In order to understand Germany’s Peasants’ War (1524-1526) you have to go back to the Middle Ages. Yes, I’m aware that medieval Germany was “wrapping it up” so to speak, I mean early Middle Ages; back to the days of Charlemagne.

The romanticized version of medieval life that we have created in our minds, our novels, and our television isn’t what it was really like. Disease was rampant, food could be scarce, there were high infant mortality rates, and unless you were of “noble” birth; life was pretty harsh. OK, even if you were on the better end of the socioeconomic scale, life was hard.

Thanks, I like indoor plumbing and electricity. These guys lived without them. See, didn’t I tell you life was hard?

Outbreak Of The Peasants’ War

But, anyway, Germany’s peasants weren’t getting their fair share of the American Dream. I mean, German Dream. Whatever. Protestant Reformation was in the air, and the serfs of medieval Germany were fighting for better. That was their side of the story.

On the other side was the Swabian League. These were members of the nobility (princes, dukes, counts, and a bunch of other titles) who felt their feudal system slipping away.

Historians still debate on whether the Peasants’ War was a political one, an economic one, or even a religious one. I think it appears to be a mixture of all of them.

By 1524 the Feudal System was firmly established (told you, you got to go back to the early Middle Ages). Princes and Dukes (add more titles here, ha-ha) were getting rich off the labor of its serfs (the peasants). Although by this time, labor was a real hot commodity. So, for a while the peasants could “charge” more for their goods and services.

This did lead to better economic times for the serfs, but it wasn’t enough. The final straw came when the “Lady of the Manor” in Stühlingen demanded her people to get her snail shells.

That’s right, folks, snail shells. It was the proverbial “straw that broke the camel’s back.”

It didn’t take long for more than a thousand peasants to come up with a list of grievances protesting everything from death taxes to Feudal dues.

From one countess to the streets of the Black Forest (then the Rhine, Bavaria, and Lake Constance region), peasants started to rise up and outright revolt against the established authority within weeks.

I bet if they had the internet back then it would have only taken hours. ;-)

It didn’t matter that the peasants didn’t have the money to fund themselves. It didn’t matter the peasants didn’t have the military knowledge or cavalry against the Swabian League. They were fed up, just like Martin Luther.

Oh, Mr. Luther. It was your 95 Theses nailed to the Castle Church in Wittenberg that kind of fueled this along. The reform you were asking for kind of spilled over, didn’t it?

I know, after the Weinsberg Massacre (where Wildenberg Castle was set ablaze) you said the revolt was too much.

What’s the Weinsberg Massacre?

It was skirmish over by the Kloster Schöntal (which had been won by the Peasants), where they forced the Duke to run a gauntlet of pikes. Bloody. Gruesome. Cruel.

Without the backing of Luther, it appeared the Peasants’ War wasn’t going anywhere. But, it did last for a while longer.

One of the bloodiest battles was the Massacre of Frankenhausen, which took place near Bad Frankenhausen between the end of April and into May, 1525. The Peasants stormed the castle and Rathaus; and by the time the whole thing ended thousands on both sides were killed (after the Duke broke his truce). The Peasants’ leader, Thomas Müntzer was one of the dead, after he was tortured that is.

Terrible, isn’t it?

One of the most lop-sided battles of the Peasants’ War was the Battle of Böblingen. I’m still trying to figure out how the Swabian League managed to kill 3,000 fighting Peasants from Württemberg, and only managed to lose 40 guys. Dumbfounding.

That’s not to say the Peasants didn’t have their fair share of victory. At the Siege of Freiburg im Breisgau (Austrian territory that time), the Knights Hospitallers (an order like the Teutonic Knights) lost to the Peasants. The same Peasants went on to sack, attack, and lay claim to many Abbeys within the Black Forest.

The Cessation Of The Peasants’ War

It’s reported that by September 1525 all battles were terminated and the Peasants’ War found to its end.

When all was said and done, a third of all the fighting men (100,000) were dead. The Peasants had failed in their attempt to change the status quo; and life continued on pretty much the same before these battles began.

But, does it ever?

No, I didn’t think so, either.

One of the effects after the ending of World War I in 1918 was the implementation of Germany’s Weimar Republic. This liberal democratic parliamentary government definitely had its fair share of good times; coming to an end good fourteen years later with the Third Reich and the Nazis.

Shall I start with the good, or shall I start with the bad?

Tough decisions… so how about we start chronologically?

Start Of The Weimar Republic

The Weimar Republic officially began its government on November 9, 1918, just two days before the official end of World War I, so named because of where the new government assembly took place after the German Revolution.

Um, that would be Weimar, not Republic. Ha-ha, I’m just kidding, I’m sure you knew that. ;-)

One of the biggest problems facing this fledgling republic was Germany’s dreaded Treaty of Versailles. Historians say that it had “oppressive requirements,” but that’s just a nice way of saying Germany’s hands were tied.

Forced to pay 34 billion dollars (132 billion marks), the Weimar Republic started by printing money. What they did was cause hyperinflation. This isn’t your average, run of the mill inflation. No, this was like inflation with a bad attitude on steroids, mixed with a growth serum.

I’ll give you an example…

A 50 million mark banknote was printed (sounds like a lot of money, right?). Based on the rate of exchange in 1923, it was equal to about one United States Dollar; a month later it wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on. You’ll find pictures where people are wallpapering their houses with worthless paper money.

Does that sum it up enough?

One of the greatest achievements of the Weimar Republic doesn’t have anything to do with its military strength (oh, wait — it didn’t have any because of the Treaty of Versailles). It was called the Weimar Culture.

Throughout the 1920’s Germany saw a reemergence of art, literature, music, dance, theater, and architecture. Names like Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich came on the scene in Germany and eventually Hollywood, USA. Even the filmmaker Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, who gave us the “scary” Nosferatu (it’s like the first vampire movie EVER), was a product of this artsy scene.

It also started a social reform that included things like a modern 8-hour work day, with improvements on Otto von Bismarck’s health program, and better labor relations.

Weimar Culture wasn’t enough to sustain the Republic. It had its fair share of detractors from both right and left-wings. The “Old Guard” thought this new Germany was becoming too much like American culture, losing its long traditions and its own unique culture.

This was especially felt when the Weimar Republic could no longer afford to pay the Allies its tribute (I mean reparations); and the United States helped it pay when the Ruhr Region was occupied by the Belgians and French.

The End Of The Weimar Republic

Adolf Hitler and the Nazis used these reparation problems to gain strength and improve the morale of the broken Germany (they also stopped paying reparations when they got to power). The government also ignored other parts of the Treaty of Versailles to gain advantage.

By aligning itself with disrespected Russia (because of its withdraw from the First World War due to revolution) it received military training in exchange for the most sought after German engineering.

The Weimar Republic did stand up to a Communist push, although it couldn’t when the Nazis and Hitler (with help of Weimar Republic President Paul von Hindenburg) made a grab for power in 1933.

January 1933 is considered the end of the Weimar Republic, but Hitler does show up in the history books as the last Chancellor of Germany of the Weimar Republic. Some believe the end came with the Enabling Act of 1933 (on March 23rd).

Through years of propaganda by the Nazi Party, the Weimar Republic’s good works and deeds often go unnoticed. But, to be fair, the Parliament was up against some pretty tough opposition.

Too bad they didn’t have the chance to bring Germany into the modern age. But, they sure did give us some of the most memorable names, faces, and movies — and that’s classic.

Guaranteed, anything you ever read about Germany’s Wirtschaftswunder will start by telling you it’s the “economic miracle.” I choose to think of it as the beginning of the game “Punch Buggie.”

C’mon, I know I make fun about a lot of things; so why should this be any different.

For those of you who’ve never heard of Punch Buggie, it’s pretty simple. Every time you see a Volkswagen Beetle you give a good slug to your friend, brother, sister, whoever’s near you while you yell “Punch Buggie, red” (or whatever color it happens to be). Then you have to say “no punch backs,” otherwise they could give you a punch for the same car.

Sure, to some this might seem like a senseless kid’s game. For others it brings back memories of road trips for thousands of kids, all in the hopes of spotting one of these German cars (which as kids, you might not have known that) to give us an excuse to whack our siblings.

What’s this got to do with Germany’s Economic Miracle?

I guess it’s as simple as, these cars were a sign of West Germany getting back to work.

Critics have said that the United States’ Marshall Plan (the economic recovery aid) wasn’t the reason Germany experienced its Economic Miracle. Whatever the cause or not the cause, it doesn’t matter. The bottom line was, Germany flourished.

And let’s face it; Germans are hard workers, so the long hours of production helped the country prosper yet again. Then there were the Gastarbeiter (or guest workers), migrating from other European countries (Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Yugoslavia), who created an influx of cheaper labor into the mix.

In order to be totally fair, East Germany did see some economic recovery; but it wasn’t anything on the scale of the west. OK, so it was paying the USSR war reparations which didn’t help its economy.

Also, the Wirtschaftswunder usually includes the country of Austria; but this isn’t an Austrian website. I will, however, give them honorable mention because they’re Germany’s neighbor. ;-)

The first thing to help the economic recovery (regardless of your view on the Marshall Plan) didn’t come along until 1948, when the Deutsche Mark became the legal tender. No longer was the Reichsmark the money of Germany.

Yeah, yeah, so what, big whoop! Who cares if they changed the name of the money?

Well, this created a currency that was supposed to steady the rate of inflation (unlike what happened after World War I with hyperinflation). It did help with inflation, by the way.

It also took that long to jumpstart the economy because of measures put in place after World War II (economic stimulus was expressly a no-no for two years). Plus, Germany’s brightest minds (as well as patents, etc) were snapped up by the Soviets and the other Allies. Within those two years of Germany’s broken economy, the United States picked every ounce of meat from the country’s technological know-how.

On the flip side, the United States gave Germany more than one billion dollars in aid to help finance its future success, realizing that a hurt German economy was trickling down to the rest of Europe. By 1971 (less than 30 years later) all of the money had been repaid.

Now, what does that tell you about Germany’s Wirstschaftswunder?

After the 1940’s ended, the next decade (as well as into the ’60s and ’70s) ushered in an economic growth that was one of the best in the world, pretty much doubling the value of all the country’s exports, which included those “punch buggie” Volkswagens.

More than sixty years after the devastation of World War II on Germany, the country still prospers (thanks to the Wirtschaftswunder), enjoying one of the highest standards of living on the continent (if not the world).

Hey, it’ll give us plenty of leisure time to play Punch Buggie, won’t it? ;-)

In reality I have to say I didn’t know much about the Napoleonic Wars that plagued Europe in the first years of the 19th century. I did know that the tiny stature military leader Napoleon was to blame, so to speak; and not because the wars bore his name, either. ;-)

Interestingly enough, there are two other wars that have the distinction of being called World Wars (World War I and World War II, obviously). However, the Napoleonic Wars took place throughout European (including its colonies), the North American, and on the ocean stages from 1803 to 1815. This was in essence, a global war.

It’s kind of hard to keep straight who all the players were. Fighting for Napoleon and the French Empire wasn’t just France. It included Italy, Holland, Switzerland, Naples, the Duchy of Warsaw, and the Confederation of the Rhine, which was an alliance between Bavaria, Saxony, Westphalia, and Württemberg (more on these guys in just a bit).

Fighting on the other side was the United Kingdom, Austria, Prussia, Spain, Portugal, the Ottoman Empire, Sweden, Brunswick, Hanover, and Nassau.

Yeah, that’s a list and a half, I must say; and I don’t even think I managed to list them all. ;-)

So what created this mess?

History tells us this…

How The Napoleonic Wars Came To Play

France decided it wanted to invade the United Kingdom. When it couldn’t because Britain’s Royal Navy was protecting the English Channel, Napoleon set his eyes on Austria.

Austria (which borders Germany) wasn’t going to let that happen, so it invaded Bavaria. I know, it makes no sense; but Bavaria was an ally of Napoleon. So, I guess it does — nevermind.

They were also hoping to gain some of its lost territory in Germany during this campaign.

Another interesting fact about the Napoleonic War was that the militaristic Kingdom of Prussia got their rear ends handed to them. The French and their cronies defeated a quarter of a million man army in 1806.

I ain’t judging, I’m only saying. ;-)

This didn’t go over too well with the proud Prussians. They did eventually get their revenge; although it didn’t come for another nine years.

In the mean time, the Kingdom of Saxony decided to flip sides. They also managed to take many other members of the Confederation of the Rhine with it.

1812 brought many changes to the Napoleonic Wars. Britain was off fighting not only the French, but the Americans as well (that was the War of 1812 in U.S. History).

Prussia and some other German States used this time to regroup, and reenter the war against Napoleon. A particularly bloody battle in May of the following year in Bautzen (in Upper Lusatia) was fought with more than three-quarters of a million men.

The End Of Napoleonic Wars

By October 1813 at the Battle of Leipzig, Napoleon was outnumbered by more than a hundred thousand troops.

He fought hard enough, but when he invaded Russia — he totally miscalculated, even going in with just about 500,000 troops. Prussia again used all this to their advantage. The Frenchman was exiled to Elba after this failed attempt, but he didn’t stay there long.

Making one last stand, Napoleon returned to France and overthrew King Louis XVII. This time Prussia was ready, and helped to defeat him for good at Waterloo in 1815.

However, this isn’t the end of the story. These army guys (no matter what side they were fighting for) didn’t just pick to go home, and life carried on the same way it did before 1803. Here’s what happened…

The French weren’t a world dominant power any longer. Neither was the Spanish Empire. The Brits became a “superpower.” Its naval dominance became legendary (and many say that the United Kingdom enjoyed a Pax Britannica, kind of like the Pax Romana back in the days of the Roman Empire); which, I tell you, is not the Holy Roman Empire.

Oh yeah, that’s something else that happened in all this. The Holy Roman Empire came to an end after almost nine hundred years.

Nationalism came on the scene (that’s when one country is united together by the same culture). You know, you’ve seen T-shirts that say “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” kind of thing. ;-)

What else became of Europe after Napoleon’s loss at Waterloo?

Democracy replaced some of the authoritarian leadership throughout the region. And a system called “balance of power” became an idea where no country would ever become too powerful.

Um, yeah, that didn’t last too long; because Germany went on to become quite politically, economically, and militarily powerful, did it not?

Do I have a name for you: Orden der Brüder vom Deutschen Haus St. Mariens in Jerusalem.

Yeah, that’s a mouthful and a half. Let me translate for you (but it’s still a long name): Order of Brothers of the German House of Saint Mary in Jerusalem.

To simplify, they’re called the Teutonic Knights.

Perhaps you’ve heard of them, they’re the guys that lost Old Prussia to what became Prussia. Their issues with Prussia were legendary and downright cruel in their torment of each other. When Albert of Brandenburg converted to Lutheranism in the 1520’s, the Order was totally kicked to the curb for good.

But, I’m getting ahead of myself…

The Teutonic Knights, a strictly German religious/military organization, wasn’t even founded in Germany. Nope, it started in Acre; a town within the Holy Land.

Wherever it originated the story remains the same. They were formed in the 12th century to protect German speaking pilgrims and Crusaders on their way to, from, and around the Holy Land; moving to Transylvania after their services were no longer needed in the Middle East.

The basis for the Teutonic Knights was the same as the Knights Hospitallers and the Knights Templar. And were officially recognized by the Pope in 1192. Their medieval organization was a hierarchy, with the Hochmeister (Grand Master) at the top; and membership is restricted to Germans only (as it remains to this day).

As altruistic as the Teutonic Knights started (their motto was Help. Defend. Heal.), they were a war faring bunch, having fought against the Kingdom of Poland, the Duchy of Lithuania (Christianity hadn’t gotten that far yet), and the Prussians.

Their organization wasn’t without controversy, either. Knights of the Teutonic Order believed that those who weren’t Christian were nothing more than to be used in slavery. On several of their conquests they used Russian and Lithuanian women and children as such.

They acquired considerable wealth throughout the years, receiving donations from the Holy Roman Empire and as far away as Palestine. The Teutonic Knights bought themselves many castles this way, including one in Acre (which they lost in 1271) and Marienburg Castle (which can be found in Malbork, Poland). One of the most beautiful is the Castle of the Teutonic Order, found in Bad Mergentheim.

Teutonic Knights eventually established their own monastic state, creating towns like Königsberg in the process. They fought hard to maintain their state, which by the height of their power in the late 14th/early 15th century included land in Poland, Russia, and Lithuania; and a naval presence in the Baltic Sea.

Despite their downfall in terms of political power and wealth, the Teutonic Knights survived throughout the subsequent centuries; only to be dissolved in Germany in 1809 by Napoleon. Their Order was kept going by setting up shop in neighboring Austria, where the short stature fellow couldn’t do anything about it.

A little over a hundred years later, the Knights were disbanded again; totally outlawed by Adolf Hitler in 1938, who considered their military wing a threat. This time they didn’t set up their organization somewhere else, they waited until 1945 after WW II ended.

Hitler, however, wasn’t above using the Knights’ heroic deeds of the past go without using them for his propaganda.

Prior to Hitler and Napoleon, this Catholic organization even managed to survive the Protestant Reformation, albeit they did organize a Protestant division afterwards.

Today, the Teutonic Knights holds at 1,000 members (consisting of priests, nuns, and associates). They have taken to the Order’s original mission of helping the ill and infirm German speaking community.

It’s good to see after almost 900 years, the Orden der Brüder vom Deutschen Haus St. Mariens in Jerusalem is living up to its motto.

I know you’ve clicked on this Web page about the Holy Roman Empire because you’re interested in German history. OK, even if you’re not so much interested but curious, I can appreciate that.

The real question is: how do you make almost two handfuls of centuries of history sound interesting without flinging nothing but names, dates, and places at you? Like there’s going to be a test at the end or something.

There is.

Ha-ha, I’m just kidding, don’t panic. Put your pencils away. ;-)

How about learning something new? Did you know that the Heiliges Römisches Reich (as the Holy Roman Empire is called in German) is often considered First Reich? I know they don’t call it that on the German or World History stage, but you couldn’t have a Third Reich, or even a Second Reich for that matter, without a first.

This era of German history shouldn’t be confused with the Roman Empire. Oh, no, this isn’t the time of Julius Caesar or Nero. This came long after these guys were gone — and the Roman Empire had crumbled under the Germanic Tribes (sometimes known as the Teutonic) in the late 5th century.

Nope, this came some four hundred years later when King Otto the Great (of Germany, Silly) was crowned Römisch-Deutscher Kaiser (Holy Roman Emperor) in 962.

This “Empire” only ended when Francis II renounced his claim in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars and to the vertically-challenged Frenchman, Napoleon.

Yes, a lot of German history transpired throughout these almost nine centuries; and the history of the Holy Roman Empire has gotten obscured by other “names” of history (the Middle Ages and Renaissance, for instance).

The Holy Roman Empire itself had changed its name during its long reign. In 1512 the new name became Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Like making its name longer was somehow going to make it better?

You know what that tells me? Rulers with too much time on their hands… Go pillage or plunder somewhere, will ya? ;-)

The Holy Roman Empire wasn’t just limited to the boundaries of Germany. It included what is now Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, parts of France and Poland, and Belgium. A mere pittance of geography I’ve listed for an empire that included hundreds of cities and towns all under the crown of the Kaiser. But, interestingly enough didn’t always include the infamous city (I mean, Eternal City) of Rome to the list.

The wealth of the Empire can be seen by its magnificent bejeweled crown for the Holy Roman Emperor, which (sadly) isn’t on display in Germany — it’s in a museum in Vienna.

I sure would love to try that hat on for size, wouldn’t you? Do you think they’d let me? ;-)

Too bad the Holy Roman Empire (or whatever name they wanted to call themselves) didn’t enjoy a Pax Romana (Roman Peace) like the original. Wars often broke out through Germany (and surrounding Europe) throughout the centuries, including the 16th century Peasants’ War and 17th century Thirty Years’ War.

Yeah, I know that they were in part about the religious revolts going on at the time and the Protestant Reformation had something to do with it, but they were wars nonetheless.

Hmm, looks like they did pillage and plunder after all, didn’t they? I guess after changing their name they had more time.

The Sacro Romano Impero (ooh, now you’ve learned its Latin name) isn’t the only famous one you’ve probably heard of. There’s Martin Luther (couldn’t have had a Reformation without him), Frederick I (known as Barbarossa), the Hohenstaufens, Philip of Swabia, Pope Innocent III, Otto of Brunswick, and the Hapsburg Dynasty are just a few that shaped lives of millions over the centuries.

Not to mention organizations were started or implemented during the ruling days of the Emperors, the 12th century Teutonic Order of Knights and the Hanseatic League for starters.

From 1806 lasting about 60 years, the former Holy Roman Empire then became known as the North German Confederation. This was a set up to what is known as the German Empire, or the Second Reich (see, I told there was a second one).

Confusing, right? No wonder historians seem to specialize — there’s so much to know. I hope I helped you understand without boring you too badly. ;-)

It’s been called the Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart and the Wall of Shame, but many of us know it simply as the Berlin Wall; erected in 1961.

We might not have understood the political implications of this wall when younger; some of us didn’t know a world without it. Heck, some of you don’t know a world with it.

Throughout these German History pages you’ve probably come to understand that Germany was once many independent states; then going on to be one country united. That all changed when Germany fell to the Allies, ending World War II.

The Construction Of The Berlin Wall (1961)

The Allies divided Germany with the Soviets, French, United States, and Britain occupying a split Germany. Then they went on to split Berlin. The areas controlled by the Soviets became the GDR (German Democratic Republic), the west being collectively run by the other three was known as the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

Germany was united no longer. And it was these politics that led up to East Germany walling up its people.

So many people defected to the west from its eastern zones (in the early 1950’s alone more than three-quarters of a million people fled the GDR) that the Soviets did their best to squash any and all travel from their regions. By 1956, virtually all travel from East to West was done away with, although loopholes existed.

It was at the suggestion of Vyacheslav Molotov, a Soviet Foreign Minister, to restrict the freely passing westerners. This was the start of an inner border (using barbwire fencing), a precursor to the actual erection of the Berlin Wall.

How? Well, many folks who wanted out of the GDR used Berlin as the gateway to the West; which by this time was underway towards economic recovery (called the Wirtschaftswunder). The GDR lost so many of its skilled labor, engineers, doctors, and teachers to the West that Stalin and his boys had a bloody cow.

Isn’t that a colorful way of saying he kind of freaked out a bit?

Would you believe that an East German leader had the audacity to demand reparations for the loss of his skilled labor force?

But, I digress…

There was talk of a wall between the Soviet and East German leaders long before the wall was erected in 1961. By June of that year, leaders said no wall was to be built. Funny, because on August 12, 1961 the same leader signed the order to build that horrible monstrosity.

By the very next day border crossings were virtually impassable, going so far as to rip up streets alongside the entire border of not only Berlin, but the whole Soviet controlled sector.

By the time they were done there was 97 miles of fencing along the East and West German border, with another 27 miles breaking up East and West Berlin. Within 5 days of the signed order, concrete blocks were already being used to keep people in (or out, depending on which side you were on). This left West Berliners living totally surrounded by hostile territory.

To make matters worse, it wasn’t just concrete and steel that kept people at bay. No, the Soviets added minefields, a huge “no man’s land” of clearing, trenches, a bed of nails, and 116 watchtowers. All the better to catch and/or shoot defectors, the Soviets thought.

Of course the Soviets thought they were smart, building the Berlin Wall within its own borders so that it wouldn’t infringe on the Western side. Stalin thought he was slick.

Crossing the Berlin Wall was no easy feat. There were nine crossings; and it depended on where you came from as to which one you could use. Checkpoint Charlie (used by the Allies) is one of the most famous. (You’ll find a replica of Checkpoint Charlie at the corner of Friedrichstraße and Zimmerstraße in Berlin.)

Not everyone could get across by formal methods, using a variety of ingenious ideas of crossing by hot air balloons, walking through sewers, ramming their cars through concrete, and even stealing an armored car.

The Fall Of The Berlin Wall (1989)

Twenty-six years after the initial construction of the Berlin Wall, Ronald Regan stood at the Brandenburg Gate for Berlin’s 750th anniversary (June 1987) demanding Mikhail Gorbachev tear down the wall.

Little did anyone know that just over two years later on November 9, 1989 the GDR announced that its border was open. For the first time in almost thirty years there was no East German and West German, everyone was the same again.

Throughout the rest of 1989 and into 1990 this infamous wall of tyranny was dismantled, culminating in concerts (including Pink Floyd, Bon Jovi, Van Morrison (if you gotta ask, you’re not old enough), and David Hasselhoff).

After the fall of the Berlin Wall the door opened up for Germany’s reunification (I call it the Wirtschaftswunder Reloaded) on October 3, 1990; which is German Unity Day (a national holiday).

Mr. Regan’s words of tearing down the Berlin Wall wasn’t as prophetic as those of United States Secretary of State Dean Rusk, who back in 1961 said “The Wall certainly ought not to be a permanent feature of the European landscape. I see no reason why the Soviet Union should think it is — it is to their advantage in any way to leave there that monument to Communist failure.”

You’re right, Mr. Rusk, the Wall wasn’t a permanent feature. The Communist Soviets are gone. The Berlin Wall is gone. And best of all, Germany’s still here, alive and kicking more than ever.

If you haven’t noticed by now, I have a bit of an odd sense of humor. So, I got a bit of a laugh when I was “doing my homework” on Prussia and learned its motto was “To Each His Own.”

What a crock, considering this land (encompassing parts of modern-day Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Lithuania, Poland, Russia) was once ruled by the House of Hohenzollern. You might have heard of these guys, their castles are found throughout Germany.

To each his own my foot — just as long as you did what the ruling house told you to do. I know, it sounds a bit harsh, but Prussia was ruled in an orderly fashion by those with a military zeal.

Oh, isn’t that just a nice way of saying it had an authoritarian regime thingy going on?

All right, that’s not entirely fair. At one point within Prussia’s history it was a democracy.

Prussia’s history is a long one, spanning the days of the Holy Roman Empire, the German Empire, and the Weimar Republic. It wasn’t until the Nazis came to power in the 1930’s when was Prussia merged with the country of Germany (naming Hermann Göring as Prime Minister) that Prussia ceased to “unofficially” exist. Officially, it wasn’t until 1947.

But, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me start at the beginning…

The Birth Of Prussia

The area of Prussia was started by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century, now known as Old Prussia. In 1525 it became the Duchy of Prussia, ruled by its first duke — Albert I. It remained a Dukedom until 1618, although there was an area known as Royal Prussia from 1466 to 1772.

After 1618, the Duchy became Brandenburg-Prussia remaining that way for just shy of a hundred years. In 1701 it became the Kingdom in Prussia; then the Kingdom of Prussia in 1772. In 1918 the Kingdom OF Prussia morphed again, this time to the Free State of Prussia.

Got all these dates straight? Glad someone does. ;-)

Characteristics Of Prussia

Regardless of its Duchy, Kingdom, or Democraic status; Prussia’s land was perfect for farming. Its wheat production was partly responsible for its vast wealth.

Prussia was also responsible for many great (and not so great) royal and military leaders, like Frederick the Great, King Wilhelm II, and Otto von Bismarck.

Its Prussian precision also helped this vast agricultural land with a national rail system, all the better to bring the veggies to the people of the Kingdom, which was quite vast by this time in the late 19th century. Hey, someone had to feed 60% of the total population of Germany, right? Eventually some 62% of Germany’s population lived within the boundaries of Prussia.

Prussia — From Yesterday To Today

Too bad much of Prussia was pieced off after the end of World War I. But, it did survive and flourish through other wars in its long reign, like the Napoleonic Wars (where it gained more land), the Schleswig Wars, and the Austrian-Prussian War.

Ooh, I almost left out the Franco-Prussian War.

It was also broken up after World War II.

If you’re walking down a street in some town in a number of Germany’s federal states (Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Baden-Württemberg, and Rhineland-Palatinate — yeah that many) you’re in the region that was once mighty Prussia.

Funny, after the reunification of Germany in 1990 there was talk about renaming Berlin and Brandenburg back to Prussia. Obviously, it didn’t happen. But, at least today — its motto seems to be right.

Württemberg Map

Württemberg was a lot like Prussia. Not in terms of its military strength or its population. No, it too was once a Duchy; then a Kingdom, and then known as a Free-State; its sovereignty lasting almost as long as the Holy Roman Empire itself (for which it was founded within it).

And what is it with all these places that keep changing their name, anyway?

Nowadays, many consider the area of what was once Württemberg as the other half of Baden-Württemberg — although there was that small piece of (gorgeous) land known as Hohenzollern Province in the south (called the Hohenzollernsche Lande in German). Plus, after World War II it was Württemberg-Hohenzollern (those Hohenzollerns even used to rule over Prussia; I guess there are even more similarities between them than I first thought) and Württemberg-Baden.

Everyone straight on it’s pretty much the same place, right?

However anyone calls it, all I know it’s one of the finest wine making regions in Germany (mostly reds), if not in the world. You know I’m biased, so why are you looking at me like that? ;-)

Yes, Baden also makes great German wines, but this isn’t about them.

Württemberg even had a school to teach you the “ins & outs” of wine making. Pretty nifty, if you ask me.

Because Württemberg lies within some fertile lands, wine isn’t (and wasn’t) its only cash crop. You can get yourselves some pretty yummy cherries or apples; and wheat, corn, and barley are grown throughout the region (which includes Swabia, and once parts of Franconia).

The best are the hops. Again, don’t be surprised — no hops, no German beer. ;-)

OK, fun time is over; it’s time for a history and geography lesson. As boring as that sounds if you’re not a history person, I can put it all into perspective for you.

Württemberg’s Kingdom (Duchy, whatever) stretched along Baden and Bavaria, all the way from Lake Constance where you can swim, sail, or see to Switzerland; to parts of the mystic Black Forest that’s famous for its cuckoo clocks, ham, and cakes; and includes historic towns such as Friedrichshafen, Heilbronn and Ludwigsburg (that was once its capital). Stuttgart, for the most part, was the real capital city of Württemberg.

I would be negligent in not mentioning Germman castles. Yes, lots and lots of castles. Wirtemberg Castle was the medieval home of Conrad I, the first ruler of Württemberg. In the former capital of Ludwigsburg, no trip is complete without seeing Schloss Ludwigsburg (where one Württemberg ruler lived with his mistress, the naughty devil).

These massive structures are a great way to see German history come alive (or dead).

Within a church in the town of Tübingen there’s the grave of Duke Eberhard, yet another Württemberg leader.

As with much of German history (and the world, I’m not picking on anyone) there’s been war. Württemberg was really affected by the Thirty Years’ War; one large battle being the Battle of Nördlingen in 1634.

In the early 19th century King William I wanted to help his people. It wasn’t until his wife’s death in 1819, did he really put his plan into action, creating the University of Hohenheim and a savings bank.

The last King of Württemberg was Wilhelm II, whose reign ended in 1918, as well as marking the end of the German Empire. For almost twenty years Württemberg was then a free-state, ending when the Nazis took power in 1933.

I think (I’m going out on a limb here) that Conrad I would be mighty proud of his Württemberg today. And I’m not talking about just his old capital city; I’m also talking ’bout its smaller towns like Esslingen, Oberndorf am Neckar, and Ravensburg.

So, what do say about joining me for a glass (make it a bottle) of one of Württemberg’s finest reds? Too bad King Conrad isn’t here to join us…

For a town of less than 8,000 people, Meldorf really knows how to show someone a good time. Not only is it awesome on its own, but it’s also a stop on two of Germany’s scenic routes: the North Sea Cycle Route and the German Cabbage Route.

First things first, the North Sea Cycle Route. Meldorf lies right along the coast of the North Sea, perfect for a chance to go mudflat hiking on the Wadden Sea. This can only be done when the tide goes out, so when the tide’s high you can just chill out at the Bay of Meldorf in the village of Speicherkoog (one of Meldorf’s 24 villages).

The second thing, the German Cabbage Route (known as the Deutsche Kohlstraße in German) stops in the village of Elpersbüttel. More than 80 million heads of cabbage are grown in the region of the Dithmarschen District (where you’ll find Meldorf). And every September the area has what’s known as the Kohltage or Cabbage Days.

BTW, not all the cabbage is turned into sauerkraut, us Germans do have other things to eat. ;-)

Elpersbüttel also offers windsurfing and a petting zoo (at the Huesmann Farm from April to October)

For those looking for a museum, the National Museum Dithmarschen is just the thing. And for anyone wanting to see those romantic mills, you’ll find a windmill in Krumstedt and a watermill in Bunsoh.

Up for something historical? Go see the small chapel in Busenwurth, St. Mary’s Church in Barlt, and the Meldorf Cathedal (that’s often a venue for the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival).

None of these, BTW, are anywhere as old as the prehistoric grave found in the village of Bargenstedt.

Yeah, that don’t even make the Vikings that roamed these parts seem that old either, do they? We can discuss it over a coffee at Meldof’s Weekly Market on a Friday morning (8am-1pm).

Didn’t I tell ya that Meldorf knew how to show you a good time? We can discuss that over coffee, too. ;-)