Angular momentum distribution in compound nuclei have been derived from .gamma.-ray multiplicities and angular distributions measured with the Darmstadt-Heidelberg crystall ball. The influence of dynamic barrier fluctuation on the amount of angular momentum absorbed in the fusion process is discussed. Entrance channel effects have been observed which result in different decay paths for compound nuclei at the same excitation energy and spin in different target-projectile combinations. The .gamma.-decay of resonances in the /sup 12/C + /sup 12/C system has been investigated. The measured .gamma.-ray yields are consistently smaller than expected for collectively enhanced E2 transitions in a deformed and rigidly rotating intermediate system. The order of magnitude of the experimentally observed .gamma.-intensity is, however, reproduced in theoretical calculations of nuclear bremsstrahlung, using realistic wave functions of the scattering states. 29 references, 10 figures.