Albert Einstein-When we hear the name of Albert Einstein, we mostly just think of two things: a) Genius of physics, b) E=mc2. But there is more to know about Albert Einstein than just that. Einstein was a theoretical physicist who developed the general theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics (alongside quantum […]
Albert Einstein Quotes-Here you can find the best Quotes of Albert Einstein – a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity. The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you […]
Albert Schweitzer – Nobel Peace Prize Winner-Albert Schweitzer was an Alsatian-German theologian, philosopher, organist, and mission doctor in equatorial Africa, whose goal was the Brotherhood of Nations. A Lutheran, Schweitzer challenged both the secular view of Jesus as depicted by historical-critical methodology current at this time, as well as the traditional Christian view. His contributions to the interpretation of Pauline Christianity […]
Albrecht Dürer-Sometimes it feels so good to get into high antiquity and have a look at the great masters whose works are still alive and admired. The art of 15th century in Germany is marked with the period of Renaissance. The revival of fine arts of that time was intensive and full of different schools and […]
Alexander von Humboldt – German Naturalist and Explorer-Alexander von Humboldt (born Sept. 14, 1769, Berlin—died May 6, 1859, Berlin), a German naturalist and explorer who was a major figure in the classical period of physical geography and biogeography—areas of science now included in the earth sciences and ecology. With his book Kosmos he made a valuable contribution to the popularization of science. […]
Alois Alzheimer-Aloysius Alzheimer (June 14, 1864 – December 19, 1915), known as Alois Alzheimer, was a German psychiatrist and neuropathologist and a colleague of Emil Kraepelin. Alzheimer is credited with identifying the first published case of “presenile dementia”, which Kraepelin would later identify as Alzheimer’s disease. From his youth Alois Alzheimer excelled in science and attended […]
Amalie Emmy Noether: The Revolutionary Mathematician Who Changed the World of Physics-Amalie Emmy Noether, born in Erlangen, Germany, on March 23, 1882, stands as a towering figure in the realms of mathematics and physics. Renowned for her pioneering contributions to abstract algebra and theoretical physics, Noether is recognized as one of the pivotal mathematicians of the 20th century. This article explores the life, obstacles, and significant […]
Arthur Schopenhauer-Arthur Schopenhauer (22 February 1788 – 21 September 1860) was one of the greatest philosophers of the 19th century, known for his philosophy of pessimism and for his emphasis on the will. He claimed that our world is driven by a continually dissatisfied will, continually seeking satisfaction. A key focus of Schopenhauer was his investigation […]
Baron von Steuben-How about getting couple of centuries back into the colonial America? Let us have a look at the American struggle for independence and learn about the crucial role of the German General von Steuben in it. Born in Magdeburg, Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus von Steuben became a soldier at 16 and served under Frederick the […]
Bertha Benz – the Automotive Pioneer-Bertha Benz (May 3, 1849 – May 5, 1944) was a German automotive pioneer. She was the business partner and wife of automobile inventor Karl Benz. In 1888, she was the first person to drive an automobile over a long distance. In doing so, she brought the Benz Patent-Motorwagen worldwide attention and got the company […]
Bertolt Brecht-Bertolt Brecht, The Man Who Put Germany on Stage Eugene Bertolt Friedrich Brecht was born on February 10, 1898, in Augsburg, Bavaria. Brecht was an outstanding personality: a poet, a playwright, a theatrical reformer. An influential theater practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly […]
Bismarck and his Empire-In 1867 the North German Confederation was established. It was an unbelievable political success at that time. On the other hand, Bismarck’s wish to see Germany united would not have been totally satisfied without the southern states attached to it. Thus Bismarck set about trying to add the southern states to the Confederation. The beginning negotiations, […]
Boris Becker-Over the course of his career, Becker won 49 singles titles and 15 doubles titles. Besides his six Grand Slam titles, he was also a singles winner in the year-end Tennis Masters Cup in 1988, 1992, and 1995, and at the Grand Slam Cup in 1996. He won a record-equaling four singles titles at London’s […]
Carl Clausewitz-Carl Philipp Gottfried von Clausewitz (01 June 1780 – 16 November 1831) was a famous Prussian soldier and military strategist. He is a well-known personality in the warfare affairs due to his fundamental military theories and historical works, such as On War (Vom Kriege). Biographic Facts Clausewitz was a middle-class representative by birth. He was […]
Carl Friedrich Gauss – The Prince of Mathematics-Carl Friedrich Gauss, original name Johann Friedrich Carl Gauss, (born April 30, 1777, Brunswick – died February 23, 1855, Göttingen, Hanover), German mathematician, generally regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians of all time for his contributions to number theory, geometry, probability theory, geodesy, planetary astronomy, the theory of functions, and potential theory (including electromagnetism). […]
Carl Spitzweg – German Romanticist Painter-Carl Spitzweg (born on February 5, 1808 – died on September 23, 1885) was a German romanticist painter, especially of genre subjects. He is considered to be one of the most important artists of the Biedermeier era. The Biedermeier period refers to an era in Central Europe between 1815 and 1848, during which the middle […]
Carl von Linde Who Gave the World the Refrigerator-Carl von Linde was a German engineer (born on June 11, 1842 – died on November 16, 1934). Linde was best known for his refrigeration and gas separation technologies. Carl von Linde was the first person to extract oxygen gas from the air, making it a commercially viable product and thus launching the industrial gas […]
Carl Zeiss-Carl Zeiss (September 11, 1816—December 3, 1888) was a German industrialist who gained a worldwide reputation as a manufacturer of fine optical instruments. The firm of Carl Zeiss grew to one of the largest and most respected optical firms in the world. Carl showed an interest in technical studies very early, to the extent that […]
Caspar David Friedrich-Caspar David Friedrich, (born on September 5, 1774, Greifswald, Pomerania [now in Germany] – died on May 7, 1840, Dresden, Saxony), was a 19th-century German Romantic landscape painter, generally considered the most important German artist of his generation. His vast, mysterious, atmospheric landscapes and seascapes proclaimed human helplessness against the forces of nature and did […]
Clara Schumann, German Composer and Pianist-Clara Schumann was trained from the age of 5 with her father, the well-known piano pedagogue Friedrich Wieck. Prior to beginning her lessons, young Clara had only uttered her first words some time between 4 and 5 years old. In fact, she described herself as understanding as little as she spoke and as having disinterest […]
Coffee Filter Invention: Melitta Bentz’s Revolution-Coffee, a beverage cherished by millions around the world, owes much of its popularity and convenience to a simple yet ingenious invention: the coffee filter. In this article, we delve into the history, evolution, and impact of the coffee filter, a pivotal innovation in the world of coffee brewing. The Birth of the Coffee Filter: […]
Cosima Wagner – the Lady of Bayreuth and Richard Wagner’s Wife-“I had neither mother nor father. Richard was everything to me. He is the only one who has given me love. “ – Cosima Wagner Cosima Wagner (born December 25, 1837, Bellagio, Lombardy, Austrian Empire [now in Italy] – died April 1, 1930, Bayreuth, Germany), wife of the composer Richard Wagner and director of the […]
Eckhart Tolle: Awakening to the Power of Presence-Eckhart Tolle, a spiritual teacher and author, has had a profound impact on millions of people around the world with his teachings on mindfulness, presence, and the power of the present moment. Through his books, lectures, and retreats, Tolle has inspired countless individuals to embark on a journey of self-discovery and inner transformation. Born in […]
Emmy Noether – German Mathematical Genius-Emmy Noether (March 23, 1882 – April 14, 1935) was a German mathematician known for her landmark contributions to abstract algebra and theoretical physics. She was named Amalie, but always called “Emmy”. She was the eldest of four children, but one of only two that survived childhood. Her brother, Fritz also made a career of […]
Erich Maria Remarque-Remarque is one of the most popular and most widely-read authors of German literature in the 20th century. His works have been translated in more than 50 languages. Erich Maria Remarque was born on June 22, 1898 in Osnabrueck, Germany, where the Erich Maria Remarque Gesellschaft was afterwards founded. He was born as Erich Paul […]
Ernst Lubitsch: a German Who Conquered Hollywood-A sky-rocket way from a stage performer to a sophisticated comedy director. Ernst Lubitsch (January 28, 1892 – November 30, 1947) was “a man of pure cinema”, as Alfred Hitchcock said. He was an actor, a director, a producer. And a writer! All these jobs he did extraordinarily successfully. Who else could boast of 75 […]
Exploring the Depths of German Philosophy: A Journey Through Time and Thought-German philosophy, a beacon of intellectual thought, has profoundly shaped the landscape of modern philosophy. From the intricate ideas of Immanuel Kant to the existential musings of Friedrich Nietzsche, German thinkers have continuously pushed the boundaries of knowledge, ethics, and metaphysics. This article delves into the heart of German philosophical traditions, exploring its historical evolution, […]
Felix Mendelssohn Who Gave the Wedding March to the World-Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (born on February 3, 1809 – died on November 4, 1847), born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early romantic period. Felix Mendelssohn wrote Overture to a Midsummer Night’s Dream and founded the Leipzig Conservatory of Music. A grandson of […]
Franz Xaver Winterhalter – German Painter Who Beautified the Royalty-Franz Xaver Winterhalter (20 April 1805 – 8 July 1873) was a German artist best known for his airy, idealized portraits of European royalty that were influenced by the Rococo and Neoclassical painting. Born in a small village in Germany’s Black Forest, Franz Xaver Winterhalter left his home to study painting at the academy in Munich. […]
Friedrich Nietzsche Quotes-There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness. Friedrich Nietzsche, “On Reading and Writing” But thus do I counsel you, my friends: distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful! Friedrich Nietzsche, Also Sprach Zarathustra Digressions, objections, delight in mockery, carefree mistrust are signs of […]
Friedrich von Schiller – the German Genius of Beauty and Freedom-Friedrich Schiller (November 10, 1759 – May 9, 1805), later ennobled to Friedrich von Schiller by the Duke of Wurttemberg, is one of the most famous German philosophers, playwrights and poets. Although he was born and grew up in Wurttemberg, the peak of his power happened while he was living in Weimar. The destiny joined […]
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche-The Irrational Genius, or Why Am I so Wise? Turbulent life of Friedrich Nietzsche The cure for love is still in most cases that ancient radical medicine: love in return.— Friedrich Nietzsche Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was born on October 15, 1844 in a small Prussian town of Roecken. The date of his birth coincided with […]
Georg Cantor-Georg Cantor was an outstanding violinist, but an even more outstanding mathematician. He was born on March 3, 1845, in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where he lived until he was eleven. Thereafter, the family moved to Germany, and Cantor received his remaining education at Darmstradt, Zürich, Berlin and (almost inevitably) Göttingen before marrying and settling at […]
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel: Philosophy and Influence-Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831) was a German philosopher who profoundly influenced Western thought. His work traversed a wide range of subjects, including philosophy, history, politics, and society. Hegel is best known for his development of dialectical reasoning and absolute idealism, which have had a lasting impact on various intellectual domains. This article provides an […]
George Frideric Handel-George Frideric Handel (born Georg Friedrich Händel on February 23, 1685 – died on April 14, 1759) was a German, later British, baroque composer who spent the bulk of his career in London, becoming well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, and organ concertos. Although born in Halle, Germany, to German parents, he spent the […]
Gerhard Richter-Gerhard Richter – the Famous German Artist Gerhard Richter was born in Dresden in 1932 to a middle class family. He left school after tenth grade and apprenticed as an advertising and stage-set painter, before studying at the Dresden Art Academy. Gerhard Richter taught as a visiting professor in Hamburg and in 1971 became tenured […]
Gerhard Schroeder: “I’m a climber”-On September 27, 1998, Gerhard Schroeder, a “bluff and combative” legislator from Lower Saxony, was chosen a new chancellor of Germany. Mass media consider him to be a “breath of fresh air” after 16 years of Helmut Kohl’s governing. This was a big news for the whole political world. The event hit the headlines of […]
German Power Women that Have Changed the World-German Socialist Luise Zietz proposed the establishment of an annual International Woman’s Day and was seconded by fellow socialist and later communist leader Clara Zetkin, supported by Käte Duncker, although no date was specified at that conference. Delegates (100 women from 17 countries) agreed with the idea as a strategy to promote equal rights including […]
German Women – Scientists and Inventors-Here are seven German female inventors whose innovations, both large and small, have improved our world in various ways. Caroline Lucretia Herschel Caroline Lucretia Herschel (1750-1848) was the first woman to receive full recognition in the world of astronomy. Between 1786 and 1797, she discovered eight comets and 14 nebulae. She received many rewards, including […]
Germany Under Hitler and the Nazi-Nationalism is an infantile idea. It is a measles of mankind. —Albert Einstein The stars must have been in a special position above the Austrian town Braunau on April 20, 1889, when Adolf Hitler was born. Neither his father Alois Schickelgruber Hitler whom Adolf hated, nor his mother Klara Poelzl whom he, to the contrary, […]
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz: A Pioneering Polymath of the 17th Century-Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, a name synonymous with intellectual brilliance, stands tall in the annals of history as a pioneering polymath whose contributions spanned across mathematics, philosophy, law, and science. Born in Leipzig, Germany, in 1646, Leibniz’s life and work left an indelible mark on various domains, firmly establishing him as a key figure of the […]
Hans Spemann and the Beginnings of Cloning-Hans Spemann (born June 27, 1869, Stuttgart, Württemberg – died Sept. 12, 1941, Freiburg im Breisgau, Ger.), German embryologist who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1935 for his discovery of the effect now known as embryonic induction, the influence exercised by various parts of the embryo that directs the development […]
He Was the First, or Happy Birthday, Computer!-He Was the First, or Happy Birthday, Computer! Konrad Zuse is considered to be the inventor of the first computer in the world. Z3 — the first fully functional program-controlled electromechanical digital computer in the world — was completed by Konrad Zuse in 1941. Konrad Zuse was born on June 22, 1910, in Berlin. He […]
Heinrich Hertz – German Scientist and Physicist-Heinrich Hertz (born on February 22, 1857 in Hamburg – died on January 1, 1894 in Bonn) was a German scientist and physicist who became the first scientist to prove that electromagnetic waves did indeed have an existence and in so doing he proved what had only been a theory first put forwards by the […]
Heinrich Theodor Böll-Heinrich Theodor Böll was born on December 21, 1917 in Cologne. His father was a sculptor and cabinet-maker. Böll’s Catholic, pacifist family opposed the rise of Nazism. Between 1924 and 1928, the future writer attended elementary school in Köln Raderthal, and from 1928 to 1937, the state-run Kaiser-Wilhelm classical secondary school in Cologne. He successfully […]
Helmut Schmidt-Following Brandt’s resignation in May 1974, the SPD-FDP coalition partners unanimously agreed that Minister of Finance Helmut Schmidt should head the new government. At fifty-five, Helmut Schmidt became the youngest chancellor of the FRG. Born in Hamburg in 1918, he served as an officer in World War II. After the war, he joined the SPD […]
Hermann Hesse-German literature is rich in talented people with extraordinary views and lifestyle. One of them, to our opinion, is worth of special attention – Hermann Hesse. He was born into a family of Pietist missionaries in the German state of Wüttenberg on July 2, 1877. The boy was expected to continue his family way, but […]
Hermann Hesse: Creativity As a Way To Yourself-“From my thirteenth year on, it was clear to me that I wanted to be either a poet or nothing at all.” (“Life Story Briefly Told” H.Hesse) Hermann Hesse’s creativity has explored the duality of nature and individual’s spiritual search, breaking all social rules. His novels “Steppenwolf”, “Demian, Siddhartha”,“The Glass Bead Game” have sold in […]
Immanuel Kant-Immanuel Kant (April 22, 1724 – February 12, 1804) was a German philosopher whose comprehensive and systematic work in epistemology (the theory of knowledge), ethics, and aesthetics greatly influenced all subsequent philosophy, especially the various schools of Kantianism and idealism. Kant was one of the foremost thinkers of the Enlightenment and arguably one of the […]
Immanuel Kant Quotes-Immanuel Kant (22 April 1724 – 12 February 1804) was a German philosopher who is a central figure in modern philosophy. His influence extends to not only to philosophy itself, but also to the social sciences and humanities in general. Below you will find our collection of inspirational and wise Immanuel Kant quotes. Happiness is […]
In the Shadows of Enchanted Woods: A Journey Through The Grimms’ Brothers Fairy Tales-In the hushed stillness of a long-forgotten forest, where moss-laden trees whisper secrets of yore and the wind carries tales of times long passed, there lies a treasure most profound— the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. Just as in their tales, this article will endeavour to unravel their world, not in the clear prose […]
Johann Sebastian Bach-Johann Sebastian Bach (March 21, 1685 – July 28, 1750) was the master of Baroque composition who in his later years held the post of music director in Leipzig, Germany. Bach’s abilities as an organist were highly respected throughout Europe during his lifetime, although he was not widely recognised as a great composer until a […]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, A Citizen Of the World-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), German poet, playwright, novelist, and natural philosopher is best known for his two-part poetic drama Faust, (1808-1832) which he started around the age of twenty three and didn’t finish till shortly before his death sixty years later. He is considered one of the greatest contributors of the German Romantic period. […]
Johannes Brahms-Johannes Brahms is the German composer and is called the Beethoven’s true successor in the German music. Johannes Brahms was born in 1833 in Hamburg, however, the most important and latest part of his life devoted to Vienna. Brahms started his composing being inspired by the Hungarian and German folklore music and later became a […]
Johannes Gutenberg-Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg (born in Mainz around 1400 – died on February 3, 1468) was a German blacksmith, goldsmith, printer, and publisher who introduced printing to Europe with the printing press. His introduction of mechanical movable type printing to Europe started the Printing Revolution and is regarded as a milestone of the […]
Johannes Kepler-Johannes Kepler (December 27, 1571 – November 15, 1630) was a German mathematician, astronomer, and astrologer who discovered the ovoid movements of the planets around the sun. The first astronomer to state the fundamental laws of planetary motion, Kepler was also known for his works in geometry, optics and philosophy. His significant achievements have been […]
Josef Mengele – the Infamous Nazi Doctor-Some readers may accuse such action to place an article about the person who brought great shame and shadow to German history into the ‘Famous People’ link. But Dr. Josef Mengele was one of the most infamous persons in German history and everybody must remember his name in order to prevent the horror in a […]
Kaethe Kollwitz – the Artist of Grief-Käthe Kollwitz is considered to be the brightest German artist of the 20th century I do not want to die . . . until I have faithfully made the most of my talent and cultivated the seed that was placed in me until the last small twig has grown. — Kaethe Kollwitz Kollwitz was gifted […]
Karl der Große, or Charlemagne-Charlemagne (April 2, 742 – January 28, 814), numbered Charles I, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774 and Emperor of the Romans from 800. He united much of Europe during the early Middle Ages. He was the first recognized emperor in western Europe since the fall of the […]
Karl Drais, the Bicycle and Typewriter Inventor-Karl Freiherr von Drais (born on 29 April 1785 in Karlsruhe – died on 10 December 1851 in Karlsruhe as well) was a German forest official and significant inventor in the Biedermeier period. Drais was a prolific inventor, who invented the Laufmaschine (“running machine”), also later called the Velocipede, Draisine (English) or draisienne (French), also […]
Karl Friedrich Hieronymus Freiherr von Münchhausen, the Baron of Lies-Karl Friedrich Hieronymus Freiherr von Münchhausen, also known as “the baron of lies” (born May 11, 1720, Bodenwerder, Hanover – died February 22, 1797, Bodenwerder), initially served as a page to Prince Anton Ulrich von Braunschweig, and later as a cornet, lieutenant and cavalry captain with a Russian regiment in two Turkish wars. In 1760 […]
Karl Marx, Whose Philosophy Shaped the 20th Century-Karl Marx, in full Karl Heinrich Marx, (born May 5, 1818, Trier, Rhine province, Prussia [Germany]—died March 14, 1883, London, England), revolutionary, sociologist, philosopher, historian, and economist. He published (with Friedrich Engels) Manifest der Kommunistischen Partei (1848), commonly known as The Communist Manifesto, the most celebrated pamphlet in the history of the socialist movement. He […]
Katharina Paulus: The German Inventor Who Revolutionized Early Aviation-In the annals of aviation history, few names are as pioneering as Katharina Paulus, a German inventor whose ingenuity and courage reshaped the early world of flight. Her remarkable contribution to the development of the parachute not only revolutionized aviation safety but also carved a path for women in a field dominated by men. Early […]
Katharina von Bora-Katharina von Bora, after her wedding Katharina Luther, also referred to as “die Lutherin”, was the wife of Martin Luther, German reformer and a seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation. Beyond what is found in the writings of Luther and some of his contemporaries, little is known about her. Born into a noble but poor […]
Levi Strauss-The Origin of Levi’s Denim Blue Jeans The great father of blue jeans, Levi Strauss (February 26, 1829 – September 26, 1902) was a German-born American entrepreneur, Jewish by birth. Loeb Strauss (he liked the name “Levi Strauss”) was born in Buttenheim in Franconia, Bavaria in 1829. The 18-year-old German immigrant left for New York […]
Ludwig van Beethoven-Beethoven was born in 1770 in Bonn, however, most of his life of a musician he spent in Vienna. Of the seven children born to Johann van Beethoven, only Ludwig, the second-born, and two younger brothers survived infancy. Beethoven’s musical talent was obvious at a young age. His first music teacher was his father. Although […]
Marlene Dietrich – The Immortal Legend of Glamour-Marlene Dietrich (27 December 1901 – 6 May 1992) was a German-American actress and singer. Dietrich remained popular throughout her long career by continually re-inventing herself, professionally and personally. In the Berlin of the 1920s, she acted on the stage and in silent films. Her performance as “Lola-Lola” in The Blue Angel, directed by Josef […]
Martin Luther-On the eve of All Saints’ Day in 1517, Martin Luther, a professor of theology at Wittenberg University in Saxony, posted ninety-five theses on a church door. Luther’s primary concern was the sale of indulgences–papal grants of reduced punishment in the afterlife, including releases from purgatory. First written in Latin, the theses were soon translated […]
Max Planck-Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck, or simply Max Planck (born in Kiel on April 23, 1858 – died in Göttingen on October 4, 1947) was a German theoretical physicist. Planck made many contributions to theoretical physics, but his fame as a physicist rests primarily on his role as the originator of quantum theory, which revolutionized […]
Michael Schumacher – German Racing Star-Michael Schumacher is a seven-time World Champion F1 driver and tops the list of most Grand Prix wins in the history of Formula One. His career statistics – including an astonishing 91 wins – are so incredible they will probably never be beaten. Early years Schumacher was born on January 3, 1969 to Rolf and […]
Möbius Strip and Its Inventor-The Möbius strip or Möbius band is a surface with only one side and only one boundary component. The Möbius strip has the mathematical property of being non-orientable. It can be realized as a ruled surface. It was discovered independently by the German mathematicians August Ferdinand Möbius and Johann Benedict Listing in 1858. August Ferdinand […]
Oskar Schindler-We all know the story of Oskar Schindler from Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award-winning film Schindler’s List. Oskar Schindler was a remarkable man who miraculously saved more than 1,200 Jews from the gas chambers. He did what nobody else did in those scary times of death camps and mass murder. He was all that stood between his […]
Otto Hahn – German Chemist-Otto Hahn (1879-1968) was a German Chemist, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1944 – for his work in discovering nuclear fission. He was a distinguished chemist who worked in the pioneering fields of radio chemistry. After the Second World War, he was a campaigner against the use of nuclear weapons and […]
Otto von Bismarck – The Iron Chancellor of Germany-Under the “Iron Chancellor”, Otto von Bismarck, Germany grew from a loose confederation of weak states to a unified powerful empire. His smart and dashing way of making politics (winning three wars in eight years!) led to the extension of German borders and the rapid growth of German industry. Bismarck was born on April 1, […]
Otto Waalkes-Otto Gerhard Waalkes (born 22 July 1948 in Emden, Germany) is a Frisian comedian and actor. Otto Waalkes became famous in the early 70s by drawing little childish elephants he called Ottifants (‘Ottiphants’). Later, he went on tour, brandishing a guitar and accompanied by Ottifants. Later still he branched into film, shooting Otto: The Movie […]
Rainer Werner Fassbinder-“I would like to build a house with my films.” Rainer Werner Maria Fassbinder (May 31, 1945 – June 10, 1982) is one of the most important representatives of the New German Cinema. He was the first to announce, that grandpa’s cinema (“Opas Kino”) was dead. Rainer dreamed to merge the division of labor of […]
Rammstein – the creators of ‘Tanz (dance) Metal’ style in music-Rammstein is a German band that was formed in 1994. Rammstein musical style incorporates elements of metal/hard rock, industrial metal, and electronic music, which the band has termed ‘Tanz (dance) Metal’. Their songs are performed almost exclusively in German. They have sold over 12 million records worldwide. The Story Rammstein was started by Richard Z. […]
Richard Kruspe – Father and Lead-Guitarist of Rammstein-Richard Z. Kruspe was born in Wittenberge, East Germany on June 24, 1967. He has two older sisters and brother. His parents divorced when he was young.His mother remarried, but he did not get along with his stepfather. As a child, Richard was a fan of KISS. When he was twelve, he had a KISS […]
Richard Wagner-“I am the most German being, I am the German spirit.”Richard Wagner Richard Wagner considered himself to be “the most German of men”. He wrote such great operas as “Tristan und Isolde”, “Parsifal”, “Der fliegende Hollaender”, “Der Ring des Nibelungen”, and others. He actively participated in the revolution of 1849. He had numerous love affairs. He […]
Richard Wagner and His Women-Richard Wagner was not only a great and productive composer, he was also an extremely amorous man. In 1834 Wagner met Christine Wilhelmine (Minna) Planer, an actress, and in 1836 they got married. The marriage was far from successful. To the contrary, it was quite “stormy” because of Minna’s and Wagner’s numerous love affairs on […]
Robert Koch-Robert Heinrich Hermann Koch (born on December 11, 1843 in Clausthal – died on May 27, 1910 in Baden-Baden) was a German physician and microbiologist. As the founder of modern bacteriology, he identified the specific causative agents of tuberculosis, cholera, and anthrax and gave experimental support for the concept of infectious disease. Germany has produced […]
Robert Schumann-Robert Schumann (born in Zwickau on June 8, 1810 – died in Bonn on July 29, 1856) was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He […]
Rudolf Diesel, His Invention and Mysterious Death- Circumstances of Rudolf Diesel’s death are considered to be a suspicious enigma for us even now. Dr. Rudolf Diesel boarded “SS Dresden”, a cross-channel ferry, at Antwerp in September 1913. He was going to see the newest diesel engine factory of London. The famous engineer was invited as a guest of honor to the […]
Rudolf Epp, the Man Who Loved Painting Cats-Rudolf Epp (July 30, 1834 – August 8, 1910) was a German realist painter, associated with the Munich School. Rudolf Epp was born in 1834 in Eberbach am Neckar, the son of a decorative painter. After he had started drawing from his own initiative and was artistically active, he was first taught by the landscape […]
Sebastian Krüger-Sebastian Krüger is a German artist. He was born on June 30, 1963, in Hamelin. After studying free painting with Prof. Dörfler at the Braunschweig University of Fine Arts he made a stunning reputation as the designer of a number of cover spreads for the press in Germany and abroad and as an illustrator and […]
The German Influence on Classical Music: Composers Who Shaped the World-Classical music owes much of its development to the profound contributions of German composers. The rich musical heritage of Germany has produced some of the most influential and revered figures in the history of classical music. These composers not only shaped the music of their time but also left a lasting legacy that continues to […]
The Grimms’ Brothers Fairy Tales: Timeless Magic in Storytelling-From enchanting princesses asleep in faraway castles to mischievous creatures causing mayhem, the fairy tales penned by the Grimms’ Brothers have cast a spell over generations. Their cultural legacy is undeniably significant, making them synonymous with the very essence of storytelling. If you’ve ever been curious about the timeless magic encapsulated within the pages of […]
The Man Who Founded the First Realschule-Johann Julius Hecker (December 2, 1707 – June 24, 1768) was a German educator who established the first Realschule and Prussia’s first teacher-education institution. Hecker was born to a family of educators in Werden, then part of Prussia. As a young man, he formed an interest in theology and was drawn to pietism and the […]
Wanderer above the Sea of Fog-Wanderer above the Sea of Fog (Der Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer), also known as Wanderer above the Mist or Mountaineer in a Misty Landscape, is an oil painting c. 1818 by the German Romantic artist Caspar David Friedrich. It has been considered one of the masterpieces of Romanticism and one of its most representative works. […]
Werner Heisenberg-Werner Heisenberg was a German scientist and philosopher who was influential in the research of quantum mechanics in the mid-1900s. Heisenberg was born on December 5, 1901, in Würzburg, Germany. His father was a professor of medieval and Greek studies. He studied physics under Max Born at the ‘University of Munich’, receiving his doctorate in […]
Werner Herzog-“Together, I said, we shall boil fire and stop fish.” Werner Herzog (real name Werner H. Stipetic) was born in Munich on September 5, 1942. He grew up in a remote mountain village, where were any films, television, or telephones. In the age of 14 he decided to see the world and started traveling […]
Who Invented Kindergarten?-For many people a kindergarten is associated with • a nursery school equipped with toys, building blocks, book puzzles, art supplies, and an outdoor playground; • day care attendance for the children of working parents; • an institution for early childhood development at the same time. Its aim is to bring up self-confident and social […]
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen – The X-Ray Discoverer-Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (March 27, 1845 – Feb. 10, 1923) was a German physicist who was a recipient of the first Nobel Prize for Physics, in 1901, for his discovery of X-rays, which heralded the age of modern physics and revolutionized diagnostic medicine. Röntgen studied at the Polytechnic in Zürich and then was professor of […]
Wilhelm Hoffmann – E.T.A. Hoffman-E(rnst) T(heodor) A(madeus) Wilhelm Hoffmann (1776-1822) was a German writer, composer, caricaturist, and painter, mostly known for his stories in which supernatural characters reveal people’s hidden secrets. Hoffmann’s first passions were music and painting, and only in the middle of his short life he started writing. His fiction works were the first examples of the […]
Wilhelm Wundt – Father of Psychology-Wilhelm Maximilian Wundt (born on August 16, 1832 – died on August 31, 1920) was a German physician, physiologist and philosopher widely regarded as the “father of experimental psychology”. Wundt, who noted psychology as a science apart from philosophy and biology, was the first person ever to call himself a psychologist. Wundt was born at […]
Wim Wenders – German Film Director, Producer and Writer-“I want to make personal films, not private films.” Wim Wenders was born to create. He recognized it at high school in Oberhausen, where Wim began his studies in medicine and philosophy. Wenders decided to become a painter and moved to Paris, where he failed his entry test at the Art Academy. But this failure […]
Albert Einstein - When we hear the name of Albert Einstein, we mostly just think of two things: a) Genius of physics, b) E=mc2. But there is more to know about Albert Einstein than just that. Einstein was a theoretical physicist who developed the general theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics (alongside quantum […]
Albert Einstein Quotes - Here you can find the best Quotes of Albert Einstein – a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity. The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you […]
Albert Schweitzer – Nobel Peace Prize Winner - Albert Schweitzer was an Alsatian-German theologian, philosopher, organist, and mission doctor in equatorial Africa, whose goal was the Brotherhood of Nations. A Lutheran, Schweitzer challenged both the secular view of Jesus as depicted by historical-critical methodology current at this time, as well as the traditional Christian view. His contributions to the interpretation of Pauline Christianity […]
Albrecht Dürer - Sometimes it feels so good to get into high antiquity and have a look at the great masters whose works are still alive and admired. The art of 15th century in Germany is marked with the period of Renaissance. The revival of fine arts of that time was intensive and full of different schools and […]
Alexander von Humboldt – German Naturalist and Explorer - Alexander von Humboldt (born Sept. 14, 1769, Berlin—died May 6, 1859, Berlin), a German naturalist and explorer who was a major figure in the classical period of physical geography and biogeography—areas of science now included in the earth sciences and ecology. With his book Kosmos he made a valuable contribution to the popularization of science. […]
Alois Alzheimer - Aloysius Alzheimer (June 14, 1864 – December 19, 1915), known as Alois Alzheimer, was a German psychiatrist and neuropathologist and a colleague of Emil Kraepelin. Alzheimer is credited with identifying the first published case of “presenile dementia”, which Kraepelin would later identify as Alzheimer’s disease. From his youth Alois Alzheimer excelled in science and attended […]
Amalie Emmy Noether: The Revolutionary Mathematician Who Changed the World of Physics - Amalie Emmy Noether, born in Erlangen, Germany, on March 23, 1882, stands as a towering figure in the realms of mathematics and physics. Renowned for her pioneering contributions to abstract algebra and theoretical physics, Noether is recognized as one of the pivotal mathematicians of the 20th century. This article explores the life, obstacles, and significant […]
Arthur Schopenhauer - Arthur Schopenhauer (22 February 1788 – 21 September 1860) was one of the greatest philosophers of the 19th century, known for his philosophy of pessimism and for his emphasis on the will. He claimed that our world is driven by a continually dissatisfied will, continually seeking satisfaction. A key focus of Schopenhauer was his investigation […]
Baron von Steuben - How about getting couple of centuries back into the colonial America? Let us have a look at the American struggle for independence and learn about the crucial role of the German General von Steuben in it. Born in Magdeburg, Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus von Steuben became a soldier at 16 and served under Frederick the […]
Bertha Benz – the Automotive Pioneer - Bertha Benz (May 3, 1849 – May 5, 1944) was a German automotive pioneer. She was the business partner and wife of automobile inventor Karl Benz. In 1888, she was the first person to drive an automobile over a long distance. In doing so, she brought the Benz Patent-Motorwagen worldwide attention and got the company […]
Bertolt Brecht - Bertolt Brecht, The Man Who Put Germany on Stage Eugene Bertolt Friedrich Brecht was born on February 10, 1898, in Augsburg, Bavaria. Brecht was an outstanding personality: a poet, a playwright, a theatrical reformer. An influential theater practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly […]
Bismarck and his Empire - In 1867 the North German Confederation was established. It was an unbelievable political success at that time. On the other hand, Bismarck’s wish to see Germany united would not have been totally satisfied without the southern states attached to it. Thus Bismarck set about trying to add the southern states to the Confederation. The beginning negotiations, […]
Boris Becker - Over the course of his career, Becker won 49 singles titles and 15 doubles titles. Besides his six Grand Slam titles, he was also a singles winner in the year-end Tennis Masters Cup in 1988, 1992, and 1995, and at the Grand Slam Cup in 1996. He won a record-equaling four singles titles at London’s […]
Carl Clausewitz - Carl Philipp Gottfried von Clausewitz (01 June 1780 – 16 November 1831) was a famous Prussian soldier and military strategist. He is a well-known personality in the warfare affairs due to his fundamental military theories and historical works, such as On War (Vom Kriege). Biographic Facts Clausewitz was a middle-class representative by birth. He was […]
Carl Friedrich Gauss – The Prince of Mathematics - Carl Friedrich Gauss, original name Johann Friedrich Carl Gauss, (born April 30, 1777, Brunswick – died February 23, 1855, Göttingen, Hanover), German mathematician, generally regarded as one of the greatest mathematicians of all time for his contributions to number theory, geometry, probability theory, geodesy, planetary astronomy, the theory of functions, and potential theory (including electromagnetism). […]
Carl Spitzweg – German Romanticist Painter - Carl Spitzweg (born on February 5, 1808 – died on September 23, 1885) was a German romanticist painter, especially of genre subjects. He is considered to be one of the most important artists of the Biedermeier era. The Biedermeier period refers to an era in Central Europe between 1815 and 1848, during which the middle […]
Carl von Linde Who Gave the World the Refrigerator - Carl von Linde was a German engineer (born on June 11, 1842 – died on November 16, 1934). Linde was best known for his refrigeration and gas separation technologies. Carl von Linde was the first person to extract oxygen gas from the air, making it a commercially viable product and thus launching the industrial gas […]
Carl Zeiss - Carl Zeiss (September 11, 1816—December 3, 1888) was a German industrialist who gained a worldwide reputation as a manufacturer of fine optical instruments. The firm of Carl Zeiss grew to one of the largest and most respected optical firms in the world. Carl showed an interest in technical studies very early, to the extent that […]
Caspar David Friedrich - Caspar David Friedrich, (born on September 5, 1774, Greifswald, Pomerania [now in Germany] – died on May 7, 1840, Dresden, Saxony), was a 19th-century German Romantic landscape painter, generally considered the most important German artist of his generation. His vast, mysterious, atmospheric landscapes and seascapes proclaimed human helplessness against the forces of nature and did […]
Clara Schumann, German Composer and Pianist - Clara Schumann was trained from the age of 5 with her father, the well-known piano pedagogue Friedrich Wieck. Prior to beginning her lessons, young Clara had only uttered her first words some time between 4 and 5 years old. In fact, she described herself as understanding as little as she spoke and as having disinterest […]
Coffee Filter Invention: Melitta Bentz’s Revolution - Coffee, a beverage cherished by millions around the world, owes much of its popularity and convenience to a simple yet ingenious invention: the coffee filter. In this article, we delve into the history, evolution, and impact of the coffee filter, a pivotal innovation in the world of coffee brewing. The Birth of the Coffee Filter: […]
Cosima Wagner – the Lady of Bayreuth and Richard Wagner’s Wife - “I had neither mother nor father. Richard was everything to me. He is the only one who has given me love. “ – Cosima Wagner Cosima Wagner (born December 25, 1837, Bellagio, Lombardy, Austrian Empire [now in Italy] – died April 1, 1930, Bayreuth, Germany), wife of the composer Richard Wagner and director of the […]
Eckhart Tolle: Awakening to the Power of Presence - Eckhart Tolle, a spiritual teacher and author, has had a profound impact on millions of people around the world with his teachings on mindfulness, presence, and the power of the present moment. Through his books, lectures, and retreats, Tolle has inspired countless individuals to embark on a journey of self-discovery and inner transformation. Born in […]
Emmy Noether – German Mathematical Genius - Emmy Noether (March 23, 1882 – April 14, 1935) was a German mathematician known for her landmark contributions to abstract algebra and theoretical physics. She was named Amalie, but always called “Emmy”. She was the eldest of four children, but one of only two that survived childhood. Her brother, Fritz also made a career of […]
Erich Maria Remarque - Remarque is one of the most popular and most widely-read authors of German literature in the 20th century. His works have been translated in more than 50 languages. Erich Maria Remarque was born on June 22, 1898 in Osnabrueck, Germany, where the Erich Maria Remarque Gesellschaft was afterwards founded. He was born as Erich Paul […]
Ernst Lubitsch: a German Who Conquered Hollywood - A sky-rocket way from a stage performer to a sophisticated comedy director. Ernst Lubitsch (January 28, 1892 – November 30, 1947) was “a man of pure cinema”, as Alfred Hitchcock said. He was an actor, a director, a producer. And a writer! All these jobs he did extraordinarily successfully. Who else could boast of 75 […]
Exploring the Depths of German Philosophy: A Journey Through Time and Thought - German philosophy, a beacon of intellectual thought, has profoundly shaped the landscape of modern philosophy. From the intricate ideas of Immanuel Kant to the existential musings of Friedrich Nietzsche, German thinkers have continuously pushed the boundaries of knowledge, ethics, and metaphysics. This article delves into the heart of German philosophical traditions, exploring its historical evolution, […]
Felix Mendelssohn Who Gave the Wedding March to the World - Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (born on February 3, 1809 – died on November 4, 1847), born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early romantic period. Felix Mendelssohn wrote Overture to a Midsummer Night’s Dream and founded the Leipzig Conservatory of Music. A grandson of […]
Franz Xaver Winterhalter – German Painter Who Beautified the Royalty - Franz Xaver Winterhalter (20 April 1805 – 8 July 1873) was a German artist best known for his airy, idealized portraits of European royalty that were influenced by the Rococo and Neoclassical painting. Born in a small village in Germany’s Black Forest, Franz Xaver Winterhalter left his home to study painting at the academy in Munich. […]
Friedrich Nietzsche Quotes - There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness. Friedrich Nietzsche, “On Reading and Writing” But thus do I counsel you, my friends: distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful! Friedrich Nietzsche, Also Sprach Zarathustra Digressions, objections, delight in mockery, carefree mistrust are signs of […]
Friedrich von Schiller – the German Genius of Beauty and Freedom - Friedrich Schiller (November 10, 1759 – May 9, 1805), later ennobled to Friedrich von Schiller by the Duke of Wurttemberg, is one of the most famous German philosophers, playwrights and poets. Although he was born and grew up in Wurttemberg, the peak of his power happened while he was living in Weimar. The destiny joined […]
Georg Cantor - Georg Cantor was an outstanding violinist, but an even more outstanding mathematician. He was born on March 3, 1845, in Saint Petersburg, Russia, where he lived until he was eleven. Thereafter, the family moved to Germany, and Cantor received his remaining education at Darmstradt, Zürich, Berlin and (almost inevitably) Göttingen before marrying and settling at […]
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel: Philosophy and Influence - Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831) was a German philosopher who profoundly influenced Western thought. His work traversed a wide range of subjects, including philosophy, history, politics, and society. Hegel is best known for his development of dialectical reasoning and absolute idealism, which have had a lasting impact on various intellectual domains. This article provides an […]
George Frideric Handel - George Frideric Handel (born Georg Friedrich Händel on February 23, 1685 – died on April 14, 1759) was a German, later British, baroque composer who spent the bulk of his career in London, becoming well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, and organ concertos. Although born in Halle, Germany, to German parents, he spent the […]
Gerhard Richter - Gerhard Richter – the Famous German Artist Gerhard Richter was born in Dresden in 1932 to a middle class family. He left school after tenth grade and apprenticed as an advertising and stage-set painter, before studying at the Dresden Art Academy. Gerhard Richter taught as a visiting professor in Hamburg and in 1971 became tenured […]
Gerhard Schroeder: “I’m a climber” - On September 27, 1998, Gerhard Schroeder, a “bluff and combative” legislator from Lower Saxony, was chosen a new chancellor of Germany. Mass media consider him to be a “breath of fresh air” after 16 years of Helmut Kohl’s governing. This was a big news for the whole political world. The event hit the headlines of […]
German Power Women that Have Changed the World - German Socialist Luise Zietz proposed the establishment of an annual International Woman’s Day and was seconded by fellow socialist and later communist leader Clara Zetkin, supported by Käte Duncker, although no date was specified at that conference. Delegates (100 women from 17 countries) agreed with the idea as a strategy to promote equal rights including […]
German Women – Scientists and Inventors - Here are seven German female inventors whose innovations, both large and small, have improved our world in various ways. Caroline Lucretia Herschel Caroline Lucretia Herschel (1750-1848) was the first woman to receive full recognition in the world of astronomy. Between 1786 and 1797, she discovered eight comets and 14 nebulae. She received many rewards, including […]
Germany Under Hitler and the Nazi - Nationalism is an infantile idea. It is a measles of mankind. —Albert Einstein The stars must have been in a special position above the Austrian town Braunau on April 20, 1889, when Adolf Hitler was born. Neither his father Alois Schickelgruber Hitler whom Adolf hated, nor his mother Klara Poelzl whom he, to the contrary, […]
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz: A Pioneering Polymath of the 17th Century - Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, a name synonymous with intellectual brilliance, stands tall in the annals of history as a pioneering polymath whose contributions spanned across mathematics, philosophy, law, and science. Born in Leipzig, Germany, in 1646, Leibniz’s life and work left an indelible mark on various domains, firmly establishing him as a key figure of the […]
Hans Spemann and the Beginnings of Cloning - Hans Spemann (born June 27, 1869, Stuttgart, Württemberg – died Sept. 12, 1941, Freiburg im Breisgau, Ger.), German embryologist who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1935 for his discovery of the effect now known as embryonic induction, the influence exercised by various parts of the embryo that directs the development […]
He Was the First, or Happy Birthday, Computer! - He Was the First, or Happy Birthday, Computer! Konrad Zuse is considered to be the inventor of the first computer in the world. Z3 — the first fully functional program-controlled electromechanical digital computer in the world — was completed by Konrad Zuse in 1941. Konrad Zuse was born on June 22, 1910, in Berlin. He […]
Heinrich Hertz – German Scientist and Physicist - Heinrich Hertz (born on February 22, 1857 in Hamburg – died on January 1, 1894 in Bonn) was a German scientist and physicist who became the first scientist to prove that electromagnetic waves did indeed have an existence and in so doing he proved what had only been a theory first put forwards by the […]
Heinrich Theodor Böll - Heinrich Theodor Böll was born on December 21, 1917 in Cologne. His father was a sculptor and cabinet-maker. Böll’s Catholic, pacifist family opposed the rise of Nazism. Between 1924 and 1928, the future writer attended elementary school in Köln Raderthal, and from 1928 to 1937, the state-run Kaiser-Wilhelm classical secondary school in Cologne. He successfully […]
Helmut Schmidt - Following Brandt’s resignation in May 1974, the SPD-FDP coalition partners unanimously agreed that Minister of Finance Helmut Schmidt should head the new government. At fifty-five, Helmut Schmidt became the youngest chancellor of the FRG. Born in Hamburg in 1918, he served as an officer in World War II. After the war, he joined the SPD […]
Hermann Hesse - German literature is rich in talented people with extraordinary views and lifestyle. One of them, to our opinion, is worth of special attention – Hermann Hesse. He was born into a family of Pietist missionaries in the German state of Wüttenberg on July 2, 1877. The boy was expected to continue his family way, but […]
Hermann Hesse: Creativity As a Way To Yourself - “From my thirteenth year on, it was clear to me that I wanted to be either a poet or nothing at all.” (“Life Story Briefly Told” H.Hesse) Hermann Hesse’s creativity has explored the duality of nature and individual’s spiritual search, breaking all social rules. His novels “Steppenwolf”, “Demian, Siddhartha”,“The Glass Bead Game” have sold in […]
Immanuel Kant - Immanuel Kant (April 22, 1724 – February 12, 1804) was a German philosopher whose comprehensive and systematic work in epistemology (the theory of knowledge), ethics, and aesthetics greatly influenced all subsequent philosophy, especially the various schools of Kantianism and idealism. Kant was one of the foremost thinkers of the Enlightenment and arguably one of the […]
Immanuel Kant Quotes - Immanuel Kant (22 April 1724 – 12 February 1804) was a German philosopher who is a central figure in modern philosophy. His influence extends to not only to philosophy itself, but also to the social sciences and humanities in general. Below you will find our collection of inspirational and wise Immanuel Kant quotes. Happiness is […]
In the Shadows of Enchanted Woods: A Journey Through The Grimms’ Brothers Fairy Tales - In the hushed stillness of a long-forgotten forest, where moss-laden trees whisper secrets of yore and the wind carries tales of times long passed, there lies a treasure most profound— the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. Just as in their tales, this article will endeavour to unravel their world, not in the clear prose […]
Johann Sebastian Bach - Johann Sebastian Bach (March 21, 1685 – July 28, 1750) was the master of Baroque composition who in his later years held the post of music director in Leipzig, Germany. Bach’s abilities as an organist were highly respected throughout Europe during his lifetime, although he was not widely recognised as a great composer until a […]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, A Citizen Of the World - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), German poet, playwright, novelist, and natural philosopher is best known for his two-part poetic drama Faust, (1808-1832) which he started around the age of twenty three and didn’t finish till shortly before his death sixty years later. He is considered one of the greatest contributors of the German Romantic period. […]
Johannes Brahms - Johannes Brahms is the German composer and is called the Beethoven’s true successor in the German music. Johannes Brahms was born in 1833 in Hamburg, however, the most important and latest part of his life devoted to Vienna. Brahms started his composing being inspired by the Hungarian and German folklore music and later became a […]
Johannes Gutenberg - Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg (born in Mainz around 1400 – died on February 3, 1468) was a German blacksmith, goldsmith, printer, and publisher who introduced printing to Europe with the printing press. His introduction of mechanical movable type printing to Europe started the Printing Revolution and is regarded as a milestone of the […]
Johannes Kepler - Johannes Kepler (December 27, 1571 – November 15, 1630) was a German mathematician, astronomer, and astrologer who discovered the ovoid movements of the planets around the sun. The first astronomer to state the fundamental laws of planetary motion, Kepler was also known for his works in geometry, optics and philosophy. His significant achievements have been […]
Josef Mengele – the Infamous Nazi Doctor - Some readers may accuse such action to place an article about the person who brought great shame and shadow to German history into the ‘Famous People’ link. But Dr. Josef Mengele was one of the most infamous persons in German history and everybody must remember his name in order to prevent the horror in a […]
Kaethe Kollwitz – the Artist of Grief - Käthe Kollwitz is considered to be the brightest German artist of the 20th century I do not want to die . . . until I have faithfully made the most of my talent and cultivated the seed that was placed in me until the last small twig has grown. — Kaethe Kollwitz Kollwitz was gifted […]
Karl der Große, or Charlemagne - Charlemagne (April 2, 742 – January 28, 814), numbered Charles I, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774 and Emperor of the Romans from 800. He united much of Europe during the early Middle Ages. He was the first recognized emperor in western Europe since the fall of the […]
Karl Drais, the Bicycle and Typewriter Inventor - Karl Freiherr von Drais (born on 29 April 1785 in Karlsruhe – died on 10 December 1851 in Karlsruhe as well) was a German forest official and significant inventor in the Biedermeier period. Drais was a prolific inventor, who invented the Laufmaschine (“running machine”), also later called the Velocipede, Draisine (English) or draisienne (French), also […]
Karl Friedrich Hieronymus Freiherr von Münchhausen, the Baron of Lies - Karl Friedrich Hieronymus Freiherr von Münchhausen, also known as “the baron of lies” (born May 11, 1720, Bodenwerder, Hanover – died February 22, 1797, Bodenwerder), initially served as a page to Prince Anton Ulrich von Braunschweig, and later as a cornet, lieutenant and cavalry captain with a Russian regiment in two Turkish wars. In 1760 […]
Karl Marx, Whose Philosophy Shaped the 20th Century - Karl Marx, in full Karl Heinrich Marx, (born May 5, 1818, Trier, Rhine province, Prussia [Germany]—died March 14, 1883, London, England), revolutionary, sociologist, philosopher, historian, and economist. He published (with Friedrich Engels) Manifest der Kommunistischen Partei (1848), commonly known as The Communist Manifesto, the most celebrated pamphlet in the history of the socialist movement. He […]
Katharina Paulus: The German Inventor Who Revolutionized Early Aviation - In the annals of aviation history, few names are as pioneering as Katharina Paulus, a German inventor whose ingenuity and courage reshaped the early world of flight. Her remarkable contribution to the development of the parachute not only revolutionized aviation safety but also carved a path for women in a field dominated by men. Early […]
Katharina von Bora - Katharina von Bora, after her wedding Katharina Luther, also referred to as “die Lutherin”, was the wife of Martin Luther, German reformer and a seminal figure of the Protestant Reformation. Beyond what is found in the writings of Luther and some of his contemporaries, little is known about her. Born into a noble but poor […]
Levi Strauss - The Origin of Levi’s Denim Blue Jeans The great father of blue jeans, Levi Strauss (February 26, 1829 – September 26, 1902) was a German-born American entrepreneur, Jewish by birth. Loeb Strauss (he liked the name “Levi Strauss”) was born in Buttenheim in Franconia, Bavaria in 1829. The 18-year-old German immigrant left for New York […]
Ludwig van Beethoven - Beethoven was born in 1770 in Bonn, however, most of his life of a musician he spent in Vienna. Of the seven children born to Johann van Beethoven, only Ludwig, the second-born, and two younger brothers survived infancy. Beethoven’s musical talent was obvious at a young age. His first music teacher was his father. Although […]
Marlene Dietrich – The Immortal Legend of Glamour - Marlene Dietrich (27 December 1901 – 6 May 1992) was a German-American actress and singer. Dietrich remained popular throughout her long career by continually re-inventing herself, professionally and personally. In the Berlin of the 1920s, she acted on the stage and in silent films. Her performance as “Lola-Lola” in The Blue Angel, directed by Josef […]
Martin Luther - On the eve of All Saints’ Day in 1517, Martin Luther, a professor of theology at Wittenberg University in Saxony, posted ninety-five theses on a church door. Luther’s primary concern was the sale of indulgences–papal grants of reduced punishment in the afterlife, including releases from purgatory. First written in Latin, the theses were soon translated […]
Max Planck - Max Karl Ernst Ludwig Planck, or simply Max Planck (born in Kiel on April 23, 1858 – died in Göttingen on October 4, 1947) was a German theoretical physicist. Planck made many contributions to theoretical physics, but his fame as a physicist rests primarily on his role as the originator of quantum theory, which revolutionized […]
Michael Schumacher – German Racing Star - Michael Schumacher is a seven-time World Champion F1 driver and tops the list of most Grand Prix wins in the history of Formula One. His career statistics – including an astonishing 91 wins – are so incredible they will probably never be beaten. Early years Schumacher was born on January 3, 1969 to Rolf and […]
Möbius Strip and Its Inventor - The Möbius strip or Möbius band is a surface with only one side and only one boundary component. The Möbius strip has the mathematical property of being non-orientable. It can be realized as a ruled surface. It was discovered independently by the German mathematicians August Ferdinand Möbius and Johann Benedict Listing in 1858. August Ferdinand […]
Oskar Schindler - We all know the story of Oskar Schindler from Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award-winning film Schindler’s List. Oskar Schindler was a remarkable man who miraculously saved more than 1,200 Jews from the gas chambers. He did what nobody else did in those scary times of death camps and mass murder. He was all that stood between his […]
Otto Hahn – German Chemist - Otto Hahn (1879-1968) was a German Chemist, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1944 – for his work in discovering nuclear fission. He was a distinguished chemist who worked in the pioneering fields of radio chemistry. After the Second World War, he was a campaigner against the use of nuclear weapons and […]
Otto von Bismarck – The Iron Chancellor of Germany - Under the “Iron Chancellor”, Otto von Bismarck, Germany grew from a loose confederation of weak states to a unified powerful empire. His smart and dashing way of making politics (winning three wars in eight years!) led to the extension of German borders and the rapid growth of German industry. Bismarck was born on April 1, […]
Otto Waalkes - Otto Gerhard Waalkes (born 22 July 1948 in Emden, Germany) is a Frisian comedian and actor. Otto Waalkes became famous in the early 70s by drawing little childish elephants he called Ottifants (‘Ottiphants’). Later, he went on tour, brandishing a guitar and accompanied by Ottifants. Later still he branched into film, shooting Otto: The Movie […]
Rainer Werner Fassbinder - “I would like to build a house with my films.” Rainer Werner Maria Fassbinder (May 31, 1945 – June 10, 1982) is one of the most important representatives of the New German Cinema. He was the first to announce, that grandpa’s cinema (“Opas Kino”) was dead. Rainer dreamed to merge the division of labor of […]
Rammstein – the creators of ‘Tanz (dance) Metal’ style in music - Rammstein is a German band that was formed in 1994. Rammstein musical style incorporates elements of metal/hard rock, industrial metal, and electronic music, which the band has termed ‘Tanz (dance) Metal’. Their songs are performed almost exclusively in German. They have sold over 12 million records worldwide. The Story Rammstein was started by Richard Z. […]
Richard Kruspe – Father and Lead-Guitarist of Rammstein - Richard Z. Kruspe was born in Wittenberge, East Germany on June 24, 1967. He has two older sisters and brother. His parents divorced when he was young.His mother remarried, but he did not get along with his stepfather. As a child, Richard was a fan of KISS. When he was twelve, he had a KISS […]
Richard Wagner - “I am the most German being, I am the German spirit.”Richard Wagner Richard Wagner considered himself to be “the most German of men”. He wrote such great operas as “Tristan und Isolde”, “Parsifal”, “Der fliegende Hollaender”, “Der Ring des Nibelungen”, and others. He actively participated in the revolution of 1849. He had numerous love affairs. He […]
Richard Wagner and His Women - Richard Wagner was not only a great and productive composer, he was also an extremely amorous man. In 1834 Wagner met Christine Wilhelmine (Minna) Planer, an actress, and in 1836 they got married. The marriage was far from successful. To the contrary, it was quite “stormy” because of Minna’s and Wagner’s numerous love affairs on […]
Robert Koch - Robert Heinrich Hermann Koch (born on December 11, 1843 in Clausthal – died on May 27, 1910 in Baden-Baden) was a German physician and microbiologist. As the founder of modern bacteriology, he identified the specific causative agents of tuberculosis, cholera, and anthrax and gave experimental support for the concept of infectious disease. Germany has produced […]
Robert Schumann - Robert Schumann (born in Zwickau on June 8, 1810 – died in Bonn on July 29, 1856) was a German composer and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist. He […]
Rudolf Diesel, His Invention and Mysterious Death - Circumstances of Rudolf Diesel’s death are considered to be a suspicious enigma for us even now. Dr. Rudolf Diesel boarded “SS Dresden”, a cross-channel ferry, at Antwerp in September 1913. He was going to see the newest diesel engine factory of London. The famous engineer was invited as a guest of honor to the […]
Rudolf Epp, the Man Who Loved Painting Cats - Rudolf Epp (July 30, 1834 – August 8, 1910) was a German realist painter, associated with the Munich School. Rudolf Epp was born in 1834 in Eberbach am Neckar, the son of a decorative painter. After he had started drawing from his own initiative and was artistically active, he was first taught by the landscape […]
Sebastian Krüger - Sebastian Krüger is a German artist. He was born on June 30, 1963, in Hamelin. After studying free painting with Prof. Dörfler at the Braunschweig University of Fine Arts he made a stunning reputation as the designer of a number of cover spreads for the press in Germany and abroad and as an illustrator and […]
The German Influence on Classical Music: Composers Who Shaped the World - Classical music owes much of its development to the profound contributions of German composers. The rich musical heritage of Germany has produced some of the most influential and revered figures in the history of classical music. These composers not only shaped the music of their time but also left a lasting legacy that continues to […]
The Grimms’ Brothers Fairy Tales: Timeless Magic in Storytelling - From enchanting princesses asleep in faraway castles to mischievous creatures causing mayhem, the fairy tales penned by the Grimms’ Brothers have cast a spell over generations. Their cultural legacy is undeniably significant, making them synonymous with the very essence of storytelling. If you’ve ever been curious about the timeless magic encapsulated within the pages of […]
The Man Who Founded the First Realschule - Johann Julius Hecker (December 2, 1707 – June 24, 1768) was a German educator who established the first Realschule and Prussia’s first teacher-education institution. Hecker was born to a family of educators in Werden, then part of Prussia. As a young man, he formed an interest in theology and was drawn to pietism and the […]
Wanderer above the Sea of Fog - Wanderer above the Sea of Fog (Der Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer), also known as Wanderer above the Mist or Mountaineer in a Misty Landscape, is an oil painting c. 1818 by the German Romantic artist Caspar David Friedrich. It has been considered one of the masterpieces of Romanticism and one of its most representative works. […]
Werner Heisenberg - Werner Heisenberg was a German scientist and philosopher who was influential in the research of quantum mechanics in the mid-1900s. Heisenberg was born on December 5, 1901, in Würzburg, Germany. His father was a professor of medieval and Greek studies. He studied physics under Max Born at the ‘University of Munich’, receiving his doctorate in […]
Werner Herzog - “Together, I said, we shall boil fire and stop fish.” Werner Herzog (real name Werner H. Stipetic) was born in Munich on September 5, 1942. He grew up in a remote mountain village, where were any films, television, or telephones. In the age of 14 he decided to see the world and started traveling […]
Who Invented Kindergarten? - For many people a kindergarten is associated with • a nursery school equipped with toys, building blocks, book puzzles, art supplies, and an outdoor playground; • day care attendance for the children of working parents; • an institution for early childhood development at the same time. Its aim is to bring up self-confident and social […]
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen – The X-Ray Discoverer - Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (March 27, 1845 – Feb. 10, 1923) was a German physicist who was a recipient of the first Nobel Prize for Physics, in 1901, for his discovery of X-rays, which heralded the age of modern physics and revolutionized diagnostic medicine. Röntgen studied at the Polytechnic in Zürich and then was professor of […]
Wilhelm Hoffmann – E.T.A. Hoffman - E(rnst) T(heodor) A(madeus) Wilhelm Hoffmann (1776-1822) was a German writer, composer, caricaturist, and painter, mostly known for his stories in which supernatural characters reveal people’s hidden secrets. Hoffmann’s first passions were music and painting, and only in the middle of his short life he started writing. His fiction works were the first examples of the […]
Wilhelm Wundt – Father of Psychology - Wilhelm Maximilian Wundt (born on August 16, 1832 – died on August 31, 1920) was a German physician, physiologist and philosopher widely regarded as the “father of experimental psychology”. Wundt, who noted psychology as a science apart from philosophy and biology, was the first person ever to call himself a psychologist. Wundt was born at […]
Wim Wenders – German Film Director, Producer and Writer - “I want to make personal films, not private films.” Wim Wenders was born to create. He recognized it at high school in Oberhausen, where Wim began his studies in medicine and philosophy. Wenders decided to become a painter and moved to Paris, where he failed his entry test at the Art Academy. But this failure […]
