to the roof?
In many villages the power line runs to a stand on the roof of the house rather than to a pole by the door. These roof stands are a useful clue for Germany.
What are the concrete lattice poles in eastern Germany?
They are concrete masts with an open lattice pattern, widely used in the former East Germany, often carrying a street light as well as power lines.