For nineteen years the Free City of Danzig was an independent city-state inside of the Polish-controlled Danzig corridor between Germany and its exclave of East Prussia. It stood as a reminder of Germany’s defeat in WWI and saw a great deal of tension between its German and Polish populations. In 1939, Germany demanded that PolandContinue reading “September 2nd in German History: Germany Annexes the Free City of Danzig”
Tag Archives: Germany
September 1st in German History: The Death of Albert Speer
Albert Speer was a German architect and industrialist who was responsible for armaments organization during the latter years of WWII. During the decades after the war, he was often credited with significant increases in German weapons production and with being less brutal than other Nazis. He died on September 1st, 1981. Speer was born inContinue reading “September 1st in German History: The Death of Albert Speer”
August 31st in German History: The Gleiwitz Incident
One of the realities of international relations is that even the most bellicose of nations need justification, however flimsy, to initiate war. When Germany invaded Poland on September 1st, 1939, the stated pretext was a series of Polish attacks on German military installations. The most significant of these attacks was the Gleiwitz incident, which sawContinue reading “August 31st in German History: The Gleiwitz Incident”
August 30th in German History: The Battle of Tannenberg
In the first months of WWI, both the Eastern and Western Fronts were very mobile. In the west, Germany advanced into Belgium and France outflanking their enemy and occupying valuable territory. In the east, Russian, German, and Austrian armies clashed, the use of railways enabling the easy movement and concentration of forces. The initial RussianContinue reading “August 30th in German History: The Battle of Tannenberg”
August 29th in German History: German Reich Dissolves the Danish Government
The first years of the Second World War saw Germany quickly overrun most of Western and Eastern Europe. These nations were placed under harsh occupations which saw freedoms restricted and reprisals carried out against any who resisted. However, not all conquered nations were so harshly treated, at least initially. Denmark, which surrendered within six hours,Continue reading “August 29th in German History: German Reich Dissolves the Danish Government”
August 28th in German History: The Battle of Heligoland Blight
The beginning of the 20th century had seen a great shift in German foreign policy. Kaiser Wilhelm II wanted to assert Germany’s position on the world stage. To this end, he pursued a program of naval construction with the intent of building a fleet that could contend with the Royal Navy. The resulting naval armsContinue reading “August 28th in German History: The Battle of Heligoland Blight”
August 27th in German History: The Sarny Massacre Begins
When discussing the Second World War, one has to remember that battles were important not just in that they determined the outcome of the war. All too often, the military outcomes were life or death matters for civilian populations. When Poland fell in 1939 its occupiers, the USSR and Nazi Germany, set about killing unwantedContinue reading “August 27th in German History: The Sarny Massacre Begins”
August 26th in German History: The Battle on the Marchfeld
The Habsburg dynasty is commonly the object of ridicule and humor for their slow decline that began in the 17th century and ended with the destruction of Austria-Hungary at the end of WWI. However, for nearly a millennia they were the preeminent force in Central Europe and at times held sway over entire continents. TheContinue reading “August 26th in German History: The Battle on the Marchfeld”
August 25th in German History: The Birth of Erich Honecker
Germany had more than its fair share of totalitarian leaders during the 20th century. While Adolf Hitler ruled the country for twelve years, for forty years the eastern half was controlled by a communist dictatorship. This regime, while not as brutal as that of the Nazis, maintained a repressive grip on the people of EastContinue reading “August 25th in German History: The Birth of Erich Honecker”
August 24th in German History: Adolf Hitler Orders the End of the T4 Killings
The T4 killings were the systematic mass murder of much of the elderly, critically ill and disabled population of Germany. T4 is an abbreviation of the address of a government building which recruited and organised those involved in the program. On August 24th, 1941, Adolf Hitler ordered that the systematic killings stop. However, they continuedContinue reading “August 24th in German History: Adolf Hitler Orders the End of the T4 Killings”
German History 