August 10, 1794 Birth of Leopold Zunz in Detmold, Germany. Zunz was a historian of Jewish literature and succeeded in bringing scientific rigor to the field. In his work Zur Geschichte und Literatur he integrated Jewish literature with European literature and politics. August 10, 1827 Birth of Adalbert Falk in Metschkau, Prussia. He … [Read more...]

August 9, 378 In one of the most decisive battles in history, a large Roman army under Valens, the Roman emperor of the East, is defeated by the Visigoths at the Battle of Adrianople in present-day Turkey. Two-thirds of the Roman army, including Emperor Valens himself, were overrun and slaughtered by the mounted barbarians. The decisive … [Read more...]

August 8, 1732 Birth of Johann Christoph Adelung in Anklam, Germany. Adelung was the most significant German-language scholar before the Grimms. He was the librarian to the Elector of Saxony. August 8, 1824 Death of Friedrich August Wolf in Marseille, France (born in Haynrode, Germany). "Pro le go me na ad Homerum" (1795); Therewith he … [Read more...]

August 7, ca. 304 St. Afra of Augsburg is martyred for her Christian faith. Her origins are lost in history, though it is likely that she came from the Mediterranean, probably Cyprus. The circumstances of her movement to Augusburg, Germany are uncertain, but it is clear that by 304 she was established in Augusburg and had become a devout … [Read more...]

August 6, 1789 Birth of Friedrich List in Reutlingen, Germany. List was an economist who felt that protective tariffs were essential to industrial development. Due to his liberal ideas, he was exiled from Germany in 1825 and came to the United States where he had some influence with his views on tariffs. List's principal work was Das Nationale … [Read more...]

August 5, 1889 Death of Fanny Lewald in Dresden, Germany. Lewald was a writer of popular novels. Among her novels are Die Familie Darner (1888), Geschlecht zu Geschlecht (8 vols. 1863-1865), and Diogena (1847). August 5, 1895 Death of Friedrich Engels in London (born in Barmen, Germany). Engels was the son of a wealthy industrialist who … [Read more...]

August 4, 1905 Death of Walther Flemming in Sachenberg, Germany. An anatomist, Flemming founded the science of cytogenetics. He taught at the University of Kiel. He discovered mitosis which he explained in Zell-substanz, Kern und Zelltheilung (1882). August 4, 1914 Britain declares war on Germany (WWI). Britain had made a pledge to honor … [Read more...]

August 3, 1872 Death of Karl August Devrient in Hannover, Germany. Devrient was a heroic actor who achieved fame on the stage of Hannover. Some of his noted roles include Faust, King Lear and Wallenstein. August 3, 1902 Birth of Martin Noth in Dresden, Germany. A biblical scholar, Noth was an expert in the early history of the Jews. Noth … [Read more...]