Germany history
The history of Germany is perhaps one of the most interesting yet also troubled histories of all nation states that now exist, for it is the story of the evolution of an area which by its very location –set as it was within the very heart of central Europe – would be constantly in danger from other empires but also would be seeking to set and establish its own borders and sense of national identity.
This constant flow and flux of being either under attack from others or being the aggressor itself has led to Germany having without doubt the most regrettable recent history of all European countries. But to understand why such dire events transpired, we must first understand how the nation now known as Germany first came into being.
Early history
The Neanderthal Valley in Germany gave its name to the ancient species (or sub-species as some contest) of modern man. So clearly habitation of this area took place at least some 300,000 years ago – according to the carbon-dating of the fossil remains which were found. However it is not until 500 BC, during a period referred to as the Nordic Bronze Age that the first Germanic tribes were known to have settled in the area. These tribes were believed to have come from Scandinavia and occupied the area between the Oder and Vistula rivers.
In the 1st century BC the term Germanic is first used by the Romans during their invasion of the area when they realised that the language and culture of these Saxon tribes was very different to that of the Celtic tribes in the area known as Gaul. Throughout their reign of the area however the Romans are unable to extend their power north of the Rivers Danube and Rhine and the Germanic tribes continue to give them problems.
Quick fact!
Historically, Germany was known as the Holy Roman Empire, the Kingdom of Prussia, and the Weimar Republic.
1648 – 1813
In 1648 The Peace of Westphalia left the German speaking people of Europe in hundreds of individual states, and during the next two hundred years the largest of these – namely Prussia and Austria vied for dominance. Naturally the smaller states made pacts with, and aligned themselves politically and militarily with, these two super-states -depending on their needs and the overall political picture – often changing sides. Thus we see a constant state of disagreement and confusion within the area now regarded as Germany.
Much of the area then came under the influence of the French from 1790 with the invasion of Napoleon’s troops – a period which was to last until 1813 when the combined armies of Prussia, Russia and Austria (united for once) drove him out of the territory during the Battle of Leipzig, resulting in a newly formed Germany which – thanks to the abolition of many of the smaller states by Napoleon during his reign there – now consisted of just 40 member states.
Quick fact!
The Cologne Cathedral took 632 years to build.
1848 – 1914
At this time, many people of influence – politicians, journalists, writers and military leaders pressed for a united Germany with one currency and an end to many of the petty squabbles which still seemed to dog the beleaguered region. In 1848 there is revolution – resulting in a parliament convening in Frankfurt for the first time. It is hoped that King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia who is offered the crown will unite the country as monarch once and for all – but he declines, fearing that a united Germany will prove a threat to his own country – a move which mirrors the actions of many of the other Germanic State princes.
Sensing the desire of the German people to be united however, this need was finally fulfilled some two decades later by Otto von Bismarck in 1871. Bismarck was a conservative Prussian aristocrat who sensed the need of the people and used three well-thought out military campaigns to achieve not only his goal of the unification of the German state but also to put a stop to the expansion plans of Prussia’s counter-part Austria at the same time. Bismarck effectively joined Prussia to the remaining German states and a new government The Reichstag was formed though ultimately the final decision on certain topics rested with the Emperor.
The Emperor was supported by the land owning classes, the financial and business powers, the Protestant clergy and naturally – the military – without whose power and assistance he would not have gained his position. In opposition were the Roman Catholic Centre Party, the Socialist Party, Liberals and regional leaders that remained opposed to Prussia’s rule over Germany. Over time however Bismarck and the Emperor were unable to contain the opposition to their rule – since the opposition gained over-whelming numbers within The Reichstag and made governing increasingly difficult. Thus the stage was set for a country with a burgeoning population and expansionist plans to go to war – its ultimate aim to make Poland and Belgium vassal states of a much larger Germany.
Quick fact!
Albert Einstein, the most recognised scientist in the world, was German and born in Ulm.
1914 – 1938
There followed the conflict known as The Great War (World War I) – in which Germany along with Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and The Ottoman Empire fought collectively as the Central Powers against The Allies – comprising the British and their Commonwealth countries, France, Russia, Italy, Japan, Romania, Serbia and The United States to name but a few. The conflict lasted from 1914-1918 and by its conclusion more than 37 million people were dead – either military personnel or civilians.
Germany’s expansion plans were halted and its Empire was destroyed. The victorious Allies imposed punitive restrictions on the defeated German state at the Treaty of Versailles in 1918 and the German people were disillusioned and disappointed. A new Republic was formed in 1919 – The Weimar Republic and a democratic government system was introduced. Finally it looked as though Germany would join other emerging democracies in the free world. But this was not to be.
The Great Depression, triggered by the crash of financial markets in Wall Street, USA in 1929 had hit Germany hard. By 1933 German unemployment was a staggering 6 million. The time was ripe for someone to convince a still unsettled Germany that their destiny was to be better and greater.
By 1933 an Austrian by birth named Adolph Hitler had been appointed German Chancellor. Soon, his political party – the Nazis, using thug like tactics, suppressed all opposition to his party and his maniacal plans for German world domination had begun.
1939 – 1945
Thus began the most regrettable period in Germany’s history as the Nazi Party lead by Hitler, with a newly aroused German people re-introduced their expansionist plans with the invasion of Poland in September 1939 – leading to the outbreak of World War II. As the war progressed the Nazi Party systematically began the ethnic cleansing of the Jewish race – an event now better known as The Holocaust. By the time the Allied Forces had defeated Germany and its allies more than 6 million Jews had died in its death-camps.
With Germany’s second humiliating defeat at the hands of The Allies came the division of the country into 2 German states – The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) separated by an infamous brick partition through the centre of the capital Berlin, known as ‘The Berlin Wall’.
Quick fact!
In World War II, a German submarine was sunk by a broken toilet.
1946 – present
The German Democratic Republic, under control and influence of the USSR for much of the next 50 years would struggle economically and politically. The Federal Republic of Germany however, prospered dramatically and miraculously within 20 years was economically and politically a strong country once again – leading to many East Germans attempting to flee from their country into the haven of the west – many dying at the hands of border crossing guards in their attempts to do so. Finally in 1990 with the collapse of communism within the USSR, the Berlin Wall came down and a united Germany once more existed.
Today the Federal Republic of Germany is a powerful country at the heart of European politics. It is a country that has learnt wisely from its past mistakes and has vowed to ensure such events and the situations which led to them are never allowed to arise again.
German language and culture
Culture of Germany
Germany has a rich cultural heritage and is one of the most influential countries in Europe when it comes to the arts. Berlin is its main artistic centre, offering numerous theatres, opera houses, art galleries, museums and libraries. In the past Germany has been labelled ‘the country of poets and thinkers’ as so many of its famous writers and philosophers have contributed to the development of Western thought.
Music
For the sheer amount of famous classical composers, Germany can’t be outdone. Consider such masters as Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Wagner, Brahms and Strauss sharing their heavenly compositions with the world. Germany still has the lion’s share of the music market in Europe and is the world’s third largest contributor to the music industry. Although it has produced many international acts in all genres, including rock, heavy metal and punk, it is the techno scene for which it is most known around the world today.
Art
Germany has always had a strong association with the visual arts as far back as prehistoric times. During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, German artists were hugely influential in the development of Western art, especially with sculpture and printmaking. The Baroque and Neoclassicism periods in Germany produced some skilled painters such as Johann Liss and Anton Raphael Mengs.
Artistic movements in the 20th century meant artworks took on a somewhat political element, and modernist look. Two famous celebrated German painters to emerge from this period are Otto Dix with his grotesque style and Wassily Kandinsky with his abstract art.
Architecture
German architecture has tended to develop in response to whatever is happening in the country economically. For example, the popularity of spas and resorts in the 18th century heralded the rise of spa architecture, while industrialisation in the 19th century saw a boom in classical architecture. German architectural styles such as Brick Gothic, developed during the medieval period, and Brick Expressionism, a more modern development, can be seen throughout Europe. Some of Germany’s best preserved architectural examples are the lovely timber-framed houses and shops in its medieval towns.
Cuisine
German cuisine is typically delicious and hearty but has quite marked regional variations. In the south, for example, you’ll find Spätzle (egg noodles), while the north is partial to Currywurst (pork sausage with curry sauce). It is also not uncommon to find popular national dishes, such as Schnitzel, prepared slightly differently depending on where you are. As well as being big eaters of meat, bread and cheese, Germans also love their desserts! Black Forest cake, apple tarts and cheesecakes are the most popular choices but any dessert made with fresh seasonal fruit or cream are widely appreciated.
Sports
Germany is definitely a sporting nation and keeping fit is a popular pastime. Sports clubs, group activities, or just a casual game with neighbours and friends are all part of everyday life. Skiing, hiking, volleyball, hockey and basketball are some of the main indoor and outdoor activities in Germany.
When it comes to professional sports, football, tennis and motor sports are probably the ones Germany are most recognised for. They have won the FIFA World Cup three times, Steffi Graf and Boris Becker are famous tennis players, and Michael Schumacher is a legendary Formula One driver.
Festivals and traditions
Not a month goes by when Germany doesn’t celebrate a festival or tradition. Popular events are the Carnival occurring during February, spring festivals in Berlin and Munich, music festivals in June and July, Oktoberfest and the Christmas markets. Religious dates are also fervently upheld. Easter is a popular time for traditional painted eggs, eating chocolate bunnies and special dishes. Beer brewing and vegetable harvesting are also great reasons for a festival in Germany, but you’ll find there are plenty of others especially during spring.
Languages of Germany
Germany has one official language, German, and five recognized minority languages. These are Low Saxon, Romani, Sorbian, Danish and North Frisian. Being a country with a sizable population of immigrants, many immigrant languages are also spoken. The most common of these are Turkish, Kurdish, Russian, Arabic, Greek, Dutch, Igbo, Spanish and Italian.
Basic German words and phrases
Hello – Hallo (Informal) / Guten Tag (Formal greeting in daytime)
Goodbye – Auf Wiedersehen
Please – Bitte
Thank-you – Danke
My name is… – Ich heisse…
Where is…? – Wo ist…?
I would like – Ich möchte
I don’t speak German – Ich spreche kein Deutsch
Germany weather
Germany’s climate is generally temperate, with equal lengths of seasons between cold months and warm months. The weather in Germany can be highly unpredictable, constantly changing, but gorgeous all the same. Germany’s Northern areas are typically cooler than Southern regions, however, the South Eastern mountainous regions have harsher winters than most Northern regions.
Spring in Germany
The German spring is warm, with mild storms and rain, and cool evenings. Germany’s average temperature between March and May is around 2°C to 15°C. March can sometimes bring late snows in most parts, but temperatures rise to be more pleasant around April. The spring wardrobe for Germany should include sweaters, long sleeves, and light jackets.
Summer in Germany
Summertime in Germany is extremely temperate and pleasing. The average temperature from June to August varies from around 15°C to 22°C. The typical German summer can bring a few storms, but the majority of the season is sunny and warm. Northern German regions regularly have milder temperatures due to the winds from the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Clothing should be lightweight, with light jackets for chillier summer nights.
Autumn in Germany
As German weather can be somewhat erratic, autumn is an ever changing season. September and early October can offer some warm sunny days, but there tend to be periods of grey, cold, and rainy days. The average temperatures from September to November are 2°C to 18°C. Fall weather requires jackets, sweaters, and rain gear.
Winter in Germany
German winters can sometimes be harsh and extremely cold in various regions. Most regions of Germany can get snow in early November, and will continue to get snow until March. Late January and February are the coldest months in the year, with the average winter temperatures ranging from -3°C to 4°C. Mountainous Southern regions of Germany have more snow than most parts of the country. Clothing should consist of winter coats and a warm pair of boots.
Average temperatures in Berlin, Munich and Cologne
Average rainfall in Berlin, Munich and Cologne
No comments:
Post a Comment