Is it true that germany has the second most neighboring countries after russia?
If not, which countries have more neighbours than germany?

The answer does not need to be overly exhaustive, only correct. 
But a speedy answer would be greatly appreciated. (the sooner the better).

Dear Zem, 

Certainly not! 

China has also extensive land borders, bordering:  Afghanistan,
Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar
(Burma), Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and
Vietnam. This doesn't include Macau.

Russia has also 14 neighbours: Azaerbaijan, Belarus, China, Estonia,
Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, North
Korea, Norway, Poland, and Ukraine. However, it borders Poland and
Lithuania through the Kaliningrad enclave.

Germany, Brazil, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly
Zaire), all have 9 neighbours.

This site maintains that Iran is the champ: 

Iran has 16(!) neighbouring countries: 
"Iran neighbors the Republics of Armenia, Azarbaijan, and Turkmenistan
with which it shares borders on its north. It also has marine access
in the north to the Russian Federation and Khazakhstan through the
Caspian Sea. Afghanistan and Pakistan lie on its east and Turkey and
Iraq on its west. The southern parts of Iran are entirely coasts both
on the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, which separate Iran from
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and Oman. Iran shares
borders with 16 countries."
(SOURCE: Virtual Tourist,
<http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/481c1/>). [This estimation also
includes marine borders].

But if you reduce marine borders, Iran has "only" 7 neughbouring countries. 

I hope this answered your question. Please contact me if you need any
clarification on this answer before you rate it.

Search terms: 
"borders with * countries"

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Clarification of Answer by politicalguru-ga on 17 Jun 2004 04:19 PDT

What is true, is that Germany has the most neighbours in Europe,
unless you consider Russia and its Asian borders as Europe.

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Request for Answer Clarification by zem-ga on 17 Jun 2004 04:40 PDT

Thanks a lot, exactly what I was searching for, especially with the clarification.
I was skeptical about this, but a friend was pretty confindent it was
true. I guess he meant inside Europe.

one thing left, do you know if this list of countries with more
neighbours than germany is exhaustive? I.e. does that mean Germany is
third after China and Russia, together with Brazil, Sudan and Congo,
if you only count land borders?
(Note that your answer is fine even without that information but if
you know please tell me)

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Clarification of Answer by politicalguru-ga on 17 Jun 2004 04:46 PDT

I think so, of two reasons: 
- I went through several of those "geographic trivia" sites; 
- I cannot think of another cadidate.

Just what I was searching for, and as fast as I hoped

This link will take you to the CIA Fact Book and a list of all
countries and their land boundaries.
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/fields/2096.html
answerfinder-ga

thanks for the link, answerfinder