German History Trivia Quiz

Answer: Versailles

Germany was founded on January 18, 1871, when the German Empire was proclaimed in Versailles, France and Wilhelm I became German Emperor.

Answer: January 1, 1900

The BGB came into effect on January 1, 1900. As you can see, it took a very long time for the commission to produce a common Civil Code. But the commission's efforts weren't for nothing. Most of the original BGB is still in effect today (though with many amendments).

Answer: About 55 million

Putzger's "Historischer Weltatlas" states that about 55 million people died during World War II, nearly 21 million people in Russia alone, followed by 13.5 million people in China and nearly 6 million people in Poland.

Answer: Friedrich Ebert

The Weimar Republic officially started in 1919 with the signing of the Weimar Constitution by President Friedrich Ebert. Ebert was President until 1925 and succeeded by Paul von Hindenburg. Friedrich Ebert was born on February 4, 1871 and died in office on February 28, 1925.

He was member of the SPD (Social Democratic Party of Germany) and not only the first President of Germany but also Chancellor of the new republic from November 9, 1918 to February 11, 1919. (He should not be confused with his son, also called Friedrich Ebert.

The latter played a prominent role in the former German Democratic Republic).

Answer: Black, red and gold

The German Revolution of 1848 adopted the colours black, red and gold as the national colours. They were readopted in 1949, having previously been the colours of Weimar Germany. Since about 1815 they had been associated with the drive towards a unified, democratic Germany. (Black, red and gold had also been the heraldic colours of the Holy Roman Empire).

Answer: France, United Kingdom, United States of America

The French, UK and US zones were merged in 1948 as a step towards the formation of the Federal Republic of Germany (also called West Germany). Russia turned the Soviet Zone into the German Democratic Republic only months later. Germany remained divided into two separate countries until 1990.

Answer: False

Germany is not a permanent member of the UNSC. Ever since the foundation of the United Nations there have been five permanent members. These consisted of the five main victors of World War II: China (first the ROC, then from 1971 the People's Republic), the Soviet Union (succeded by Russia in 1991), the USA, France and the UK.

Answer: 3 October 1990

On 3 October 1990 Germany regained full sovereignity with the German reunification. Since then this date is a statutory holiday.

Answer: The Year of the Three Emperors

In 1888 Germany had three emperors. That's why it is called the Year of the Three Emperors. In March 1888 Willliam I died and was followed by his son Frederick III who died of cancer on the 99th day of his rule. Frederick III was followed by his son William II who became the last German emperor.

Answer: Konrad Adenauer

Konrad Adenauer was not only the first chancellor of Germany but also the oldest chancellor Germany has had so far. He was in office from 1949 till 1963. He had been Mayor of Cologne from 1917 till 1933.