December 20, 1552 Death of Katharina von Bora (1499-1552), wife of Martin Luther, in Torgau. "Die Lutherin", as she was referred to, was sent at the age of 5 to the Benedictine cloister in Brehna in 1504 for education. At the age of 9 she moved to the Cistercian monastery Marienthron (Mary's Throne) in Nimbschen. After several years of religious … [Read more...]

December 19, 1894 Birth of Paul Dessau (1894-1979) in Hamburg, Germany. Dessau was a composer and conductor. He gained his greatest fame through his collaborations with the writer Bertolt Brecht. He wrote the music for Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder (1946), and Die Verurteilung des Lukullus (1949). December 19, 1963 Birth of … [Read more...]

December 18, 1844 Birth of Ludwig Josef Brentano in Aschaffenburg, Germany. His book Die Arbeitergilden der Gegenwart became an authoritative source on trade unions. He served as professor of political theory at the Universities of Berlin, Breslau, Strassburg, Vienna, Leipzig and Munich. December 18, 1863 Birth of Franz Ferdinand, … [Read more...]

December 17, 1770 Birth of Ludwig von Beethoven in Bonn, Germany. Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers. At only 31, however, he began to lose his hearing. His … [Read more...]

December 16, 1742 Birth of General Gebhard Blücher (1742-1819) in Rostock, Germany. Wellington was not alone at Waterloo at the defeat of Napoleon. General Blücher commanded the allied Prussian army. Blücher had served with distinction in the Prussian army since 1760. Blücher had retired, but in 1813 he was called back from his estates at … [Read more...]