Category Archives: German history
The country united in 1871 but its history goes back to Charlemagne’s crowning in 800. This is a treasure trove of interesting tidbits, many of which have impacted the history of the United States in the form of immigrants.
The library, the monk, and the sandals
This stunning Baroque library tucked away in a monastery in a Bavarian village is the....
2 Comments
Oct
What’s in a name? More than you think
People’s identities are tied up closely with their names. But even when you are careful....
2 Comments
Aug
Munich comes full circle: From putsch to Rabbi Conference
The hand of history has done its work on the city of Munich. Named after....
2 Comments
Jul
The Berlin Airlift: Reflecting on 75 Years of Historical Significance
It is astounding how places can change over time, sometimes transforming from sites of great....
Jul
Landshuter Hochzeit: The most theatrical wedding this side of the 15th century
Imagine if your wedding were so spectacular that people would want not just to reenact....
Jul
A fortune for footwear, or my kingdom for a sneaker
There was a lot of hullabaloo when Adidas dropped its sponsorship of the rapper Ye....
Jun
Watch out! Augsburg joined forces with the Swedes
Companies sometimes use shady tactics to gain the upper hand in a market. But this....
2 Comments
Jun
Are you sure that’s what that sign means?
Signs are there for the express purpose of helping you find your way. They tell....
1 Comment
May
Look here, U.S. election deniers – Berlin bungled it big time
The press and social media are still abuzz with deniers of the U.S. elections in....
1 Comment
Feb
The 100 meters between fascism and democracy in Munich
On just a 10-minute walk through Munich, I passed a murder scene leading to the....
Nov
50 years later – Triumph and tragedy of the Munich Olympics. Part II: Tragedy
The 1972 Munich Olympic Games brought many long-lasting improvements to the city, but they were....
Sep
50 years later: The triumph and tragedy of the Munich Olympics – Part I: Triumph
It’s been 50 years since the Munich Olympics were held, but their impact lives on....
Sep
Bombs away! The WWII gift that keeps on giving
30 July 2022 One of the punctuality challenges to the Munich train system, as noted....
Jul
Kraut and about – what are all those Germans doing abroad?
German immigrants used to flock to the U.S. They still go there in droves, but....
Jun
Think digital technology is a cure-all? Don’t bet your life on it
A WWII air raid siren startled me once while I waited for a train. Such....
May
Karl Marx’s penguin and Richard Wagner’s design for Madonna’s corset
1 May 2022 Karl Marx and Richard Wagner are featured in joint exhibits at the....
2 Comments
May
The ladies, the rest home and the bombs
The oldest residents of a rest home suddenly developed mild illnesses. They all shared a....
Apr
The distant agony of past wars is suddenly revived by the attack on Ukraine
The five German cities I visited on a college tour with my daughter were all....
Mar
The library, the monk and the sandals
14 September 2021 “Take their books! They’re useless propaganda. Get rid of them!” This actually....
2 Comments
Sep
The 400-year-old Marketing Flop You’ve Never Heard of
26 August 2021 They told me in college that marketing was invented in the U.S.....
Aug
The Prussian Rock Star in my Wardrobe
18 July 2021 Many people have been using their downtime from the pandemic to tackle....
2 Comments
Jul
Grave Thoughts Indeed – Part 4 – The Oktoberfest
26 May 2021 (Click here for parts 1, 2 and 3) Munich is known first....
May
Grave Thoughts Indeed – Part 3 – Royal rollicking and frolicking
The Alter Südfriedhof dates to the 14th century, but most of its graves tell the....
Mar
How war shaped the Alter Südfriedhof
Grave Thoughts Indeed – Part 2 Small German towns have monuments to the dead of....
3 Comments
Mar
Grave Thoughts Indeed
The Alter Südfriedhof in Munich is more of an open air museum reflecting the history....
3 Comments
Mar
Berlin, lost and sometimes found
Berlin's history spans three eras and each one has some surprises in store ....
2 Comments
Apr
Count Tree Music
The Berlin Wall is long gone, but its impact can still be felt everywhere, on....
Jan
30 after the Wall
Many people did not expect Germany to be reunified. Thirty years later, it is still....
4 Comments
Nov
Footprints from World War II
WWII has long since ended, but the involvement of the U.S. has left indelible traces....
Feb
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