Rote Armee Fraktion

Rotee Armee Fraktion  or RAF was formed in 1970 by Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin, Horst Mahler, and Ulrike Meinhof. This group was formed as an idea of new youth identity. After WW2 and emerging baby boomers this group had its own views on how the government should be formed. They did not like the "fascist state" and rebelled against it. They thought of their government as being under charge by nazism. They were standing up to this and defending what their parents did not do. They led many operations of terrorism from kidnapping, arson, bombings to murder. There were 3 generations of RAF. The first generation was that of Baader and the others and they were the most prominent group and Germany's post WW2 most violent group. The second generation was from mid 1970's after other former members of a group joined, and the third generation which existed in the 1980's and 1990's. In 1998 an eight page letter was written declaring the group has dissolved.
Some similarities of RAF to today's terrorist groups are~ 
They will fight for a change.
They will cause destruction and violence.
They will fight against people in their own country.
I do believe however that the RAF group had more of a political reason behind the attacks and strongly believed that it wasn't right and they declared that and wanted change, but with today's terrorism I feel that the groups are targeting other people strictly for their own satisfaction of hurting another country physically and personal emotion whereas there is no real cause or idea behind it.

work cited
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Army_Faction

Baader-Meinhoff Complex

The movie Baader-Meinhoff Complex was very interesting to me. I did like this movie it had a lot of action and the plot was compelling. This movie was about a terrorist group back in the 60's that retells how the RAF (Red Army Faction) began. It was about the time of the German student movement and this group wanted to overthrow what they called a "Fascist State" The German students took appeal to this group becuase they were thinking and asking older generations if this state is still the same as before with WW2 and that it hasn't shed its nazi roots. This movie showed true events that had occured during this time. I found it very interesting to see events that I had learned being portrayed in this movie. Before this movie I did not know about the group called RAF. And it is interesting to me how a small group had big ideas and had turned violent with older generations of the RAF who wasn't even associated with the first generation of leaders, but they took on the name. All in all I found it enticing to watch, all with the exception of subtitles. But as far as that it gave the movie it's german appeal which in a way is beneficial for success of the movie being that it is part of the German history.

19th Century German Inventions and Technology

View presentation here

Germany's 20th Century Fine Arts

Click Here to view presentation.

Why the EU will continue to be a pivotal organization for Germany in the 21st century.

1. The demand for Germany's goods is at an all time high, the demand for their exports from other countries within the EU are huge. "From 2000 to 2008 external demand generated as much as two-thirds of the growth in overall demand for German output." by ft.com
2. The EU has one currency, the Euro; which helps all countries within the EU by being able to trade fair. "The EU's goal is to create a barrier-free trade zone and to enhance economic wealth by creating more efficiency within its marketplace." By answers.com
3. Being in the EU helps stablize conflict by having the same governing body that other countries can abide by the "constitution" and have the same values. This will make all the countries in the EU successful for not having quarrels or war between countries within the EU, and will help maintain comradeship.
4. Since the happenings of WW2, people find that Germany is trying to make amends with what happened by being in the EU and that they are trying to fix the past. This in turn will help the country in the long run with the ally of countries in the EU.
5. There are a series of treaties among the EU countries that focus on the protection of each. "Formerly an instrument of economic and social policy, the EU adopted the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) in response to global instability and the rise of terrorism. The creation of the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) followed, outlining the EU's international responsibilities to defend European territory and interests while cooperating with organizations such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United Nations."
6. The EU allows other citizens from different countries to live in Germany (vice-versa) without taxes and this helps Germany grow in population and therefore can benefit from more people contributing to their economy.
7. The EU's ambition is to invest in education. Which in turn will help Germany and other countries thrive in an ever changing world. "‘Lifelong learning’ is the watchword. In the EU, the number of adults taking part in learning activities has been rising — reaching 9.6 % of people aged between 25 and 64 in 2006." Better education means betters jobs in turn help Germany gain.
8. The EU aims to provide research and developement and this will help Germany as well as other countries take part in the new technologies and will show success in economic growth and jobs.
9. As the population grows so does the need for transportation and energy. The EU makes sustainable development its top priority. This will help Germany in the long run with pollution and congestion of people.
10. The EU has a responsibility to ensure the protection of the environment. With waste they have to make sure that there  disposed, incinerated, or recycled properly; and this helps keep countries clean. Also greenhouse gases are a concern for the EU. They have made the international Kyoto Protocol, which the EU "must cut its global greenhouse gas emissions by 8 % (compared with levels in 1990, which serves as the base year) by 2008–12. To reach this target, EU-15 countries have agreed a burden-sharing arrangement whereby the economically less-advanced can still increase emissions while the rest reduce theirs." stated by europa.eu
11. Healthcare policy is essential and being in the EU helps German citizens that travel can reliable health care. "The European health insurance card simplifies access to healthcare when you visit other EU countries." Europa.eu
12. If any country in the EU has economic problems that arise, the EU will help support them. This is good for Germany because if this were ever the case, than Germany can be sure they have a helping hand.


Works Cited
1.  Specht-Jarvis, Roland. Class Lecture. 8 Nov, 2010
2.  http://www.ft.com/cms/s/195dfa18-bab2-11df-b73d-00144feab49a,Authorised=false.html?_i_location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F195dfa18-bab2-11df-b73d-00144feab49a.html&_i_referer=#axzz14ozVCyaL
3. http://www.answers.com/topic/european-union
4. http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/eu_glance/66/index_en.htm

20th Century German Rulers

Click this link to view presentation

20th Century German Poets and Writers

Click this link to view post.

Roles of Women and Men in the 20th Century (10/20/10 project)

The Military

Auxiliary Units

• Served in the auxiliary units in the navy (Kriegshelferinnen), air force (Luftnachrichtenhelferinnen) and army (Nachrichtenhelferin)
• Hundreds of women auxiliaries served for the SS in the concentration camp

Mata Hari 

• Dutch exotic dancer and prostitute
• Accused of being a double agent for France and Germany during WWI
• Was offered cash from a German consul for information the next time she visited France.  Hari passed on old, outdated information to the German officer.  Arrested in France and executed the same year by firing squad.

World War II

• Germany’s men that weren’t in war were afraid to intervene when Russians were raping German women for the fear of being shot. 
• The women of Berlin braved the artillery fire to forage for food and water in the streets. It was they who fed the family, cleaned what mess they could, looked after the sick, hid their young girls and took the brunt of Russian brutality. Some women in Berlin were now looking down on their men as the weaker sex and felt disappointed in them and even sorry for them.

Women

·         “For centuries, a woman's role in German society was summed up and circumscribed by the three "K" words: Kinder (children), Kirche (church), and Küche (kitchen)” (4)

·         During the first world war women helped by entering into industrial style jobs while the men were off fighting in the war (1)

o   Approximately 700,000 had begun working by the end of the war

o   After WWI women won the right to vote (1919)

o   Some women kept their jobs after the male soldiers returned

·         During the Third Reich, women were meant to bear “Aryan” children and were taught to do so through aggressive propaganda. During WWII, Adolf Hitler wanted women to focus on the three Ks mentioned earlier and to not take place in war. (3)

·         In 1975, German women were sought out to join the military (2)

Men

·         All men age 18-23 have to attend a nine month training before going into war (2)

·         There are approximately 200,000 soldiers that are considered professional and 300,000 that are more civilian, but are on reserve and are able to become active at any given time

·         Many men were forced into war often through guilt and shame of their family and friends during the first two world wars

·         All major German military and political leaders in the 20th century were men

  

Politics

1919 - women recieved the right to vote

Nazi Germany - Hitler wanted women to just have children to grow Germany's population. It was thier duty to ensure the future of the German race. Women were even given medals for having large families

1949 - Basic law declared men and women equal

1977 - women gained rights to equal marriage

1980 - national office for women affairs set up in west germany to help work towards women quality

1988 - east germany, women made up almost 1/3 of Socialist unity party of germany (SED) while in west germany, women only made up abour 4.5% of the political party members.

1990 - Sabine Bergmann-Pohl was the president of the people's chamber of the GDR from april to october before the GDR ended

 

 



Domestic Life

Roles

• In 1919 women received the right to vote
• During World War II women took on some of the traditional jobs that the men left behind when they were fighting.
• When the World War II was over women tended the wounded, buried the dead, salvaged belongings, and began rebuilding war-torn Germany by clearing away the rubble
• In 1977 women got equal rights in marriage.

In West Germany                                                                              

• In the early 1980s women qualified for admission to universities in the same numbers as men.
• The Basic Law of 1949 declared that men and women were equal.
• But it was not until 1957 that the civil code was amended.

·         After World War II women became homemakers and mothers again and largely withdrew from employment outside the home.

In East Germany

·         Mid 1960s women accounted for half of all secondary school graduates.

·         By 1975-76 they were the majority (53%)

·         In the east, however, women remained in the workforce.

·         As early as 1950, marriage and family laws also had been rewritten to accommodate working mothers.

·         Abortion was legalized and funded by the state in the first trimester of pregnancy.

·          An extensive system of social supports, such as a highly developed day-care network for children, was also put in place to permit women to be both mothers and workers.

·         East Germany had to rely on women because of its declining population; the situation was made more critical by the fact that most of those fleeing to West Germany were men.

·         90% of the women worked outside of the home.

Business

Business in the German world is primarily made up of men. Women are not seen much in the business world. According to Wikipedia.com “Women are noticeably absent in the top tiers of German businesses. They only hold 9.2% of jobs in Germany's upper and middle management positions.” Although the Chancellor is a Woman it is still very difficult for woman to rise to management. There have been some issues in creating a law in Germany that would look at the quotas in companies so that woman have a chance to succeed. “ In 2001, the Justice Ministry established a governmental commission to develop a Corporate Governance Codex,.” quoted by Spiegel online. This is a document that was recently amended that could call on companies to increase the number of female managers. “Some companies in Germany such as Deutsche Telekom back in March and energy giant E., have recognized that incorporating more woman into their hierarchies is beneficial to their organization as a whole. Deutsche Telekom was the first DAX company to pledge to raise the percentage of women at mid to high level management to 30 percent.” Spiegel online. This does show us that there are some people who feel that woman can benefit their company, they are climbing the corporate ladder and there are ways that is making this happen either with the government help or by recognizing the good that both genders can play in a company. Stated by German information centre, “The business newspaper Handelsblatt was searching for tomorrow’s top women for Germany, the Financial Times Deutschland then proclaimed the “Age of Women”, and the magazine Capital even carried a cover story entitled “Der Chef trägt Prada” (The boss wears Prada)…. Nicola Leibinger-Kammüller has been managing the machine tool company Trumpf for a number of years now. Simone Bagel-Trah, a representative of the Henkel family, has been chair of the supervisory board of the Düsseldorf washing power and consumer goods company since last year and thus one of Germany’s most powerful women.” This just goes to show that woman can and are ready to make it to the top in the business world.

Simone Bagel-Trah

Education

During the early part of the twentieth century predominantly men went to school with intentions of going to university. By the mid-1960s women accounted for nearly half of all secondary school graduates with intentions on studying at institutes of higher learning in the GDR. Just fifteen years later they made up the majority with fifty-three percent. Supplementary payments and child care were provided to assist women in completing their studies. Women in west Germany did not qualify for admission into universities until the early 1980's. Therefore, west German women had more traditional familial relations, and did not have great ambitions for admission into particular academic departments, and for professional employment after graduation.

Sources

http://womenshistory.about.com/library/ency/blwh_germany_women.htm http://www.germanculture.com.ua/library/weekly/aa080601c.htm
http://www.warandgender.com/wgwomwwi.htm
http://www.mygermancity.com/german-military
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005205
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/ency/blwh_germany_women.htm
http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/g-wm.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_roles_in_the_World_Wars
http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/matahari.htm
http://womenshistory.about.com/library/ency/blwh_germany_women.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_issues_in_Germany#Gender_roles_and_demographics
http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,702895,00.html
http://www.germanyandafrica.diplo.de/Vertretung/pretoria__dz/en/03__BD/New__women__managment.html

Pictures

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mutterkreuz1940.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-1990-0813-302,_Sabine_Bergmann-Pohl.jpg http://www.tridentmilitary.com/New-Photos14/393.jpg
http://tisores.net/imagenes/hari.jpg http://www.faz.net/s/RubF36E5361491F4CD9953863A0D5A760BC/Doc~E3635B2EB070E44DFB79CF2AD63692108~ATpl~Ecommon~SMed.html

German Top Blogs

Breanna Bigger 95%
Overall Appearance 30/30~ Appealing to look at.
Completeness 20/20~ All blogs are completed
Solid Writing/Blogging 20/20~ Nicely written blogs, clear and to the point
Images 5/10~ Not many used
Aesthetic Appeal 20/20~ Organized, pictures that are there are incorporated with the entry.

Alexia Ball 90%
Overall Appearance 30/30~ Neat, Simple, Easy to read, Nice colors
Completeness 15/20~ Missing one entry, overall very thurough
Solid Writing/Blogging 20/20~ Great word Choice, high level of thinking
Images 5/10~ Could use a bit more pictures
Aesthetic Appeal 20/20~ easy to follow, well organized.


Jenita Teachout 90%
Overall Appearance 30/30~Very neat, easy to read, great color scheme.
Completeness 20/20~ Everything is there
Solid writing/blogging 15/20~ It's a bit too simple, but it's easy to read
Images 5/5~ not to many pictures but the one's that are there go with the blog.
Aesthetic appeal 20/20~ very organized

Freistaat Thüringen

Also known as the Free state of Thuringia the capital is Erfurt. It is located in the center of Germany. Thurigen is quite small with being 6,243.7 square miles; which is a bit bigger than Connecticut (5,544 square miles). The state according to wikipedia.com has "2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states."



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Luftbild_Erfurter_Rathaus.jpg

 Erfurt

http://wernshausen.netfirms.com/ThuringenFlag.jpg

State flag.
Thuringen was named after the Thuringii tribe who occupied it  ca. AD 300. From what I gathered from various sites and what I understand that Thuringen became a landgraviate. "The title refers to a count who had feudal duty directly to the Holy Roman Emperor... Landgrave occasionally continued in use as the subsidiary title of such nobility as the Grand Duke of Saxy-Weimer, who functioned as the Landgrave of Thuringia in the first decade of the 20th century, but the title fell into disuse after World War 1." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landgrave)

One special attribute in Thuringen is the Thuringen Forest. This is a state forest which is about 75 miles long and 22 miles wide. It is home of the Wartburg castle outside Eisenach (where Martin Luther stayed for some time in exile) The Rennsteig is a famous hiking path in the Thuringen forest.





Sites

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuringia#History
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuringian_Forest
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r108/bitchler/30944765_1ee4843d0e_b.jpg

Trivia Q and A

Life in Germany

1.       When and where did German scientists recently discover a new species of ape?Answer: In Asia on Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Source: http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news-world/german-scientists-discover-rare-ape-species-in-asia-20100921-15lkn.html

2.       What city is known as the salt capital of Germany? When did the salt production end?
Answer: Lüneburg, a German city in the state of Lower Saxony, is known as the salt capital of Germany.  It was not until 1980 that the production of salt in the Lüneburg Saline finally closed.
Source: http://worthgem.blogspot.com/2010/09/german-salt-museum-at-luneburg.html

3.       What type of schooling is forbidden?
Answer: Homeschooling
Source: www.german-way.com/educ.html

German History

1.       What was the difference in population in Germany from 1939 to 1946?
Answer: 4 million less people from 1939 to 1946

2.       In the early and middle eleventh century the Saxon kings were able to defeat which Germanic tribes thus strengthening the Elbe Saale frontier?
Answer: The Magyars and the Slavs

3.       What Germanic tribe held onto their tradition of worshiping heathen gods the longest?Answer: The Saxons

German Media

1.       What date did the "television contract" (Fernsehvertrag) get signed?
Answer: March 27, 1953
Source: pg 91 of "The Mass Media of the German Speaking Country" by John Sandford

2.       The Deutsche Welle first began broadcasting is what year?
Answer: 1953
Source: pg 39 of "The Mass Media of the German Speaking Country" by John Sandford

3.       What German newsmagazine is on the rise while its predecessor is on the decline?
Answer: The Focus is on the rise while Der Spiegel is on the decline.
Source: http://www.germanculture.com.ua/library/facts/bl_newspapers.htm

German States: Bavaria

1.       Who are the three primary Germanic tribes to inhabit Bavaria in history?
Answer: Bavarians, Franks, and Nordgau

2.       Pope Benedict was born in town of Marktl Bavaria. Where did he live his adolescence?
Answer: Traunstein
Source: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/biography/documents/hf_ben-xvi_bio_20050419_short-biography_en.html

3.       The Hofbrauhaus is a famous beer hall in Munich Bavaria. What family still owns and operates this historic site?
Answer: The Gerdas
Source: http://www.aviewoncities.com/munich/hofbrauhaus.htm

German States: Schleswig-Holstein

1.       Where was the chief base for the Third Reich's navy operations?
Answer: Kiel
Source: pg 259-260 of “Discover Germany” by Jack Altman

2.       Schleswig-Holstein was part of Denmark until what year?
Answer: 1866
Source: pg 259-260 of “Discover Germany” by Jack Altman

3.       What is the world famous annual rock fest that takes place in Schleswig-Holstein?
Answer: Wacken Open Air
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Rhine-Westphalia

German print media reviewed

Newspapers are a major way of communication and knowing what is going on in the world and around your community. It is a way of life for some people, and a big part of their culture. As stated by vistawide.com german newspapers, "78 percent of the German population reads a daily newspaper on a regular basis." I enjoy reading the newspaper to know what is going on. German newspapers are quite similar to the ones found in the united states. From what i can see from the various newspaper/pictures it looks as if they have local news, international, weather, sports and advertisement. I was quite surprised however when i was looking at various newspapers and they have sexual ads and adult entertainment. This tells me that they are open to their sexuality. i know that here in the united states we would never see pictures and ads in our newspapers like that. We are very conservative and i believe alot of people here would look down upon that type of media. However i do believe that newspapers in general are much the same everywhere, and that people rely on them on a daily basis. German newspapers are even offered here, although they are quite expensive, you can go online to read for free and also one could get a German-language newspaper that are published by various cultural groups. I just really thought it was interesting to see the differences as well as know that we do share a lot in common.

German radio stations

Looking at german radio stations i noticed how comparible they are to our radio. They have quite a selection of genres just like we do that can fit everyone's taste. Pop, rock, classic rock, alternative, etc are pretty much the same as what you find here in the united states. Much of the same popular artists here are being broadcasted on german radio stations, which shows that they have much of the same taste in music. Even the german songs are comparible as in the rhythm and beat. I can assume that they have much of the same taste and style of music that we have here. I thought it was interesting that they also have childrens radio much like we have disney radio. In a nutshell our culture here can be played through music as well as in germany and other countries.

Wimbachklamm Waterfall

Wimbachklamm presentation

Class presentations in order of interest

1. Berlin during WW2 Jessica and Khrystyna
2. Berlin structures Jen and Krystal
3. Berlins music today and past David and Patrick
4. Tourism Danielle
5. Berlin Art and culture of the 1920 Lexi and Matt
6. Brandenberg Gate Kelsey and Nichole
7. Reichstag Sion and Kyle
8. Berlin Buildings Shelby and Andrew
9. U Bahn and S Bahn Kevin and Kevin
10. Popular sights and activities in Luebech Germany Vaughn and Breanna
11. Sports Connor
12. Berlin then and now Kyle and Steve
13. Berlin Tram Ryan

Berlin's nightlife

Berlin is not only Germany's capital but it is also the capital of nightlife. Berlin is arguable the hippest city in the world. The diverse scene of nightlife is what young adults look for when it comes to having a good time. Throughout the 1990's twentysomethings from surrounding countries mostly those in Eastern and Central Europe made Berlin's club scene the premium destination. Whether you like techno, rock, alternative, to just sitting in a pub you can find that in Berlin. Berlin is right next to Amsterdamn when it comes to nightlife.


Most of the clubs in Berlin are not happening until 11 p.m. Young adults will go to the local watering hole or known as pubs and will "pregame" so to speak until it's time to dance and have a good time. There are no fixed closing hours so you can pretty much dance until the sun comes up. Most clubs in Berlin don't have dress codes, follow their motto of "anything goes." There are club listings in Berlin's weekly magazine called Zitty and Tip to list current events. But half of the adventure is finding these clubs because most are not advertised. If you heard of underground clubs and bars they are usually there for one weekend and will disappear forever the next. You'll often find these clubs in backyards, old warehouses, and even basements of residential buildings. So pretty much you need to keep an ear open and be in the right place to get a flyer for these parties.

Pubs

Start the night off with going to a pub. Deponie No. 3 is Deutsch for Deposit no. 3. It is so called because it used to be a tank depo for the Nationale Volksarmee. This pub is lively and fun with regular live music as in jazzy, piano blues variety. It has a beer garden and a great selection of ales. It is located by the trains of the S-Bahn and adds character to the place. A lively place to kick of the party.

You can't go anywhere without finding an Irish pub, the Oscar Wilde Pub is in a great location just short from Oranienburger Tor U-bahnhof which is the underground station/subway and around the corner from one of Berlins busiest streets for nightlife, the Oranienburger Strasse. As in most Irish pubs you will find a great variety of Irish food and drink. They are known for the best bacon butty in Berlin.
Clubs

The Weekend club is situated on the upper floors of an old office building on Alexanderplatz. The signature of this club has the breathtaking view of Berlins cityscape on the rooftop as well as dancefloors and bars. The dj's spin electronic, pop, and house music from Thursday till Saturday and will keep you dancing till daybreak. The Weekend Club is one of the hottest places to go to have a good time as stated by Berlin-life.com, "Dirty sounds, wild times, a night at the Weekend Club is rarely a dead duck."

Watergate club is located in the heart of Kreuzberg. This club has two levels, the lower dance floor called waterfloor has the feeling of the name itself. It has a wide floor to ceiling glass that overlooks the river Spree and makes you feel like your dancing on water. It is famous for its LED lighting system that runs throughout the length of the club. This club regularaly invites very talented Dj's. The music there is mostly house, techno, drum and bass music.

Tango


The tango craze is growing in Berlin. Berlin is known as Germany's tango metropolis. Training courses, introductions, and ball nights are suddenly being offered and many clubs and dancing schools. During the summer even many public places have been turned into ball rooms.

Casinos

Casninos are also quite popular in Berlin. The age to gamble, however, is 18 years old. The same age that it is in the United States. There are a total of 3 casinos in Berlin. Potsdamer Platz is home to the most modern and largest gambling house of Germany. The casino is equiped with many slot machines as well as Poker, Black Jack, and Roulette.

Sights visited

http://www.berlin-life.com/berlin/nightlife Sept. 2, 2010


http://gogermany.about.com/od/nightlife/tp/bestclubsberlin.htm Sept. 2, 2010

http://www.europe-trips.eu/Germany/tourist-information-German-resorts-hotels-accommodation.html Sept. 7, 2010

http://www.visitberlin.de/english/berlin-erleben/e_be_nachtleben.php Sept. 4 2010

http://www.taz.de/uploads/hp_taz_img/norm/tip.jpg Sept. 7, 2010

http://ascii.pdp10.org/images/Ruins-in-ASCII_berlin-exhibition-zitty.jpg Sept. 7, 2010

http://www.berlin-life.com/pictures/m.007.jpg Sept. 7, 2010

http://www.oscholarship.com/TO/Archive/Forty-seven/Main/editorial_files/image057.jpg Sept. 7, 2010

http://www.johnnyjet.com/image/PicForNewsletterBerlinJune2008338.JPG Sept. 7, 2010

http://static3.unlike.net/system/photos/0000/1103/watergate4.jpg?1209992918 Sept. 7, 2010

http://www.beisheim-center.de/images/basic/potsdamer_platz_sunset.jpg Sept. 7 2010

The PowerPoint Presentation

The castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust at Bruhl

I decided to write about the Castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust at Bruhl. The pictures that I have looked at of both castles were very intricate with detail and astonishing to know that these were built at the beginning of the 18th century. These are among the earliest examples of Rococo architecture in the 18th century. The topics that interested me into looking at these castles was the history, the garden/landscaping, and the interior of both castles.




The Castle of Augustusburg and Falkenlust at Bruhl was listed on the UNESCO cultural world heritage site since 1984. It was the fifth of now over 30 sites in Germany to be listed. Falkenlust was built from 1729 to 1740, it was built as a hunting castle. Clemens August ruled a large part of northwestern Germany and along with hunting as his hobby he also liked building castles. Being built so long ago really makes one think of the hard work that was put into this, since they didn't have the machines that we do today. The 18th century in Germany was in a time of conflict between two largest states, Austria and Prussia. So to imagine that something so beautiful can come out of a time of conflict is almost uncomprehensible.



The castle of Augustusburg has an amazing landscaped garden. It has a large pond that is surrounded by a lavished, rich in color garden with various winding hedges. From the pictures I have seen of Falkenlust I haven't seen too much of a garden or a landscaped view other than what the castle looks like, however this was built as a hunting castle.The Castle of Falkenlust has a beautiful white exterior; a picture that I came acrossed was taken at dusk and the palace lit up like nothing I have seen before with the shadows of the fence in the front and trees in the back. I think gardens are a way of expressing your own artistic expression and how you want others to view yourself. Both landscapes come with intricate details with the Castle of Augustusburg you can see the garden and landscaped views that will enlighten ones thinking, with the pictures I have seen of Falkenlust I can see the building itself and the view of the beautiful sillhouette of trees.



Both castles I became especially interested because of the detail of the interiors. Being interested in home decor and art myself I find it very appealing to the eye with the details of the staircases (which has been said to be magnificant that was designed by Johann Balthasar Neumann), the paintings on the walls and ceilings, and the use of color with many different shades and hues. The staircase at Augustusburg was meant to impress visitors that came to see Clemens. After WWII until 1994 Augustusburg was used as a reception hall for guests of state by the German president, as it was not far from Bonn, which was capital of Germany at that time. Living in Minnesota I have visited the Glensheen mansion, and to me that was the most breath taking building I personally been to; because of the detail of the walls, the decor and color schemes. However, knowing that these castles been built in the 18th century gave me a perspective of the detail that is almost never seen in any modern day building today or even the mansion that I personally been to because it was all manufactured as in wallpaper.

16 German States and Fun Facts

Baden-Wurttemberg- From the statistical viewpoint, there are 301 inhabitants living in Baden-Württemberg per square kilometre (German average: 230) Just under 1.2 million residents are of non-german origin; which most are Turkish.


http://www.baden-wuerttemberg.de/en/Our_State/86236.html



Bavaria- Is the largest federal state of germany. Bavaria has more in common with Austria than the rest of Germany. This stereotype includes Lederhosen (leather trousers), sausages and lots of beer.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Bavaria



Berlin- Berlin is Germany's captial. On 3 October 1990 the two parts of Germany were reunified as the Federal Republic of Germany after the fall of the Berlin wall, and Berlin became the German capital according to the unification treaty.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin



Brandenburg- After Germany's reunification in 1990, the western part became a German state. Brandenburg city, or Brandenburg an der Havel (pop., 2002 est.: 76,400), was formerly the residence of Prussia's reigning family.

http://www.answers.com/topic/brandenburg



Bremen- The ornate Weser-Renaissance town hall and the grand old statue of Roland on the market square (both UNESCO World Heritage) are two of the city's most famous landmarks. The Roland, Bremen's very own "statue of liberty", has stood as an emblem of independence since 1404.

http://www.bremen-tourismus.de/english/



Hamburg- Hamburg's full name is the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg Germany. Hamburg is also known as "The Green City on the Water" because of the plethora of parks and lawns located throughout.

http://www.destination360.com/europe/germany/hamburg



Hesse- Hesse is Germany's richest forest state with 41% woodland. Frankfurt is one destination in Hesse and it hosts the annual "Frankfurter Buchmesse" and it is the world's largest book fair.

http://www.germany.co.za/hesse.html



Mecklenburg-Vorpommern- Is the most northeastern state in germany which borders the Baltic sea. Nickname is Meck Pomm (Mc Pomm), the state motto is "MV tut gut" (MV will do you good.)

http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Germany/mecklenburg-vorpommern.htm



Lower Saxony- Lower Saxony has a population of around 8 Million people and is a rich agricultural state. Wheat, rye, oats, and potatoes are the main crops. More than 20 percent of the state's area is protected land, which Wadden Sea National Park is in.

http://www.germany.co.za/lower_saxony.html



North Rhine-Westphalia- North Rhine-Westphalia is the most densely populated federal state in Germany with it's capital of Düsseldorf. With iron and steel companies like Thyssen and Krupp brought work and wealth to thousands.

http://www.cometogermany.com/ENU/about_germany/master_tlbundesland-id19.htm



Rhineland-Palatinate- Rhineland-Palatinate was created on August 30 1946. It was formed from the northern part of the French Occupation Zone. It has about 3.88 Million people living in this state.

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhineland-Palatinate



Saarland- Saarland, named after the Saar River, is in both area and population, the smallest of the German area states.

http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Germany/saarland.htm



Saxony- Dresden is the capital. There is nowhere in Germany that has as many steam trains as Saxony. The first German steam engine was also built here and operated on Germany’s first long-distance track between Dresden and Leipzig.

http://www.saxonytourism.com/learn/did-you-know-Saxony.php



Saxony-Anhalt- Capital is Magdeburg.Saxony-Anhalt is famous for its good soil. The "Magdeburger Börde" contains the best soil in all of Germany and some of the best of Europe. It is often said by the local populace that the smoothness of the soil is more luxurious than balls of silk.

http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Saxony-Anhalt



Schleswig-Holstein- Capital is Kiel. Five languages are spoken in Schleswig-Holstein – more than in any other federal state. The five lanuages spoken in Schleswig-Holstein are German, Danish, Low German, Frisian and the language of the Sinti and Roma. "Moin Moin". This is how people from Schleswig-Holstein greet their visitors.

http://www.schleswig-holstein.de/Portal/EN/CountryPeople/IntroducingPeople/IntroducingPeople_node.html



Thuringia- Thuringia is located in "the heart" of Germany. It is known as the Green heart of Germany, due to the dense forest of the terrain.The most conspicuous geographical feature of Thuringia is the Thuringian Forest, a mountain chain in the southwest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thuringia

Presentation

1914-1918 WW1. WWI – Battle in Europe between the Allies (U.S., France, UK and Russia) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungry, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria). The war erupted due to power tensions in Europe that caused different kingdoms and countries to form alliances with and against one another, with the end result being the Allies and the Central Powers. When a Serbian (Serbia was part of the Allies) assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand (Heir to the throne of Austria, Germany, obligated in their alliance with Austria-Hungry, attacked France and Belgium, while Austria invaded Serbia. This power shift dragged all the other countries into the war, which became known as the Great War, lasting from 1914 to 1918. The war ended in an Allied victory and several peace treaties, most renowned being the Treaty of Versailles. This treaty set restrictions on German military power and required Germany to forfeit land (mainly to France) and make war reparations to the Allied Powers. The heavy war debt from this treaty along with the restrictions on Germany’s government and military are some of the factors that lead up to the beginnings of WWII.


1918-1933 Weimar Republic. The Weimar Republic was when Germany was known as a Democratic Republic and governed by a constitution that was created in the city of Weimar. The Weimar Republic collapsed when Hitler was elected Chancellor and started the third Reich. The Weimar republic lasted until 1933, during the huge recession that Germany was facing at the time. The recession made the German people very angry and restless, and also making them doubt their government.

1925- League of Nations. In 1925 Germany joins the League of Nations. The League of Nations was formed as a result of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919-1920. This was the precursor to the United Nations. At the time period of Sept. 1934 to Feb. 1935 it had the highest of 58 members. The main goals as stated by the covenant was to prevent war, settle disputes through negotiation, labor conditions, arms control, arms trade, prisoners of war and the protection of minorities in Europe.

1933-1945 Third Reich. The Third Reich started with the rise in power of the Nazis. Hitler became the president of the Third reich after the death of the original president, Paul von hindenberg. Propaganda was highly used and was encouraged. Law, education, culture and economy all went under Hitler's power. The military even swore to an oath personally honoring him. Nazi foreign policy was centered around the belief that Germans were racially superior compared to all other peoples. The third reich ended in 1945 at the end of World War Two.

1939-1945 WW2. European war between the Allies (UK, France, Russia, U.S.) and the Axis (Germany, Italy, Japan) powers. Many other countries were brought into the war on both sides. WWII started in 1939, when Hitler, after resurrecting Germany from the ashes of the first world war, sought to gain greater control over Europe and extend its empire. Threatening war, Hitler was basically given several demands from the UK and France which included large sums of land that were lost in WWI by Germany. Hitler’s aggressive policies led to the German invasion of Poland and the declaration of war on Germany by the UK and France. WWII became a war not only against military power but also against civilians, such as the London Bombings by German aircrafts, the holocaust, and the nuclear weapons dropped in Japan. The war ended in 1945 when Russian troops captured Berlin, and Russian and the U.S. basically took control over Japan.

1950's Wirtschaftswunder. In the 1950's Wirtschaftswunder that is german for "economic miracle" was described as the rapid reconstruction of economies of West Germany and Austria after ww2. What they did in the beginning was the replacement of the Reichmark with the Deutsche Mark as currency. This was provided by the help of the United states and the Marshal Plan which is the European Recovery Program (ERP); which in turn helped the rehibilitation of the currency in Germany because of the high inflation of the Reichmark. The Volkswagen Beetle was the icon of West German reconstruction as well.

1961 Berlin Wall construction. Construction of the Berlin Wall began on August 13, 1961 by the German Democratic Republic (GDR). .The wall was built as a way to seperate West Berlin from East Germany. There were also guard towers along the wall. Along with the wall was a large area known as the death strip that included anti-vehicle trenches. According to the GDR the wall was built to protect its citizens against outside elements working against the socialist state in East Germany. The wall was actually built to prevent people from fleeing from East Germany into West Germany. 2.6 million East Germans escaped to West Germany from 1949-1961. There was no other way to stop the emerging East Germans or West Germans other than to build the wall. A major reason for the build was because of two different currencies in Germany. For every 1 DM West Germany equalled 4 DM East Germany. People in the West could get very cheap goods in the East

1989 The fall of the Berlin Wall. November 9, 1989 is known as the date the Wall fell. In actuality the Wall was not torn down completely on that day. Beginning that night, and continuing for weeks to come many people came to the Wall with chisels and hammers to create their own souvenirs. This created many unofficial border crossings and greatly contributed to the deconstruction of the Wall. The following weekend the creation of ten new border crossings was announced.

World Heritage list

St. Marys cathedral and st. michael's church at hildesheim

Castels of Augustusburg and Falkenlust at Bruhl

Wartburg castle

Palaces and parks of potsdam and Berlin

Garden kingdon of Dessau-worlitz