German History and Culture

By stevens,l
  • Jan 1, 1170

    Walther von der Vogelweide c. 1170 - c. 1230

    Medieval literary figure assosciated with Minnesang.
  • Jan 1, 1170

    Wolfram von Eschenbach c. 1170 - c. 1220

    Medieval lyrical poet, also wrote Parzival.
  • Jan 1, 1455

    Gutenberg invents printing press

  • Jan 1, 1492

    Columbus 'discovers' America

  • Oct 31, 1517

    Martin Luther posts 95 Theses

  • Jan 1, 1522

    New Testament translated into German by Luther

  • Jan 1, 1534

    Complete Bible in German translated by Luther

  • Sep 25, 1555

    Peace of Augsburg

    Signed by Charles V and the Schmalkaldic League. The treaty guaranteed that the German princes could decide if their state was Protestant or Catholic.
  • Period: to

    Baroque Era

    A period or style of elobrate, flowery, complicated themes.
  • Period: to

    Thirty Years War

    Began because of the Defenestration of Prague. The war was fought because of denominational tensions between Catholics and Protestants.

  • Defenestration of Prague

    Emperor Ferdinand II's officials were thrown out of the window of Prague Castle.

  • Peace of Westphalia

    Ended the Thirty Years' War.
  • Period: to

    Early Modern Period

    The Holy Roman Empire still existed in name only, most of the Germanic peoples were divided up into states ruled by princes or dukes. During this time Prussia became the largest and strongest German state and a rival to Austria.
  • Period: to

    Age of Enlightenment

    An era mainly characterized by reason and logic.

  • George Philipp Telemann 1681-1767

    Baroque composer.

  • George Frideric Handel 1685 - 1759

    German born composer. He spent most of his time in England and is famous for writing the Messiah and his Water music for King George I of England.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach 1685-1750

    One of the greatest German composers. He wrote hundreds of works for organ and piano.

  • Frederick the Great born- ruled 1740 to 1786

    He was the King of Prussia and increased his territory by taking Silesia from Austria and adding part of Poland to his kingdom.

  • Christoph Willibald von Gluck 1714 - 1787

    Opera composer in the classical period.

  • Maria Theresa born- ruled 1740-1780

    She was the only female ruler of the Hapsburg succession.

  • Immanuel Kant 1724-1804

    German philosopher of the Enlightenment. Wrote the Critique of Pure Reason.

  • Franz Josef Hadyn 1732 - 1809

    Austrian composer in the early classical period. He was known as 'Father of the Symphony'. He was also Mozart's mentor.
  • Period: to

    The Wars of the Austrian Succession

    Maria Theresa was trying to consolidate her inheritance of the House of Hapsburg.

  • Johann Gottfried Herder 1744-1803

    German writer assosciated with the Enlightenment, Sturm und Drang, and Weimar Classic period. Mentor of Goethe.

  • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1749-1832

    One of the most famous German authors. Die leiden des jungen Werther pub. 1774 was part of the Sturm und Drang movement. He is also associated with Empfindsamkeit and Weimar Classicism. Faust is also another famous work of his.
  • Period: to

    Seven Years War

    A war involving most of the major European powers. It was known as the French and Indian War in North America.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 1756-1791

    Best known classical composer from Salzburg, Austria. He is known for being a child prodigy and musical genius.

  • Friedrich Schiller 1759-1805

    Contemporary of Goethe. They collaborated together on some projects in the Weimar Classic period.
  • Period: to

    Sturm und Drang

    A short literary movement emphasizing aesthetics and romance as a reaction to Enlightenment rationality. Goethe and Schiller were part of this movement.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven 1770-1827

    German composer well-known because he was deaf. His 5th and 9th symphonies are his most famous.

  • Heinrich von Kleist 1777-1811

    Romantic German author.

  • Carl Maria von Weber 1786-1826

    German composer.
  • Period: to

    Weimar Classicism

    Goethe and Schiller were the main authors, but also Herder.
  • Period: to

    French Revolution

    Began with the meeting of the Estates General. The Third Estate declared the Tennis Court Oath in June, stormed the Bastille in July, and passed the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in August. The Reign of Terror occured from 1793 to 1794. From 1795 to 1799 the Directory was head of the state until Napoleon established the Consulate.

  • Louis XVI executed in French Revolution

  • Marie Antoinette executed in French Revolution

  • Franz Schubert 1797-1828

    Prolific Austrian composer. Wrote over 600 lieder and is known for his 'Unfinished' Symphony and a number of other works in other categories.

  • Nationalism

    The 19th century was marked by a growing fervor of nationalism which led to the 1848 revolution and the eventual unification in 1871.

  • Felix Mendelssohn 1809-1847

    German composer in the Romantic period.

  • Robert Schumann 1810-1856

    German composer and music critic. One of the prominent musicians of the Romantic period.

  • Borthers Grimm compile first set of fairy tales

  • Richard Wagner 1813-1883

    German composer best known for his operas. Many of the themes in his music and operas came from German folklore and legend and placed heavy emphasis on German nationalism.

  • Congress of Vienna 1814 - 1815

    Redrew the map of Europe after the Napoleonic Wars.

  • Karl Marx 1818 - 1883

    Known for writing the Communist Manifesto.

  • Anton Bruckner 1824-1896

    Austrian composer of the Romantic period known for his symphonies, masses, and motets.

  • Johann Strauss Jr. 1825-1899

    Austrian composer known as the Waltz King.

  • Johannes Brahms 1833-1897

    Leader in the Romantic era of German music.

  • Karl May 1842-1912

    Wrote Winntou books and many other stories which took place in the Wild West.

  • Friedrich Nietzsche 1844-1900

    German philosopher who wrote mainly about existentialism, nihilism, and postmodernism.

  • "Leise Revolution

    1848 was the year of revolutions in Europe, however, in Germany the revolution did not accomplish many reforms or freedoms.

  • Richard Strauss 1864-1949

    Composer in the later Romantic and early modern era.
  • Period: to

    The Second Imperial Reich

    Germany became a unified nation under the leadership of Otto von Bismarck. Wilhelm II, King of Prussia, was crowned Emperor.

  • Unification of German Nation

    Otto von Bismarck instigated the unification of all the small German states into a German nation.

  • Heinrich Mann 1871-1950

    Wrote Der Blaue Engel

  • Thomas Mann 1875-1955

    Wrote Buddenbrooks and Lotte in Weimar

  • Hermann Hesse 1877-1962

    German and Swiss author

  • Franz Kafka 1883-1924

    Austrian writer whose works were published posthumously. The Metamorphosis, The Trial.

  • Bertholt Brecht 1898-1956

    German poet, playwright, and theatre director.

  • Erich Kaestner 1899-1974

    Wrote Emil und die Detektive and Das doppelte Lottchen.

  • Duke Ferdinand assassinated, start of WWI

    The Archduke of Austria was assassinated in Serbia, because of the various treaties between the European nations the First World War began.

  • Armistice Day

    End of WWI.
  • Period: to

    Weimar Republic

    After the German Revolution in 1918 after WWI the Weimar Republic was established as the first attempt of democracy in Germany.

  • League of Nations founded

  • Treaty of Versailles signed

    The treaty placed all the blame on the Germans and made them responsible for all the war reparations. The Germans highly resented the stipulations placed upon them. These sentiments helped fuel nationalism and support for the Nazi party.

  • Hitler becomes leader of Nazi party

  • Mein Kampf published

    Mein Kampf was Hitler's autobiography which he wrote while in prison for a failed political coup.

  • Guenter Grass

    Most famous work is Die Blechtrommel.

  • Stock Market on Wall Street crashes

  • Hitler appointed Chancellor

    President Hindenberg appoints Hitler Chancellor to balance out the political parties in his cabinet.

  • Reichstag Fire

    Nazi's pass Enabling Act which makes Hitler a legal dictator.
  • Period: to

    The Third Reich

    It began with Hitler's ascension to Chancellor and ended with VE Day.

  • Hitler becomes Führer

    Hitler declares himself leader when President Hindenberg dies.

  • Anschluss of Austria announced

    Germany annexes Austria as part of the Third Reich.

  • Kristallnacht

  • Nazi's invade Poland- begin of WWII

  • Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor

    The United States enters WWII.

  • Hitler committed suicide

  • Victory in Europe

    Germany surrenders.
  • Period: to

    Deutsche Demokratische Republik (German Democratic Republic)

    After WWII, the Soviet sector of Germany came under the control of the communists. East Germany remained separated until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1990.
  • Period: to

    Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Fedral Republic of Germany

    Name of West Germany.

  • Miracle at Bern- Germans win 1954 FIFA World Cup

  • Fall of the Berlin Wall

    The fall opened up the Soviet block and ended the Cold War.
  • Period: to

    Reunified Germany

    After the fall of the Berlin Wall, East and West Germany reunited.

  • Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo X

  • Charlemagne's empire divided in three

    The Holy Roman Empire was divided into three sections for Charlemagne's three grandsons. One became was is primarily France, the second Germany, and the third mainly present-day Alsace and Lorraine whiche was disputed since then until WWII.
  • Period: to

    Holy Roman Empire

    Charlemagne is considered the founder and officially ended with Napoleon's establishment of the Confederation of the Rhine, although the Holy Roman Empire effectively was ended in 1648.