The article analyzes the principle of legality from the perspective of the german criminal law. In this approach, based on a comparative method, develop an overview of the legal, dogmatic and judicial aspects related to this principle. With this, aims to provide to the brazilian public an overview of the principle, since its legal basis until its dogmatic structure, as outlined by the german criminal literature, as well as its applicability in the german courts. Particularly on the latter aspect, we intend to present the german model as an example not be followed, due its current orientation towards relaxing the principle of legality.
german criminal law; principle of legality; german criminal code