Ultimate German History Quiz

?

Roughly how long ago did modern humans first settle what is now Germany? Take a guess!

~380 BCE

In a sandstone valley at the banks of the Moselle river, the Celts found a place called Treuorum. It is nowadays considered the oldest German city and it's also the hometown of Karl Marx. What is its modern name?

~190 BCE

Migrating Germanic tribes first get into conflict with this empire.

55 BCE

This general, statesman and author leads the first organized, military effort to cross the Rhine and invade Germania.

9

In this famous battle, the Roman military suffers a devastating defeat by the Cherusci-Germanic chieftain Arminius who fooled them by pretending to be their ally.

85

Parts of modern-day Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, France and the Netherlands are officially made into two Roman provinces with these names.

98

In his book titled "Germania", this famous historian writes extensively about the culture, politics and society of the Germanic tribes outside of Roman-controlled territory.

~250

Along with the Lombards, Franks, Saxons, Burgundians and Ostrogoths, these two famous tribes migrate south beyond the limes and eventually lead to the destruction of the West Roman Empire.

~510

Germanic chieftain Clovis I. has conquered all of Gaul and is declared King of the...?

~750

These famous "magic" texts are among the very first written in Old High German.

772

In the war against this pagan Germanic tribe, the tribe is subjugated, christianized and their sacred pillar "Irminsul" near the city of Paderborn is destroyed.

787

Peter of Pisa and Alcuin of York are called to the Frankish court where they initiate the "Carolingian renaissance". What was this medieval movement of monastic learning and studying called?

800

This talented warrior and statesman is crowned by Pope Leo III. "King of the Romans" and nowadays considered the forefather of Germany.

962

This man is crowned the very first Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire.

1096-1270

Frederick II. and other German emperors are among the leading figures in these campaigns that last almost 300 years and seek to conquer and christianize the Middle East (especially Jerusalem).

Sep. 23, 1122

This famous agreement between Pope Callixtus II. and Kaiser Henry V. terminated the Investiture Controversy and regulated in what way German bishops and abbots will be elected.

1179

This abbess, polymath, writer, philosopher and healer considered the most influential woman of Germany's Middle Ages dies at age 81.

1190

This epic poem, which is considered one of the most important pieces of all German literature and whose oral roots reach back to the 5th century is written down for the first time in Middle High German.

1230

This man considered the most important poet and Minnesänger of Germany's Middle Ages dies at age 60.

1291

The ancestors of this modern-day country form an alliance against the Habsburgs and make the first step towards eventual independence.

1348/1349

This horrific disease sweaps across Europe and kills over a third of the total German population.

1439

Johannes Gutenberg introduces this revolutionary technology originally invented in Korea and further developed in China to Europe.

1471-1528

This renaissance painter, printmaker and theorist accomplishes great fame thanks to his beautiful and intricate woodcuts.

1487

In Speyer, a Catholic clergyman named Heinrich Kramer publishes an infamous treatise that claims the existence of witches. It endorses their extermination and gives instructions on how to spot and kill them. What was this treatise called?

April 23, 1516

Thanks to William IV. of Bavaria and his "Reinheitsgebot" ("Purity Commandment"), Germany becomes the very first place in Europe where who/what must be "pure" going forward?

Oct. 31, 1517

Martin Luther sets off the reformation in Europe by posting this document, in which he criticizes the sale of indulgences by the Catholic Church, at the door of the All Saint's church in Wittenberg.

1525

This radical theologian of the reformation and vehement opponent to feudalism dies in battle as the leader of Germany's peasant war.

1529

After the siege of this city has failed, the Ottoman Empire is forced to retreat.

1534

Martin Luther is the first person ever to translate this book into German.

1555

After losing his battle against the rise of Protestantism, Kaiser Charles V. is forced to sign this treaty, giving German dukes the authority to decide for themselves whether they want their territories to be Catholic or Protestant.

1571-1630

This astronomer and mathematician discovers that planetary orbits are in fact elliptical rather than round as people previously thought. NASA named a telescope after him.

1618-1637

Albrecht von Wallenstein becomes one of the most important and influential figues of German History during this conflict.

1626-1631

During the 17th century and especially during these 5 years, this Bavarian city becomes a sad example for the atrocity of the witch trials sweeping across Germany.

1631

In this city, the Catholic alliance commits a giant massacre and murders some 20,000 civilians, many of whom are women and children.

Oct. 24, 1648

The conflict mentioned above was concluded with this pan-European peace agreement.

1684

This German intellectual publishes his work on calculus.

1724-1804

Enlightenment-philosopher Immanuel Kant argues that the true "objective" nature of reality is unknowable because we are all imprisoned in our sensory, subjective realities. Kant's most famous concept however is...?

1729-1781

This German becomes famous not only as a prolific writer but also as a fighter for tolerance and religious moderation over zeal.

1740-1786

During the long reign of this king, Prussia wins its competition against Austria, wins the Seven-Year-War and becomes a European superpower. It also becomes a center for the arts, philosophy and natural sciences.

1756-1791

Musical pieces such as "Für Elise", "Eine kleine Nachtmusik" or "Rondo alla turca" are composed by this prodigy.

1759-1805

This writer, poet and close friend to Johann Wolfang von Goethe became famous with literary works such as "Wilhelm Tell", "The Robbers", "Mary Stuart" or "Intrigue and Love".

1769-1859

This brilliant naturalist, explorer, polymath and philosopher travels around the globe to study our planet's flora and fauna. He is the first person ever to describe anthropogenic climate change and he is also credited with discovering plate tectonics.

1770-1827

Ludwig van Beethoven composes this world-famous piece of music which later becomes the official anthem of the European Union.

1770-1831

This philosopher and historian is credited with laying the foundations for Karl Marx' works. Among other things, he came up with the idea that progress is never linear but moves like a pendulum from one extreme to another.

1777-1855

This mathematician made important contributions to many fields of mathematics, including statistics, algebra and calculus. He is most famous for a type of statistical "distribution" named after him.

1788

Prussia establishes an university admission exam that still exists in Germany today. What is it called?

1790

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe publishes this possibly most famous work of all German literature.

Oct. 14, 1806

On one single day, Napoléon Bonaparte defeats the Prussian kingdom in two decisive battles in these two cities.

1806

After his victory over Prussia, Napoléon steals a part of this famous landmark and takes it back to France.

1812

The world-famous Brothers Grimm publish their first collection of what?

1817

Baron Karl von Drais invents the first verifiable prototype of something almost everyone today uses. What is it?

Oct. 18, 1817

Several hundred liberal university students organize this festival at the former refuge of Martin Luther to protest reactionary politics and authoritarianism.

Sep. 20, 1819

In these decrees, the states of the German confederation pledge to one another to dissolve liberal student protests, censor liberalist publications and make it illegal for universities to hire liberal-minded professors.

1832-1908

Wilhelm Busch makes a lasting impact on German culture as a humorist, satirist and writer. He loves to make fun of bigotry, philistinism and religious morality. His best-known work tells the adventures of two naughty boys and is called...?

1837

Educator Friedrich Fröbel believes that little children are very curious about the world and that we should nourish them "like plants in a garden". Based on this belief, he invents and founds the first what?

1842-1912

This German novelist writes realistically about the American Wild West, the Middle East and South America - although he never actually manages to visit any of these place. He is best-known for his characters Winnetou and Old Shatterhand.

1843-1910

This physician, microbiologist and Nobel Prize laureate is responsible for the discovery of the tuberculosis and the cholera bacteria, as well as many other important breakthroughs in medicine.

1844-1900

This philosopher entered the annals of German History as one of the harshest critics of theism. His words "God is dead" became world-famous. He lost his mind in the last years of his life due to a syphillis infection.

1848

Publisher, poet and politician Robert Blum supports democracy and opposes antisemitism and ethnocentrism. He is a leading figure in this event.

1848

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels publish this work. It is considered one of the most influential treatises in the world.

1856

For the very first time, remains of this extinct human species are found in a valley near Düsseldorf, giving archeologists a completely new understanding of prehistory.

1858-1947

This theoretical physicist and Nobel Prize loreate is the father of quantum theory. A famous research institute is named after him, as well as a "length", which is believed to be the smallest possible unit in the universe.

1869

In his quest to bring the different parts of the German Empire together under one Kaiser, Chancellor Bismarck struggles to convince Ludwig II., duke of Bavaria. He eventually succeeds by giving Ludwig in return for his loyalty a large sum of money to build what famous "fairy-tale" castle located in Füssen?

1870

Prussia gets attacked by this country but gives its opponent a decisive blow thanks to well-equipped Prussian troops and superior training.

1871

Otto von Bismarck manages to do what?

1871-1919

This influential female marxist and pacifist fights for democracy, peace, women's suffrage and a communist revolution. She criticizes authoritarian leaders, including Lenin.

1875-1955

This German author becomes well-known thanks to novels such as "The Magic Mountain" and "Buddenbrooks".

1875

This political party is founded in Germany.

1877-1962

This novelist, poet and Nobel Prize laureate is chiefly interested in topics such as self-knowledge, authenticity and spirituality. His best-known works are "Steppenwolf", "Siddhartha" and "The Glass Bead".

1878-1890

Bismarck enacts these antidemocratic laws and tries to enforce them over the next 12 years but with no success.

1881

Thanks to Werner von Siemens, Berlin becomes the first city in the world where people can enjoy an electrical...?

Nov. 15, 1884

An infamous conference in this city is convened to formalize the territorial claims of the various European imperialist powers in Africa.

1885

This sub-saharan African country becomes a German colony.

1886

These two men invent and build independently from one another the first automobiles that run on gasoline-powered combustion engines.

1888

This year is known in the German Empire as the year of the Three...?

1889

In an effort to loosen political and social tensions, Bismarck founds the first kind of what?

1892

A special type of engine, named after its inventor, is created by this man.

1895

Physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen makes this break-through discovery.

1898-1956

This famous marxist playwright and poet is best known for works such as "The Threepenny Opera", "The Caucasian Chalk Circle" or "The Good Person of Szechwan".

1901-1976

This theoretical physicist becomes a pioneer of quantum mechanics and is best known for his "uncertainty principle". A TV character has been named after him.

1905

Albert Einstein publishes his theory of...?

1905

A German Field Marshall develops a military plan to invade France over Belgium and the Netherlands in the case of a two-front war. What was this plan called?

Aug. 30, 1914

In the battle of Tannenberg, one of the first major battles of World War I, the German Empire defeats troops from this country decisively.

April 22, 1915

In the battle at Ypres (Belgium), the Germans shock the allied troops by attacking them with something completely new and unexpected. What was it?

July 1915

In a famous battle at this French river, over 60,000 British soldiers lose their lives in an effort to drive out the Germans. In the end, there is more stalemate and no success for either side. What was the battle/river called?

October 1915

In this unspeakably barbaric and traumatizing battle, over 1 million French and German lives are lost. The battlefield landscape was described by veterans to have looked so eerie and surreal that it inspired J.R.R. Tolkien who participated in this battle to write "Lord of the Rings".

1917

The German Empire introduces unrestricted submarine warfare. This policy leads to which country joining the war?

March 1918

This is the last, large-scale German military attempt to turn the war around.

Nov. 3, 1918

After being ordered to uselessly sacrifice their lives in a desperate attempt to save Germany's honor, these members of the military revolt in Kiel, triggering the German Revolution of 1918/1919 six days later.

Nov. 9, 1918

This socialist and publisher proclaims the "Free Socialist Republic".

Nov. 9, 1918

Under immense pressure from the various protests on the streets, this SPD-politician proclaims the (non-socialist) Republic.

December 1918

This man becomes the first Chancellor of the Weimar Republic.

Jan. 15, 1919

In this marxist uprising, its leaders as well as over 150 protesters are brutally killed by the Freikorps.

June 1919

Germany signs the treaty of Versailles. Believing this humiliation had not been necessary and the war could have still been won if it had not been for the "treasonous" pacifists, Adolf Hitler will later invent a myth called the...?

March 13, 1920

In this putsch, the Freikorps occupies Berlin and unsuccessfully tries to overthrow the Weimar Republic.

1921

Due to the astronomical reparation payments demanded by the Versailles treaty, the Weimar Republic begins to print as much money as they can, leading to what economic phenomenon?

Jan. 11, 1923

France invades and occupies this economically important region of Germany.

Nov. 8, 1923

In the Beer-Hall-Putsch, Adolf Hitler and 600 members of his SA try to overthrow the democratic government. In what city did the attempted coup take place?

1926

This man becomes Gauleiter for the NSDAP and four years later is promoted by Hitler to become national propaganda minister ("Reichspropagandaminister").

1927-2015

This novelist, poet, playwright and Nobel Prize laureate serves as a member of the Waffen-SS in World War II in his youth but becomes a staunch progressive in his later life. He is best known for his novel "The Tin Drum".

Oct. 29, 1929

What foreign event tanks the German economy just when it had begun to recover?

1929-1995

This author of children's stories becomes world-famous with classics such as "The Neverending Story", "Momo" and "Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver".

1930s

Sociologists such as Herbert Marcuse, Theodor Adorno, Max Horkheimer, Walter Benjamin and Erich Fromm develop their "Critical Theory". Under what name is this group generally known as today?

Jan. 30, 1933

After the NSDAP's election victory, Adolf Hitler is appointed what?

Feb. 27, 1933

This tragic event happens and Hitler uses it for political capital.

March 24, 1933

This Act de facto abolishes the separation of powers. It moves all power to Hitler and his cabinet.

June 30, 1934

During this night, SS paramilitaries kill over 85 threats to Hitler's power, including Ernst Röhm and Georg Strasser.

March 7, 1936

As a first, open provocation to the allied powers, Hitler orders the Wehrmacht to march into this (formerly demilitarized) German region.

Dec. 1937 - Jan. 1938

This German businessman and Nazi-Party member saves roughly 200,000 Chinese civilians' lives by establishing a safety zone and protecting them from the horrific massacre and mass-rape by the Japanese army in Nanking.

March 12, 1938

Anschluss: German troops enter this country to "bring it home into the Reich".

Nov. 9, 1938

In this infamous and nationwide pogrom, thousands of Jews are beaten, mugged and murdered. Their shops and homes are plundered.

Sep. 1, 1939

World War II begins. At 5 a.m., German troops enter this country.

Nov. 8, 1939

Years before General Stauffenberg, a German craftsman called Georg Elser comes insanely close to successfully assassinate Adolf Hitler. He does this by building a time bomb and hiding it in what iconic building central to Nazi lore?

1941

This German civil engineer invents and builds the world's first programmable computer and is nowadays considered the inventor of the modern computer.

Jan. 20, 1942

The "final solution", the purposeful extinction of all European Jews, is discussed at this secret conference.

1942 - present

This musician is perhaps the most influential post-war German singer-songwriter.

1942-1945

This German industrial and member of the Nazi-Party is credited with saving over 1,200 Jewish lives in his factories in Poland.

January 1943

A brave, 21-year old girl named Sophie Scholl is caught distributing anti-Nazi leaflets at the University of Munich with her brother. Together with two friends, they are both executed. What was the group called that Sophie was the head of?

October 1944

This 15-year old Jewish girl who has been hiding from the Nazis for several years is caught and transported to a concentration camp. She dies just 2 months before the end of the war and is known for her touching diary.

Aug. 1, 1945

After the end of the war, Germany is split by the allies into four "zones" at this conference.

June 5, 1947

This famous plan introduced by the USA intends to support Germany economically and rebuild its industry and infrastructure.

1949

To honor and commemorate the courageous revolutionaries of 1848, what colors does the German national flag have since 1949?

June 1948 - May 1949

The Soviet Union blocks all cargo shipments to Berlin by road or rail, forcing the US to establish an...?

Sep. 15, 1949

This CDU-politician becomes the first Chancellor of West Germany.

1950

The rapid post-war economic growth of Germany is known as the...? (German term)

April 18, 1951

West Germany and five other European nations found the "European Coal and Steel Community", which works with a single market and supernational institutions. Today we know it as the...?

Aug. 13, 1961

Construction begins at the...?

June 2, 1967

During the massive student protests against the state visit of the Shah of Iran in West Germany, this unarmed student gets shot and killed by a Berlin police detective.

1968

The leader of the progressive student movement narrowly survives an assassination attempt by a right-wing extremist but dies 11 years later at age 39 of a seizure caused by remaining brain damage. What was his name?

Oct. 28, 1969

In his famous address to the Bundestag in Bonn, Chancellor Willy Brandt (SPD) says: "Let us dare to have more..."?

June 5, 1970

The left-extremist terrorist group Red Army Faction (RAF) is founded. Who are its two most prominent and leading figures?

1970

This man becomes the head of state of East Germany and remains in this position for 20 years, until East Germany's dissolution in 1990.

Sep. 5, 1972

Eight members of this Palestinian terrorist organization sneak into the Olympic Village during the Summer Olympics in Munich, take 11 Israeli athletes hostage and kill them together with a West German police officer.

Sep. 18, 1973

Both East and West Germany are admitted to what international organization?

Sep. 4, 1989

A series of peaceful protests occur across East Germany, demanding democracy and the right for citizens to travel abroad. What were these demonstrations called?

1990

On what date did German unification take place?

March 24, 1999

German troops as part of NATO begin to bomb what country?

Jan. 1, 2002

The Euro is introduced in Germany. What was the German currency before that called?

Nov. 22, 2005

Angela Merkel becomes Chancellor of Germany. What was her job before that?

2010

European Dept Crisis: The relationship between Germany and what other country significantly sours?

March 2014

Angela Merkel heavily criticizes what international act of hostility?

Dec. 19, 2016

An islamist terrorist attack is committed in Berlin at a...?

June 30, 2017

The German parliament (Bundestag) legalizes...?

2022

By this date, Germany will completely get rid of...?