Germany
From Germanic tribes and the Holy Roman Empire to Prussia, unification, two world wars and reunification.
Overview
Germany's territory was the heart of the Holy Roman Empire for a millennium. Unified only in 1871 under Bismarck, it became a scientific and industrial powerhouse, engulfed Europe in two world wars, and reunited after the Cold War in 1990.
Basic Information
History Timeline
- 9 CEArminius defeats Rome at the Teutoburg Forest
- 800Charlemagne crowned Emperor
- 1517Luther's Ninety-Five Theses
- 1871Unification under Bismarck
- 1933 – 1945Nazi dictatorship and WWII
- 1949 – 1990Division into East and West Germany
- 1990Reunification
Ancient Peoples
- Germanic tribes
- Suebi
- Franks
- Saxons
Ancient Kingdoms
- East Francia
- Duchy of Saxony
- Duchy of Bavaria
Empires
- Holy Roman Empire
- German Empire
- Third Reich
Religions
- Lutheranism
- Roman Catholicism
- Islam
Culture
Home of Bach, Beethoven, Goethe, Kant and Hegel; a fountainhead of Western music, philosophy and science.
Language
German is a West Germanic language standardized by Luther's Bible.
Important Battles
- Teutoburg Forest9 CE
Halted Roman expansion
- Battle of Leipzig1813
Defeat of Napoleon
- Battle of Stalingrad1942 – 43
Turning point of WWII
Historical Figures
Frankish emperor
Reformer
Architect of unification
First postwar chancellor
Archaeological Sites
- Nebra Sky Disk site
- Kalkriese (Teutoburg)
- Trier Roman monuments
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Cologne Cathedral
- Aachen Cathedral
- Berlin Museum Island
- Speyer Cathedral
Dynasties
- Carolingian
- Ottonian
- Hohenstaufen
- Habsburg
- Hohenzollern
Colonial Period
Germany's African and Pacific colonies (1884 – 1919) were forfeited after WWI.
Modern History
The Federal Republic is Europe's largest economy and a founder of the EU.