A few more details...

I have talked about two features already that are different in German framing, that is smaller timbers placed closer together. This is a trait common in all German framing, and is one of its distinguishing features. But I haven't given any indication as to HOW small and HOW CLOSE together.

The posts are very small compared to the frames in America. Where we might use something in the range of 8x8 and up, the Germans dominantly use posts with dimensions approximately 5x5", 4x6", etc. with an upper range of around 6x8", and corner posts sometimes as big as 8x8" (on my project the corner posts are 6x9")

Obviously if they were to use such small posts in a bent construction method like we do, their walls would fall apart, or there would be an excessive number of bents. Instead each wall is assembled as a frame -usually piece by piece instead of being assembled on the ground and raised in place- with posts spaced somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 to 5 feet apart, depending largely on desired appearance.

In addition to this, rails (germ. Riegel) are placed horizontally between all of the posts, with at least 1 in each cavity, and often 2 or even more (again, appearance seems to be the biggest factor) These 'Riegeln' are somewhere in the neighborhood of 4x5 inches or so. They stiffen up the frame, and provide more locations for the long braces to attach. The result is an amazingly rigid frame, that has variously withstood direct bomb hits and earthquakes.

The dimensions of the other timbers are all based around these, the sills, plates, purlins, etc. will generally be of similar size to the posts.

In addition, there are 3 different kinds of braces used, each with a different name in German. The first is the simple corner brace, set at a 45 degree angle between a vertical and horizontal timber. If it meets these two requirements, it is called a "band" one such brace at the bottom of a cavity is known as a 'Fussband' and one at the top is known as a 'Kopfband'

If, however, a brace is at an angle shallower than 45 degrees then it goes by a different name, 'Strebe' If it passes from a post to a plate, it is called a Kopfstrebe. If it passes from post to sill, it is calles a Fussstrebe. If it slants from sill to plate, not attaching to any post, it is called a Wandstrebe

The third type of brace is a triangular piece of wood stuck in a corner. This is known as a Knagge, with Fuß or Kopf added depending on whether it is angled up or angled down.