By: Terry & Tony Section 1

Directions The slides contained in this show must be clicked by the operator. U.R.L. sites are integrated into each slide and can be accessed by sorting the slides. U.R.L.’s may not be accessed while viewing each slide. Germany is very rich in history and there are many more events which have occurred through history. This is not a comprehensive show.

Location:

Terrain of Germany In the North, there are lowlands bordered by the Baltic and North Seas. The center is comprised of uplands and foothills The South borders the Bavarian Alps shown here.

Germany is rich in natural resources such as iron ore, coal, potash, timber, lignite, uranium, copper, natural gas, salt and nickel. You can learn more about uranium at: ran.htm Which is where the picture to the right comes from. Just click on the U.R.L. ran.htm Natural Resources

Weather Patterns in Germany Germany has both temperate and marine climates in certain places. This means that the weather is cool and cloudy with wet summers and winters with occasional warm tropical winds and a high relative humidity. Notice how the temperature is in Centigrade.

Some Environmental Problems Currently, emissions from coal burning utilities, industries and lead pollution from automobile exhausts contribute to air pollution. Acid rain is another problem as well as sewage flowing into the Baltic Sea via German rivers contaminated with raw sewage and industry wastes. On the right is a picture of the German Autobahn which has no speed limits in some places.

Now lets move on to some of the rich history of Germany.

Germany is home of the Neander Valley near Dusseldorf, a resting place for the early species of man known as the Neanderthal. The Neanderthal got its name because of where its remains were found.

Germany is home of the Protestant Reformation In 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Thesis on the door of a local Catholic church in Wittenburg. Martin Luther was questioning practices of the Catholic Church such as “Indulgences.” You can learn more about MartinLuther shown to the right at: ers/luther.htm Just click on the U.R.L. ers/luther.htm

Napoleon’s Conquests In the early 19 th century, Napoleon who was the emperor of France had his way with present day Germany until 1813 when strong resistance in Prussia stopped him in his tracks around present day Leipzig Germany. Wilhelm I was made the Kaiser and Germany was created. In 1871, France was defeated. Napoleon Bonaparte is pictured to the left.

Germany Starts Two World Wars!

The 20 th Century Wilhelm II led Germany into World War I and then snuck off to Holland in 1918 when he realized the war would not end favorably for Germany. Learn more about Wilhelm at: biokais.htm Just click on the U.R.L. biokais.htm

The Rise and Fall of a Dictator In 1933, an Austrian by the name of Adolf Hitler seized control of Germany with his National Socialist German Workers (Nazi) Party. The caption reads: One Voice, One Army, one Leader

Years of the Huken Croix When Hitler proclaimed himself as the leader (Fuhrer) of Germany, the new national flag was the Huken Croix (hooked cross). This flag flew in all of Europe until 1945 when Germany was finally defeated. (Swastika)

A Divided Germany After World War II, Germany was divided by Britain, France, the United States and the Soviet Union. For 25 years Berlin was divided by a wall which separted West Germany from the D.D.R (Democratic Deutche Republic). Here we see workers building the Berlin Wall while guarded by Soviet Troops. They were literally imprisoning themselves.

Kennedy Visits Berlin In 1963, President John F. Kennedy visited Berlin, Germany where he made his famous speech declaring “Ich bin ein Berliner. Little did he know that he was calling himself was a favorite local pastry. To the right we see President Kennedy delivering his famous speech.

The Wall Comes Down After years of Soviet occupation in East Germany, the East German Government creates the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Germany is finally reunited. To the left is the famous Brandenburg Gate. Click on erlin.html and learn a first hand experience of November 11, erlin.html

The Capital is Moved Once Again Here we can see the 370 mile journey of the German parliament back to its once and present capital city of Berlin in a re-unified Democratic Germany

Germany’s Current Prime Minister Gerhardt Schroeder is now the Chancellor of Germany. He has faced many difficult issues such as unemployment and the re-vamping of old outdated East-German factories and power plants. Read an interview with Mr. Schroeder at: RLD/europe/9910/29/sch roeder.01 RLD/europe/9910/29/sch roeder.01

Activities Page Have students create their own timeline based on this presentation complete with pictures from internet sites. Have students discuss the start of World War II and write in their journals as to why they do or don’t support Hitler. Have them keep in mind that many of the German people are unaware of many of the atrocities committed by the Nazi party. Have the students write in their journals as to how they feel as they are forced to remain behind the Berlin Wall. How does this make them feel? Have the students take one slide from this slide show and write a report about the issues surrounding the relevance of the slide to the history of Germany.