Birth of Heinrich von Sybel in Düsseldorf, Germany. Sybel was a historian who had studied with Ranke in Berlin. His early books show the critical method of Ranke. He became deeply involved in politics, however, and came to view history as a means to educate for specific purposes. He came to be a firm believer in Prussia’s mission to unify and lead Germany. His views are clear in his later books.
December 2, 1833
Birth of Friedrich Daniel Recklinghausen in Gütersloh, Germany. Recklinghausen was a pathologist who diagnosed “Recklinghausen’s disease”, multiple neurofibromatosis and osteitis fibrosa cystica. He was a professor of pathology at the Universities of Königsberg, Würzburg and Strasbourg.
December 2, 1848
The aged and failing Ferdinand I, Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire is replaced by 18 year old Franz Joseph I in the face of the attempted revolution. Events are largely controlled by Felix Fürst zu Schwarzenberg, the chancellor and prime minister.
December 2, 1881
Birth of Heinrich Georg Barkhausen (1881-1956) in Bremen, Germany. Barkhausen is known for the “Barkhausen effect” in physics, related to changes in magnetic properties of metal. Barkhausen was a professor at the Technical Academy in Dresden. In addition to magnetism he also did extensive research in acoustics, ultrahigh frequencies and shortwave radio transmission.
December 2, 1914
Austrian troops take Belgrade in WWI.
December 2, 1990
The first parliamentary elections take place after the reunification of Germany. The CDU-CSU-FDP coalition wins a 134 seat majority in the Bundestag. In the election the CDU/CSU gets 43.8% of the votes, the SPD 33.5%, the FDP 11%, the Greens, PDS and Bündnis90 all receive less than the required 5% for seating in the Bundestag. However with a special ruling for the East the PDS and Bündnis90 are allowed representatives in the Bundestag.
December 2, 1997
Pope John Paul II creates the archbishopric of Vaduz in Liechtenstein. Liechtenstein had been a part of the archbishopric of Chur since the 5th century. The first archbishop of Vaduz is Wolfgang Haas.
