> Workers in Germany average a little over 35 hours a week, compared to the 42 hours worked in the UK.

Flat out wrong as per the source cited. The difference is only 0.7 hours, both for full time employees and for all employees (the numbers above mix the two).

> German law guarantees 30 working days of vacation per year (and I am told medical leave for attending a spa resort on top of that).

Nope, it's 29 days on average, but only 20 mandated by law (for a 5 day working week). And medical leave is, of course, only available if you actually have medical problems (and paid for by your health insurance or retirement provider).