History of Germany in Timeline
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a Central European country with a population of over 82 million, making it the most populous member of the European Union. It is bordered by nine countries. Berlin is the capital and most populous city, while Frankfurt serves as its financial center. The country covers an area of 357,596 km2 and is situated between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south.
1895: First Cinema Showings
In 1895 the first works of the Skladanowsky Brothers were shown to an audience.
1904: Herero and Namaqua Genocide
From 1904 to 1907, the colonial government in South West Africa (present-day Namibia) carried out the annihilation of the local Herero and Namaqua peoples as punishment for an uprising; this was the 20th century's first genocide.
1907: Herero and Namaqua Genocide
From 1904 to 1907, the colonial government in South West Africa (present-day Namibia) carried out the annihilation of the local Herero and Namaqua peoples as punishment for an uprising; this was the 20th century's first genocide.
1912: Babelsberg Studio Established
The renowned Babelsberg Studio in Potsdam was established in 1912, thus being the first large-scale film studio in the world.
November 1918: German Revolution
In November 1918, during the German Revolution, Wilhelm II and the ruling princes abdicated their positions, and Germany was declared a federal republic.
1918: German Revolution
In 1918, the German Revolution led to the replacement of the Empire with the Weimar Republic.
August 1919: Weimar Constitution Signed
On August 11, 1919, President Friedrich Ebert signed the democratic Weimar Constitution.
1919: Treaty of Versailles
In 1919, Germany's new leadership signed the Treaty of Versailles, accepting defeat by the Allies.
1919: German Revolution
In 1919, the German Revolution led to the replacement of the Empire with the Weimar Republic.
1920: Kapp Putsch
In 1920, conservative elements failed to overthrow the central government in the Kapp Putsch.
1924: Economic Stabilization
In 1924, a plan to restructure Germany's war reparations and the creation of a new currency helped stabilise the government and ushered in the Golden Twenties.
1927: Release of Metropolis
Director Fritz Lang's Metropolis was released in 1927.
1929: Great Depression Hits Germany
In 1929, the worldwide Great Depression hit Germany, leading to a significant rise in unemployment.
July 1932: Nazi Party Gains Power
After the election of July 1932, the Nazi Party, led by Adolf Hitler, became the largest party in the Reichstag.
January 1933: Hitler Appointed Chancellor
On January 30, 1933, President Hindenburg appointed Adolf Hitler as chancellor.
March 1933: Enabling Act
On March 23, 1933, the Enabling Act gave Hitler unrestricted legislative power, marking the beginning of Nazi Germany.
1933: Nazi Rise to Power
In 1933, the Nazi rise to power resulted in the establishment of a totalitarian dictatorship.
1935: Nuremberg Laws Introduced
In 1935, the regime withdrew from the Treaty of Versailles and introduced the Nuremberg Laws, which targeted Jews and other minorities. Germany also reacquired control of the Saarland in 1935.
1936: Berlin Hosted Summer Olympics
In 1936 Berlin hosted the Summer Games and the Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
1936: Remilitarization of Rhineland
In 1936, Germany remilitarized the Rhineland.
March 1939: Occupation of Czechoslovakia
In March 1939, Germany occupied Czechoslovakia in violation of the Munich Agreement.
August 1939: Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
In August 1939, Hitler's government negotiated the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact that divided Eastern Europe into German and Soviet spheres of influence.
1940: Conquest of Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France
In the spring of 1940, Germany conquered Denmark and Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France, forcing the French government to sign an armistice.
1941: Invasion of Yugoslavia, Greece and the Soviet Union
In 1941, German troops invaded Yugoslavia, Greece and the Soviet Union.
1942: Axis Control of Continental Europe and North Africa
By 1942, Germany and its allies controlled most of continental Europe and North Africa.
1944: Soviet Push into Eastern Europe and Allied Landing in France
In 1944, the Soviets pushed into Eastern Europe; the Western allies landed in France and entered Germany despite a final German counteroffensive.
May 1945: German Surrender
Following Hitler's suicide during the Battle of Berlin, Germany signed the surrender document on May 8, 1945, ending World War II in Europe and Nazi Germany.
1945: Trummerfilm Era
After 1945, many of the films of the immediate post-war period can be characterised as Trümmerfilm (rubble film).
1948: Marshall Plan Aid
In 1948, West Germany became a major recipient of reconstruction aid under the American Marshall Plan.
May 1949: Formation of West Germany
On May 23, 1949, the western sectors controlled by France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, were merged to form the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany).
October 1949: Formation of East Germany
On October 7, 1949, the Soviet Zone became the German Democratic Republic (GDR) (East Germany).
1949: Konrad Adenauer elected chancellor
In 1949, Konrad Adenauer was elected the first federal chancellor of Germany.
1949: Division of Germany
In 1949, after World War II, Germany was organized into two separate polities: the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).
1949: Adoption of Grundgesetz (Basic Law)
The German political system operates under a framework laid out in the 1949 constitution known as the Grundgesetz (Basic Law).
1951: First Berlinale
Since 1951, the Berlin International Film Festival, known as "Berlinale", awarding the "Golden Bear".
1954: FIFA World Cup Win
The German men's national football team won the FIFA World Cup in 1954.
January 1957: Saarland Joins West Germany
On January 1, 1957, the Saarland joined West Germany.
1961: Construction of the Berlin Wall
In 1961, the Berlin Wall was built, preventing East German citizens from escaping to West Germany and becoming a symbol of the Cold War.
1972: Munich Hosted Summer Olympics
Munich hosted the Summer Games of 1972.
1972: UEFA European Championship Win
The German men's national football team won the UEFA European Championship in 1972.
1974: FIFA World Cup Win
The German men's national football team won the FIFA World Cup in 1974.
1979: The Tin Drum Wins Oscar
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film went to the German production The Tin Drum (Die Blechtrommel) in 1979.
1980: UEFA European Championship Win
The German men's national football team won the UEFA European Championship in 1980.
1989: Fall of the Iron Curtain
In 1989, Hungary decided to dismantle the Iron Curtain and open its border with Austria, causing the emigration of thousands of East Germans to West Germany.
October 1990: German Reunification
In October 1990, East German states joined the Federal Republic of Germany, marking German reunification.
1990: Strategic partnership with Russia
After 1990, Germany and Russia worked together to establish a "strategic partnership", in which energy development became one of the most important factors.
1990: Reduced primary energy consumption
Germany has reduced its primary energy consumption by 11% between 1990 and 2015.
1990: German Unity Day
Since 1990, 3 October has been a national day of Germany, celebrated as the Tag der Deutschen Einheit (German Unity Day).
1990: Strong alliance with France
Since 1990, Germany has maintained a strong alliance with France and all neighbouring countries.
1990: FIFA World Cup Win
The German men's national football team won the FIFA World Cup in 1990.
1992: Signing of Maastricht Treaty
In 1992, Germany signed the Maastricht Treaty.
1992: Overall crime rate not this low since 1992
In 2018, the overall crime rate in Germany fell to its lowest since 1992.
1994: "Defence" defined
After a ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court in 1994, the term "defence" has been defined not only to include protection of the borders of Germany, but also crisis reaction and conflict prevention, or more broadly as guarding the security of Germany anywhere in the world.
1994: Berlin/Bonn Act
Based on the Berlin/Bonn Act (1994), Berlin again became the capital of Germany, while Bonn obtained the unique status of a Bundesstadt (federal city).
1996: UEFA European Championship Win
The German men's national football team won the UEFA European Championship in 1996.
1999: Relocation of Government Completed
In 1999, the relocation of the German government to Berlin was completed.
2001: Women may serve in all functions
Since 2001, women may serve in all functions of service without restriction.
2002: Introduction of the Euro
Germany introduced the common European currency, the euro, in 2002.
2002: Nowhere in Africa Wins Oscar
Nowhere in Africa (Nirgendwo in Afrika) won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2002.
2005: Angela Merkel Becomes Chancellor
In 2005, Angela Merkel became the first female chancellor of Germany.
2005: Fourth in R&D expenditure
Research and development efforts form an integral part of the German economy, with the country ranking fourth in research and development expenditure since 2005.
2007: Signing of Lisbon Treaty
In 2007, Germany signed the Lisbon Treaty.
2007: The Left in Bundestag
Since 2007, the democratic socialist party The Left has been a staple in the German Bundestag.
2007: The Lives of Others Wins Oscar
The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2007.
2009: €50 Billion Stimulus Plan Approved
In 2009, the German government approved a €50 billion stimulus plan.
2011: Jewish community members
In 2011, formal members of the Jewish community represented no more than 0.2% of the total German population, and 60% of them resided in Berlin.
2011: Census Islam Religion
In the 2011 census, 1.9% of respondents (1.52 million people) gave their religion as Islam.
2011: Military service suspended
Until 2011, military service was compulsory for men at age 18, but this has been officially suspended and replaced with a voluntary service.
2012: Television Market Size
Germany's television market is the largest in Europe, with over 38 million TV households as of 2012.
2012: Meat Production Statistics
In 2012 over 99% of all meat produced in Germany was either pork, chicken or beef.
2013: WHO Funding Report
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Germany's health care system was 77% government-funded and 23% privately funded in 2013.
2013: Beer Consumption
German beer consumption per person stood at 110 litres in 2013.
2013: BBC Polls on Positive Influence
Global opinion polls from the BBC revealed that Germany is recognised for having the most positive influence in the world in 2013.
2013: Music Market Size
In 2013, Germany was the second-largest music market in Europe, and fourth-largest in the world.
2014: Obesity Study
A 2014 study showed that 52 percent of the adult German population was overweight or obese.
2014: OECD Report on International Study
According to an OECD report in 2014, Germany is the world's third leading destination for international study.
2014: BBC Polls on Positive Influence
Global opinion polls from the BBC revealed that Germany is recognised for having the most positive influence in the world in 2014.
2014: Healthcare Spending
In 2014, Germany spent 11.3% of its GDP on health care.
2014: FIFA World Cup Win
The German men's national football team won the FIFA World Cup in 2014.
2015: Contribution of travel and tourism
Domestic and international travel and tourism combined directly contributed over €105.3 billion to German GDP in 2015.
2015: European Migrant Crisis
During the 2015 European migrant crisis, Germany took in over a million refugees and migrants.
2015: Reduced primary energy consumption
Germany has reduced its primary energy consumption by 11% between 1990 and 2015.
2015: Germany listed as host to the second-highest number of international migrants
In 2015, following the 2015 refugee crisis, the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs listed Germany as host to the second-highest number of international migrants worldwide.
2016: Land Use in Germany
As of 2016, 51% of Germany's land area is devoted to agriculture, while 30% is forested and 14% is covered by settlements or infrastructure.
2016: Low murder rate
In 2016, Germany's murder rate stood at a low of 1.18 murders per 100,000.
2017: Germany divided into 401 districts
As of 2017, Germany is divided into 401 districts (Kreise) at a municipal level, comprising 294 rural districts and 107 urban districts.
2017: Household recycling rate around 65%
As of 2017, Germany's household recycling rate is among the highest in the world—at around 65%.
2017: Troops stationed abroad
As of 2017, the German military has about 3,600 troops stationed in foreign countries as part of international peacekeeping forces.
2017: Sector contributions
As of 2017, the country's service sector contributes approximately 69% of the total GDP, industry 31%—with Germany having the largest manufacturing sector in Europe—and agriculture 1%.
2017: Frank-Walter Steinmeier becomes President
In 2017, Frank-Walter Steinmeier became the President of Germany, holding primarily representative responsibilities.
2017: 28% of the Eurozone economy
In 2017, the country accounted for 28% of the eurozone economy according to the International Monetary Fund.
2017: AfD attains representation in parliament
In the 2017 German federal election, the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) gained enough votes to attain representation in the parliament for the first time.
2017: Same-sex marriage legalised
Since 2017, same-sex marriage has been legal in Germany, and LGBT rights are generally protected in the country.
2017: FIFA Confederations Cup Win
The German men's national football team won the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017.
2018: 40% renewable sources
Germany meets its power demands using 40% renewable sources (2018)
2018: Fourth globally in science and engineering research papers
In 2018, Germany ranked fourth globally in terms of number of science and engineering research papers published.
2018: Lowest crime rate since 1992
In 2018, the overall crime rate in Germany fell to its lowest since 1992.
2018: Michelin Guide Stars
The 2018 Michelin Guide awarded eleven restaurants in Germany three stars, giving the country a cumulative total of 300 stars.
February 2019: February 2019 Climate
In February 2019, average monthly precipitation in Germany reached 30 litres per square metre.
April 2019: April 2019 Precipitation
In April 2019, average monthly precipitation in Germany reached 30 litres per square metre.
June 2019: June 2019 Temperatures and Sunshine
In June 2019, average monthly temperatures in Germany reached a high of 19.8 °C (67.6 °F) and average monthly hours of sunshine reached 300.
November 2019: November 2019 Sunshine
In November 2019, average monthly hours of sunshine reached 45 in Germany.
2019: Fifth-largest exporter of major arms
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Germany was the fifth-largest exporter of major arms in the world from 2019 to 2023.
2019: Migrants in the country's population
As of 2019, Germany ranks seventh among EU countries in terms of the percentage of migrants in the country's population, at 13.1%.
2019: Life Expectancy and Cause of Death
In 2019, Germany ranked 21st in the world in life expectancy and the principal cause of death was cardiovascular disease, at 37%.
2019: Wine Production
In 2019, Germany was the ninth-largest wine producer in the world.
2019: Second-biggest aid donor
In 2019, Germany was the world's second-biggest aid donor after the United States.
2019: Seventh-largest consumer of energy
In 2019, Germany was the world's seventh-largest consumer of energy.
2019: Estimated Muslims with a migrant background
In 2019, there were an estimated 5.3–5.6 million Muslims with a migrant background (6.4–6.7% of the population), in addition to an unknown number of Muslims without a migrant background.
2019: Scheduled End of East German Economy Modernization
Modernisation of the East German economy was scheduled to last until 2019.
January 2020: January 2020 Temperatures
In January 2020, average monthly temperatures in Germany reached a low of 3.3 °C (37.9 °F).
January 2020: Fourth-lowest unemployment rate in the EU
The unemployment rate published by Eurostat amounts to 3.2% as of January 2020, which is the fourth-lowest in the EU.
February 2020: February 2020 Precipitation
In February 2020, average monthly precipitation in Germany reached 125 litres per square metre.
2021: Olaf Scholz becomes Chancellor
In 2021, Olaf Scholz became the Chancellor of Germany, exercising executive power through his Cabinet.
2021: Federal Constitutional Court Climate Change Ruling
In 2021, the Federal Constitutional Court issued a landmark climate change ruling, which ordered the government to set clearer targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions with major changes now planned up to 2050.
2021: Military budget
In response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that German military expenditure would be increased past the NATO target of 2%, along with a one-time 2022 infusion of 100 billion euros, representing almost double the 53 billion euro military budget for 2021.
2021: Sixth-largest automotive industry
The automotive industry in Germany is regarded as one of the most competitive and innovative in the world, and is the sixth-largest by production as of 2021.
2022: Christianity is the largest religion
According to the 2022 census, Christianity is the largest religion at 49.7% of the population; 23.1% identified as Protestant and 25.1% as Catholic.
2022: Eighth-most-visited country
As of 2022, Germany is the eighth-most-visited country.
2022: Percentage of total population who had a migration background
In 2022, there were 23.8 million people—28.7 percent of the total population—who had a migration background.
2022: Fertility rate of 1.57
The fertility rate of 1.57 children born per woman (2022 estimates) is below the replacement rate of 2.1 and is one of the lowest fertility rates in the world.
April 2023: Refugees from Ukraine recorded in Germany
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, over 1.06 million refugees from Ukraine were recorded in Germany as of April 2023.
2023: Fifth-largest exporter of major arms
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Germany was the fifth-largest exporter of major arms in the world from 2019 to 2023.
2023: Phased out nuclear power plants
All nuclear power plants were phased out in 2023.
2023: Third in the quality-adjusted Nature Index
In 2018, Germany ranked fourth globally in terms of number of science and engineering research papers published and third in the quality-adjusted Nature Index in 2023.
2023: Irreligion Study
In 2023, a study estimated that 46.2% of the German population are not members of any religious organization.
2023: Seventh-highest military spending in the world
In absolute terms, German military spending in 2023 was the seventh-highest in the world.
2023: 32 companies in the Fortune Global 500
Of the world's 500 largest stock market-listed companies measured by revenue in 2023, the Fortune Global 500, 32 are based in Germany.
2023: Population of 84.7 million
With a population of 84.7 million according to the 2023 German census, Germany is the most populous country in the European Union.
May 2024: Bundeswehr strength
As of May 2024, the Bundeswehr has a strength of 180,215 active soldiers and 80,761 civilians.
2024: UNESCO World Heritage List
As of 2024, UNESCO inscribed 54 properties in Germany on the World Heritage List.
2024: Exceeding NATO target of 2%
In 2024, Germany reported $97.7 billion to NATO, exceeding the NATO target of 2% at 2.12% of GDP.
2024: Ranked 9th in the Global Innovation Index
The country was ranked 9th in the Global Innovation Index in 2024.
2030: Goals of reducing energy consumption by 2030
Germany has reduced its primary energy consumption by 11% between 1990 and 2015 and set itself goals of reducing it by 30% by 2030 and by 50% by 2050.
2050: Climate Change Costs Estimate
Climate change could cost Germany up to €900 billion by 2050.
2050: Goals of reducing energy consumption by 2050
Germany has reduced its primary energy consumption by 11% between 1990 and 2015 and set itself goals of reducing it by 30% by 2030 and by 50% by 2050.
