Before it became known for 20th century wars, Germany was regarded as a nation of poets and writers. Indeed, during periods of great catastrophe, like Prussia’s defeat at the hands of Napoleon, Germans often consoled themselves with the thought that even if they failed on the battlefield, they would always have the superior literal andContinue reading “April 13th in German History: The Death of Günter Grass”
Tag Archives: German History
December 25th in German History: The Christmas Truce
In 1914, the world entered what was at the time the deadliest war in its history. In the months following the outbreak of hostilities, thousands from every great power died on the field of battle, killed in a war they were told would be over by Christmas. It is surprising then, that for a fewContinue reading “December 25th in German History: The Christmas Truce”
November 25th in German History: The Anti-Comintern Pact
In the mid 1930s, most of the international community did not think Adolf Hitler’s Germany would start the next great war. Indeed, many thought that it could be a bulwark against communism. Although fears of communist invasion had abated somewhat following the ascension of Joseph Stalin who helped to normalize the nation in international relationsContinue reading “November 25th in German History: The Anti-Comintern Pact”
Wunderwaffe and the Myth of German Technological Supremacy
Since the end of the Second World War, much has been made of German weapons and their purported superiority over their Allied counterparts. German planes are supposed to have been faster and better armed, German small arms possessed a higher rate of fire, German missiles revolutionized long-range warfare, and German tanks ruled the battlefield. PropagandaContinue reading “Wunderwaffe and the Myth of German Technological Supremacy”
German Industrial Development
As I said on Monday, I have decided to stop posting daily as school has started and I now have less time. I intend instead to write longer posts on more general topics. Each week, I plan to pick a topic and write a summary of it and and provide analysis and historical context. TheContinue reading “German Industrial Development”
September 7th: The Death of Wilhelm Pieck and Update
Wilhelm Pieck was a communist activist and East German politician. He was born in 1876 and was educated as a carpenter. In 1894 he joined the German Timber Workers Association and the wood-worker’s federation. As a member, he became increasingly political and in 1895 he joined the Social Democratic Party of Germany. He rose throughContinue reading “September 7th: The Death of Wilhelm Pieck and Update”
September 6th in German History: The Munich Massacre
Germany has seen its fair share of terrorist attacks. Political and religious extremists have multiple times killed Germans so as to create fear or make a perverse point. However, less common are attacks on German soil that have targeted non-Germans. One such attack was the Munich massacre, which ended on September 6th, 1972. On SeptemberContinue reading “September 6th in German History: The Munich Massacre”
September 5th in German History: The Birth of Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb
During the Second World War, all branches of the German military committed war crimes to some degree. Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb was a member of the old guard of the Wehrmacht who was fired by Hitler and who claimed to to have been innocent. He was born on September 5th, 1876. Leeb was born inContinue reading “September 5th in German History: The Birth of Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb”
September 4th in German History: Fritz Todt is Born
A few days ago, I discussed Albert Speer. Speer was catapulted to the height of his power by the death of another man, Fritz Todt. Todt was the Minister for Armaments and Production before his death in 1942. He was born on September 4th, 1891. Todt was born in Baden, in the south of Germany,Continue reading “September 4th in German History: Fritz Todt is Born”
September 3rd in German History: France and the UK begin the blockade of Germany
In every war Germany has fought with the UK, the Royal Navy has been able to cut off Germany from oceanic trade. WWII was no different. On September 3rd, two days after Germany invaded Poland, Great Britain and France used their navies to stop the passage of trade vessels to German ports. The initial phaseContinue reading “September 3rd in German History: France and the UK begin the blockade of Germany”
German History 