Brief analysis of interesting events in German history
The First German Empire lasted 1000 years. It was established in 800 AD, was reconfirmed in 962 AD and dissolved in 1806. Officially it was known as the Holy Roman Empire. Karl der Grosse Charlemagne, King of the Germanic Franks and first Holy Roman Emperor, crowned in 800AD...as painted by Albrecht Dürer . After the death… Continue reading The First Reich, or first German Empire, lasted 1000 years, succeeded by the Second Reich in 1871
This finely detailed painting depicts the 1861 Coronation of King Wilhelm I of Prussia in the medieval Königsberg Castle. This painting by Adolph Menzel is a beautiful image of pomp and ceremony in the Kingdom of Prussia and a rare look inside the medieval castle that was once headquarters of the Teutonic Knights. Only a… Continue reading Pomp and ceremony in the 600 year old Königsberg Castle
This ancient Roman manufactured brass head represents a Teutonic warrior from the era 10 B.C...it was found by archeologists in Germany, along with a silver Roman cavalry face mask. Both items are believed to be from the Teutoburg Forest battle field in Germania Magna. In the background, a Roman Legion SPQR standard, representing the three… Continue reading Rome’s attempts to subjugate Magna Germania were permanently halted after the Battle of Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD
The only German officer in the Revolutionary War that normally comes to mind is Baron von Steuben, the Prussian officer who trained the Continental Army and later became Washington’s Chief of Staff. But we should also be aware of Johann von Kalb, a German soldier from Bavaria who learned to speak English and French and… Continue reading French officer Baron deKalb was actually a German born in Bavaria…he helped Americans win the Revolutionary War
Prussia circa 1250, Teutonic Knights Charge during winter, their favorite season in the Northern Crusades. Much of German history is not well known ...for example, there were successful Crusades conducted in northern Europe for hundreds of years and the largest castle ever built in Europe was a German crusader castle, the Marienburg. There once existed… Continue reading There were successful Crusades conducted in northern Europe for hundreds of years
In July 1917...after 3 years at war... Germany was winning the war. On the Western Front, German territorial gains were being held and the French and British home fronts were weakening. The French also had to deal with a demoralized army with large numbers of soldiers going so far as to mutiny. The possibility of… Continue reading In July 1917…after 3 years at war… Germany was winning
An excerpt from "Departure of King Wilhelm I. of Prussia to join the Army on July 13, 1870" at the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War, by Adolph von Menzel. The King would return to Berlin 11 months later, in June 1871, not only victorious but also as the new Kaiser of the German Empire, already… Continue reading Departure of King Wilhelm I. of Prussia to join the Army on July 13, 1870
The Heroes of Tannenberg, Hindenburg and Ludendorff, saved East Prussia in August 1914 with a decisive victory against overwhelming odds. Paul von Hindenburg, 66, a retired Prussian General , was called into service to take over command of the relatively small force, one army, that was having trouble holding back the Russian invasion of East… Continue reading The Tannenberg Victory made Hindenburg a national hero
Kaiser Friedrich II at his court in Palermo, Italy Another interesting aspect of German history is the long running connection with Italy. For example, there is a statue of German Kaiser Friedrich II …who lived in the 13th century…still being honored today in Naples, Italy. The image here, painted by Arthur von Ramberg, portrays this… Continue reading German history has a long running connection with Italy
Between the early 14th and late 19th centuries, a period of cooling known as the Little Ice Age chilled the planet. It was a period of cooling that occurred after the Medieval Warm Period. It has been conventionally defined as a period extending from about 1300 to about 1850 Europe bore the brunt of its ill effects for… Continue reading The Little Ice Age started in early 1300’s and Europe bore the brunt of its ill effects for 500 years
For People Proud of their German Heritage 