Timeline / 1870 to After 1930 / GERMANY
Date Country Theme
1870 - 1913 Germany Economy And Trade
The rail network transforms German industry, and merchant shipping multiplies.
Since 1870 Germany Migrations
The so-called Ruhrpolen migrate to the Ruhr, where many work in coal mining.
1870 Germany Economy And Trade
The Deutsche Bank is founded by Georg von Siemens.
From 1871 - 1914 Germany Economy And Trade
Germany’s industrial production is now six times what it had been.
1871 Germany Political Context
The German Empire, a union of sovereign states and free cities, is established under Prussian leadership.
1871 Germany Cities And Urban Spaces
Berlin becomes the imperial capital.
1871 - 1914 Germany Cities And Urban Spaces
The process of urbanisation begins: in 1907 Berlin had more than 2 million citizens of which around 40% are locals, 20% German immigrants and 40% foreign immigrants.
1871 - 1910 Germany Cities And Urban Spaces
The second Industrial Revolution sees massive immigration; the population rises from 41 to 65 million, and from only eight cities with no more than 100,000 inhabitants, more than 48 cities are formed.
From 1871 Germany Economy And Trade
The capital market is enlivened by France’s payment of 5 million French francs, paid to Germany as compensation following the war between the two countries (1870–1).
1872 - 1879 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
As a consequence of the Kulturkampf the influence of the Catholic Church is limited in Germany.
1873 - 1880 Germany Economy And Trade Date Country Theme
The economic crash known as the Gründerkrise sees companies and banks shut down and a rise in unemployment and social dissatisfaction.
1873 Germany Rediscovering The Past
The development of Classical Archaeology is strongly influenced by Heinrich Schliemann in the second half of the 18th century when for example he finds the “Gold of Troy”.
1873 - 1878 Germany International Exhibitions
The Moorish Kiosk, built for the World Exhibition in Paris in 1878, was subsequently bought for Linderhof Palace Park by Ludwig II. The Moroccan House, which was actually built in Morocco for the International Exhibition in Vienna in 1873 and acquired by a private individual after the king’s death, was bought by the German state in 1980 and reconstructed in the Palace Park in 1998.
1873 Germany Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion
Levi Strauss, a German citizen in exile in America, requests the patent for blue Jeans.
1873 Germany Economy And Trade
The Krupp Corporation is the largest industrial concern in Europe.
1874 - 1890 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
“Medicine is a social science, and politics is nothing more than medicine on a large scale”, Rudolf Virchow stated in defence of public health and the building of hospitals in Berlin (i.e. Friedrichshain (1874), Moabit (1875, now closed) and Am Urban (1890); even parks and playgrounds were important to improve city life for the proletariat, Virchow continued.
1876 Germany Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Robert Koch discovers bacteriology.
1878 - 1890 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
The anti-Socialist laws known as Sozialistengesetz prohibit socialist organisations, meetings and publications.
1879 Germany International Exhibitions
The Great Industrial Exposition is held at the Lehrter Bahnhof in Berlin, where one of main attractions is the first electric locomotive from Siemens & Halske.
1879 Germany Economy And Trade
The German Empire moves from a free-trade system to protective duty. Date Country Theme
1880 - 1900 Germany Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion
The era of “Naturalism” in literature (i.e. the works of Hauptmann, Holz and Schlaf) is characterised by a reality without embellishment or subjective insight (the radicalisation of realism).
From 1880 Germany Migrations
As the process of Industrialisation in the so-called Ruhrgebiet region develops, Polish miners and farmhands migrate to the Ruhr, which becomes a place known as Ruhrpoland.
1880 - 1914 Germany Migrations
More than 5 million migrants from Russia and the Habsburg Empire journey through Germany on their way to America.
Since 1880 Germany Migrations
Foreign workers (especially from Austria-Hungary, Russia and Poland) arrive in the German Empire in increasing numbers to work in seasonal agriculture.
From 1880 Germany Migrations
Germany’s colonisation of Namibia, Tanzania, Cameroon and Togo.
1880 - 1900 Germany Fine And Applied Arts
The painting by Franz von Stuck, Die Sünde (1893), exemplifies the period in art known as Post-Imperialism and Symbolism.
1880 Germany Travelling
The dome of Cologne is completed (construction began in 1248). It is the tallest church building in the world at the time.
1881 Germany Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Werner von Siemens develops the tram.
1882 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
Robert Koch discovers the cause of tuberculosis.
1883 - 1889 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
Imperial Chancellor Otto von Bismarck initiates German social laws and the basic system for a modern social state.
1883 - 1927 Germany Travelling
The warehouse district known as Speicherstadt Hamburg develops. Date Country Theme
1884 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
The goal in founding the Society for German Colonization was to acquire colonial territories overseas.
1884 - 1885 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
Germany establishes protectorates in south-west Africa, Cameroon, Togo, East Africa and New Guinea.
1884 - 1890 Germany Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Gottlieb Daimler develops the petrol engine and Rudolf Diesel invents the diesel engine.
1886 Germany Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler invent the modern automobile.
Since 1886 Germany Travelling
Seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II in 1886, Neuschwanstein Castle – built in order that the king could withdraw from public life – opened to the public.
1887 Germany Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Emil Berliner invents the phonograph.
1888 Germany Rediscovering The Past
Julius Stinde writes Frau Buchholz im Orient. He has already documented the cities of Cairo, Jerusalem, Athens, and Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey).
1889 - 1917 Germany Travelling
Kaiser Wilhelm II visits the Ottoman Empire three times, in 1889, 1898 and 1917. On his second official tour he visits Constantinople, Haifa, Jaffa, Jerusalem, Beirut and Damascus, largely to show his support for Ottoman sultan ‘Abd al-Hamid II whose Empire was already unstable. The strong connection between the countries is further cemented by a gift from the Kaiser to ‘Abd al Hamid: a “German fountain” that stands in Jerusalem to this day.
1890s Germany Migrations
The Prussian policy of Abwehrpolitik sees Polish seasonal workers in agriculture forced to leave the German Empire during winter.
1890 - 1910 Germany Fine And Applied Arts
The paintings by Heinrich Vogeler, Das Konzert (Sommerabend) (1893), and Gustav Klimt, Der Kuss (1908), exemplify the period in art known as Jugendstil or Art Nouveau. Date Country Theme
1890s - Around 1900 Germany Migrations
After the United States, the German Empire was the most popular country of immigration.
1890 - 1910 Germany Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion
The era of Modern literature (i.e. the works of Hesse, Hauptmann, Mann and Zweig) is characterised by pluralism, the merging of Art Nouveau, Symbolism, Impressionism, etc.
1890s Germany Reforms And Social Changes
Sigmund Freud formulates his theory of psychoanalysis in Vienna.
1890 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
Emperor Wilhelm II dismisses Bismarck; and so begins the era of the emperor’s personal regiment.
1891 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
Founding of the Pan-German League (Allgemeine Deutsche Verband; since 1894 the General German Association or Alldeutscher Verband) to advance an active, nationalistic German foreign policy in Europe and overseas.
1894 Germany Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Otto Lilienthal invents the glider.
1895 Germany Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
The Roentgen ray (X-Ray) is discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen.
1896 Germany International Exhibitions
The Great Industrial Exposition opens at Treptower Park, south of central Berlin.
1897 - 1904 Germany Fine And Applied Arts
Formation of the Kaiser-Friedrich-Museum (now the Bode Museum), proposed by Wilhelm von Bode, and built by Ernst von Ihne and Max Hasak.
1898 - 1917 Germany Rediscovering The Past
Foundation of the Deutsche-Orient Gesellschaft (DOG) in Berlin is to promote research in the field of “Oriental” archaeology and bring it to a wider audience. One of the first archaeological excavations undertaken by the DOG was in Babylon, with the discovery of the Ishtar Gate (now at the Museum of the Ancient Near East in Berlin). DOG was responsible for finds at Tell el-Amarna, the capital of the Pharaonic Empire where the famous bust of Queen Nefertiti was found (now at the Neues Museum). Kaiser Wilhelm II assumed patronage of DOG in 1901. Date Country Theme
1898 - 1900 Germany Political Context
Development and rearmament (Aufrüstung) of the German Navy.
1900 - 1940 Germany Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
The Bagdadbahn (the so-called Bagdad Railway project) was built through a section of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey, Syria and Iran) and stretched for around 3,200 km. Together with the Hijaz Railway (opened 1908–closed 1920) it was constructed under the auspices of ‘Abd al-Hamid II, primarily to facilitate pilgrims wanting to travel directly from Damascus to Medina and Mecca. The German Empire was the main sponsor of this huge infrastructure project: the director of engineering was Heinrich August Meißner (responsible for several railways in the Ottoman Empire) and many German manufacturers (i.e. Friedrich von Krupp AG, and Borsig) grew as a result of its construction. However, while both railways strengthened the Sultan’s reputation, there were important military and economic uses as well, for the Ottomans were federates of the German Empire during World War I.
1900 Germany Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Planck’s Law, which describes electromagnetic radiation.
1900 Germany Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
The establishment of the beneficence “Nobel Prize” by Alfred Nobel.
1900 - 1940 Germany Travelling
Building of the "Bagdadbahn" ("Bagdad railway"), a railway- section in the Ottoman Empire with a length of around 3200 km through Turkey, Syria and Iran. Together with the "Hedjaz railway" it was built under Abdul Hamid the second. He wanted to facilitate the pilgrimage, as people could travel from Damaskus to Medina and Mekka directly.
1900 Germany Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin invents the zeppelin, a steerable airship.
1903 Germany Rediscovering The Past
A large part of the richly ornamented south facade of Qasr al-Mushatta – one of the most important works of early Islamic architecture – was presented as a gift from the Ottoman Sultan ‘Abd al-Hamid II to Emperor Wilhelm II and transported from Jordan to Berlin via rail and sea.
1904 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
Publication of Max Weber’s The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Weber is known as the originator of social science.
Around 1914 - 1918 Germany Economy And Trade Date Country Theme
In 1914 Germany becomes the biggest industrial nation within Europe as a result of munitions production before and during World War I.
1905 Germany Migrations
Foundation of the German field-workers central office (Deutsche Feldarbeiter Zentralstelle; later Deutsche Arbeitszentrale), initiated by the Prussian Ministry of Agriculture, in order to control work-based migration to Germany.
1905 - 1916 Germany Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Physician Albert Einstein formulates his Theory and publishes Relativity: The Special and General Theory.
1906 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
Alois Alzheimer describes a type of dementia, Alzheimer’s, for the first time.
1908 Germany Political Context
Austria-Hungary annexes the Ottoman provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following international protests, Germany shows solidarity with Austria.
Since 1908 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
Women are admitted to study at German universities.
1910 Germany International Exhibitions
A groundbreaking exhibition on Islamic art opens in Munich, “Ausstellung von Meisterwerken Muhammedanischer Kunst”.
1910 - 1925 Germany Music, Literature, Dance And Fashion
The era of Expressionism in literature (i.e. the works of Benn, Kafka, Lasker- Schüler, Mann and Döblin) is influenced by the human experience of World War I and other influences such as Darwinism, Friedrich Nietzsche’s “despair of civilisation” and Freud’s Psychoanalytic theory.
1910 - 1930 Germany Fine And Applied Arts
Foundation of the Pergamon Museum (including the Museum of Islamic Art), conceptualised by Wilhelm von Bode, and built by Alfred Messel and Ludwig Hoffmann.
1911 Germany Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Foundation of the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gesellschaft (later Max-Planck-Gesellschaft).
1911 - 1913 Germany Rediscovering The Past
The international reputations of the Orientalist, archaeologist and investigator of inscriptions Ernst Herzfeld and art historian Friedrich Sarre were assured when Date Country Theme they found 8,000-year old (6th-century) painted pottery known as Samarra-Ware. Some of these finds from Samarra are in the Museum of Islamic Art, Berlin.
1913 - 1917 Germany Cities And Urban Spaces
The last palace (Cicilienhof) of the House of Hohenzollern (a dynasty of former princes, electors, kings and emperors) was built under Wilhelm II. The palace hosted the Conference of Potsdam in 1945.
1914 - 1918 Germany Political Context
World War I is declared and fought.
1914 Germany Political Context
The heir apparent of Austria, Franz Ferdinand, is murdered in Sarajevo by a member of the Serbian intelligence service known as the “Black Hand”. As a consequence, the Austrian government issues an ultimatum to Serbia; Germany declares war on the Russian Empire and on France; and Great Britain declares war on the German Empire.
1914 - 1918 Germany Migrations
One in every ten members of the workforce in the German Empire is foreign (many of them prisoners of war).
1915 Germany Migrations
Introduction of the Legitimationszwang in Prussia allows police to tag foreign workers and their German employers.
1917 Germany Political Context
The United States declares war on the German Empire.
1918 - 1933 Germany Political Context
The Weimar Republic.
1918 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
The so-called November Revolution results in the withdrawal of Emperor Wilhelm II; the Council of People’s Deputies (SPD and USPD members) take over government.
1918 - 1933 Germany Migrations
With the establishment of the Weimar Republic, the number of migrant workers declines rapidly.
1918 Germany Political Context
Woodrow Wilson declares his “14 points” program in front of Congress. Date Country Theme
After 1918 Germany Migrations
Forced migration rises and more than 10 million people (within Europe) are displaced. Berlin temporarily becomes the centre for Russian immigrants.
1919 Germany Political Context
On signature of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany must face up to its responsibility to make reparation payments, abandon territory and let go of its colonies. The League of Nations is founded.
1919 Germany Reforms And Social Changes
Rudolf Steiner, originator of the Waldorfpädagogik, opens the first Steiner School in Stuttgart (the basis of which is human anthropology).
1920 Germany Political Context
The Conference of San Remo was an international meeting convened to decide which parts of its territories the Ottoman Empire would lose, to become the mandated territory under the League of Nations. For example, France received mandated territory for Syria and Lebanon (and King Faysal of Iraq goes into exile after losing Greater Syria to the French).
1920s - 1930s Germany Rediscovering The Past
The Museum of Islamic Art, the German Oriental Society and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, undertake two excavations during which several iwans and stucco ornaments, as well as numerous other finds from houses, in layers of occupation from the late Sasanian period through to the early Islamic periods, are found. The stucco finds form the foundations for later stylistic developments in Samarra. Many of the stuccos are now found at the Museum of Islamic Art, Berlin, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
1920 Germany Political Context
Foundation of the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP); the party’s first selection for the German Reichstag is on 6 July.
1925 Germany Great Inventions Of The 19th Century
Oskar Barnack invents the compact camera.
1927 Germany Travelling
The first stage of the racing circuit Nürburgring is constructed comprising the old “North loop” built around the village of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains.