The Gang of Five
Beyond the Mysterious Beyond => The Party Room => Brain Food => Topic started by: Nick22 on November 28, 2004, 03:16:04 PM
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I am well versed in German History from this period. Malte and I had a similar game in the Great Valley Forum, but it was just us playing.
here's the first quesion:
In the March 1933 election, how many seats did the Nazis get?(this is after Hitler became Chancellor)
Nick
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If you are talking of the March 5th election the NSDAP got 288 seats. The DNVP a party which consisted of people with an "ideology" similar enough to the NSDAP to define them as nazis got 52 seats. But quite frankly, I don't know such election results by heart and had to look that number up.
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Yes the Nazis got 288 seats, equal to 44% of the vote. The Nationalists got 52 seats or about 8%. That was just enough to have a majority. Good work Malte.
Here's another question: Which article of the Weimar Constitution granted the President emergency powers in times of national crisis?
Nick
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You mean the Erm‰chtigungsgesetz?
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Yes, that's exactly what I mean Malte.
Nick
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No offense but this is pretty much a game b/t you and Malte, Nick, because I don't think anyone else here has specifically studied that time period so thoroughly. :unsure: If you open it up to any time period, maybe, just maybe you'll get more players.
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All right then Arvens. the topic will now cover German history in general.
Nick
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Then please tell me what the (somewhat boastful) name of the combined German states was from the Medieval ages up to 1806 (when Napoleon conquered these states) was.
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For the longest time it was known as the Prussian empire (or collaboration). :unsure:
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Well Prussia existed as a unified country after 1806 , Malte, Gerhard Von Blucher was from Prussia and he aided the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo(1815).
Nick
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I'm not talking of Prussia. In medieval times it did not exist and the Puruzen (the people from whom the name Prussians originates) were sort of a "babarian people". In medieval times Germany was a rather loose confederacy of states, and this confederacy had a rather boastful name. What is that name?
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That would be the Holy Roman Empire. Which was a misnomer, since it was neither Holy nor Roman.
Nick
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^ I guess that is the English translation. The litteral translation of the German version sounds even more pompous though. It reads:
The holy Roman Empire of German Nation
The name comes from the fact that the German rulers considered themselves the successors of the Roman emperors, which is why they were so eager to be made "Kaiser" (King with God's blessing) by the pope. This is probably why they considered themselves holy. But many German rulers had really fierce quarrels with the pope, so they were excomunicated which sometimes resulted in German rulers appointing their own popes! Parts of northern Italy belonged to that empire for some time.
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Who unified Germany in 1866, but excluded Austria from the union?
Nick
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You are talking of Otto von Bismarck? As for ruling out Austria there was a war between Austria and Prussia in 1866 which was decided through the battle of Kˆniggr‰tz (also known as the battle of Sadowa). For all I know it was also Bismarck who mainly advocated not to occupy Vienna after that victory, as it would have poisoned the further relationship between the two countries.
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Yes, that was Otto von Bismarck. You know your history Malte :)
Nick
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Well, he ought to know German history. :p
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Here'a question for you Arvens. Who served the longest as German Chancellor in the 20th century?
Nick
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Well Adolf Hitler came to mind after you said "German Chancellor" since you're not implying East or West Germany so that takes about fifty years out of the picture. :p That leaves 12 years under Hitler 1933-1945.
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No there are two Chancellors who served longer than Hitler. One served 14 years, the other served 16. Try again.
Nick
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Helmut Kohl ;)
(I cheated...I had no idea. :p)
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Helmut Kohl is #1. He served from 1982-1998, when he was defeated by the current Chancellot Gerhard Schroeder. #2 is Konrad Adenauer who served from 1957 to 1971.
Nick
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P.S. My global history is severly lacking so someone else pose something... :p
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Then you need to brush up on your history Arvens. Which German speaking area was not annexed by Germany in the 1930's?
Nick
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The Sudetenland at the border of (former) Czeckeslovakia. However Nick, I don't know how much you learn about German history at school, but I can imagine that some of the questions surpass what would be considered an average brush up of history knowledge. We want people to have fun and take part in the game, so we better not let it appear to much like a school examination. ;)
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Actually Malte, Germany annexed the Sudetenland in 1938 as part of the Munich agreement.The only Germanic area that was not annexed by Germany in the 1930's was the Southern Tyrol area in Italy. The Tyrolians wanted to join the Reich, but Hitler didn't want to alarm Mussolini by annexing Italian territory. OK I'll make the questions easier ;)
Nick
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Sorry, my mistake as I just overread the "not". It happens to me too often these days as I'm practicing spead-reading but are not very experienced at it yet. Sorry.
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We all make mistakes Malte. I'm good at speed-reading myself, that's how I read books. And no, I don't skim.
Nick
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Cool!
Do you manage the backward reading of lines already? So far I managed to read three lines at the same time, but only from left to right, and I really had to concentrate very much. It is still difficult for me to really take in the information during speed-reading without missing anything. Is it true that ones you got the hang of it the taking in of information improves same as your reading speed? So far I still have to force myself into speed-reading and it does not come by itself. Does it for you? This is really most interesting for me to know from someone who is more experienced in this (I began practicing about two weeks ago).
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Yes, I can manage to read backward lines. Once you get the hang of reading quickly, your capacity for taking in and retaining information will increase. Here's an example. Cna Yuo raed thsi snetnece? I can. Since I began reading at a very early age, I've learned to read very quickly. Thanks to this acquired ability, I can take in information while reading, and not lose my place. Speed-reading comes naturally for me, since I've been practicing it for a long time. It may take a while for you to get the hang of it, but once you do, speed-reading will be easy.
Nick
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Thank you! This encourages me. :)
I've seen sentences similar to the one you put up. I too was able to read most stuff before I got to school, but I never ever did speed-reading before, which is why it may be more difficult for me to accustom to. Do you manage to read 1000 words per minute (which is the aim I set myself)?
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I can read about 2000 words a minute going at top speed, Malte.
Nick
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2000 :blink: ?
The book on speed reading techiques I'm reading right now mentions Dutch Frank van der Poll as number 10 among the worlds fastest readers!
With 2000 words you would make it on rank 6 in that list! Most likely these are only the people who take part in competitions or scientific experiments or something like that. However, as the book doesn't cease to stress that it is not too difficult to manage 1000 words it would have surprised me if the 1560 words of Frank van der Poll would be that unusual.
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Really :o That's very interesting. Although I have never participated in a competition like that, I could do pretty well if I entered one.
Nick
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I just checked out the book again. It is from 2002, but it is the 8th edition. Maybe that list was still from the time of the first edition (1971). Speed reading made huge progress from since then.
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Malte is right....these questions are far beyond any "average" history course so cut me a bit of slack if I have to cheat to find the answer. :p
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Ok, I'll cut you some slack. What year did modern-day Germany come into existance?(this should be an easy one :p )
Nick
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Modern day unified Germany? 1989...only took 44 years.... :blink:
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I remember the day the Wall fell. Not so much because I understood what was going on (I was 5 years by that time and not enough interested in politics to have a clue of what was going on), but because I was by my grandparents that day. I sure was annoyed that they were sitting in front of the TV almost totally ignoring me. :lol:
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That was when Germany was REunified. When did it first come into existence?
(Hint; Bismarck ;) )
Nick
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January 1871 in Versailles. But that was the "2nd Reich", a mornarchy which is not exactly modern day Germany as stated in your question. It also had totally different borders. Looking at the formulation of your question I would consider Arvens answer quite correct. Of course you do have a point in saying that the rather loose federation of states became the nation Germany back then, but still the formulation modern day Germany doesn't really fit with all the changes that happened afterwards.
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Your answer was the one I was looking for, Malte. The fact that the borders were different doesn't matter, in my opinion.
Nick
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I'm going to take a blind guess - 1860s
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^ The question was answered already Arvens.
It's not so much the borders (though I do consider them one aspect). But in 1871 Germany was a mornarchy with a "Kaiser". Very different from modern day circumstances (I hope ;) ). And there were many changes to go through. The Weimarer Republic after WW2, the Nazi dictatorship until 1945 and the seperation into two countries until 1989. With all these further changes I think the Germany created in 1871 was only in a basic (but still crucial) way a basement to modern day Germany. Considering it the begining of modern day Germany's existance depends very much on which points are considered important.
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:blink: Those posts weren't there when I replied. *kicks board* Server's getting lazy. :lol
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Very true, but 1871 was the date I learned as the founding of modern Germany, and I'm not changing it now. ;)
Nick
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One question that may come up in the English history lessons too:
In which way did Germany try to compete with Great Brittain in the early 20th century?
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The Germans tried to compete with Naval power, but the German navy never bacame much of a threat to the British Navy, due to the large advantage in power of the British Navy.
Nick
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Perfectly right Nick.
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How long did Bismarck serve as Chancellor?
Nick
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Anyone?
Nick
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If you include the time before the "Reichsgr¸ndung", he was chancellor from 1867 to 1890. If you only refer to his time as "Reichskanzler" it would be 1871 to 1890.
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Either one is acceptable Malte. Your turn.
Nick
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Okay. One question which I hope may be a challange even for you Nick.
In which battle did a German army leader throw his pipe into the air, and what was the name of the guy?
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I believe it was the battle of Verdun, the one who threw his pipe was shot right away. Much like the british general who kicked a soccer ball on the German side before a battle.
Nick
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I think I read once about soldiers of one army that took place in this battle were gifted a pipe with the image of prince Wilhelm, but that's not what I mean.
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Hmmm. then perhaps the battle of Solome
Nick
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To be honest, I never heard about that battle.
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You mean like a pipe for tobacco? :p PCB pipe?
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Exactly.
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Ok then, I've no idea. please enlighten me, malte. I'll make space in my brain for the answer. :p
Nick
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Sorry, I didn't mean for it to turn out like that. I only thought that with the ordinary German history I would only bore.
The battle was the battle of Ro?bach in 1757 in which the Prussians defeated the French. The Prussian commander von Seydlitz threw his pipe into the air during the battle as a signal for his cavalry to charge.
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Oh I see. Computing.... 1757... Rossbach... French/Prussians....von Seydlitz... signal. Ok I've got everything down. Ask me another one Malte :D
Nick
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Who is considered the "founder" of Prussia?
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Frederick III(sp) became the first king of Prussia in 1701. the original inhabitants of Prussia were destroyed by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century.
Nick
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Right and your turn :)
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Who was the last Chancellor of Imperial Germany?
Nick
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Prince Maximilian of Baden - he was appointed in october 1918 and resigned in favor of Friedrich Ebert on November 9th, after the "Kaisers" abdication.
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Correct. Your turn Malte.
Nick
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(I guess you're busy)
I'll keep this thread up so you can see it Malte.
Nick
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For some reason it seems to be more difficult for me to come up with questions about my own country's history than with question about the history of other countries.
Where did the Prussians suffer their major defeat against Napoleon Bonaparte?
Note that we are talking of sort of a "double-place" battle. Even though it was one battle it is always named with two place names. Name both of them and the year the battle took place.
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I have never had that problem when coming up with US history questions. Perhaps it is because US history covers a shorter time period.
The Prussians were crushed in 1806 in the battles of Jena and Averstedt.
Nick
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^ Auerstedt.
Your answer is correct. Your turn. :)
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What was Gerhard Von Blucher's rank at the Battle of Waterloo?
Nick
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He was Generalfeldmarschall. I'm not exactly sure if "General Field Marshall" would be the correct translation for this rank.
Staying at the same time nearby the same field, what was the name of the French commander whom Napoleon send to pursuit the Prussians he had defeated a few days before the battle of Waterloo?
That French leader defeated the Prussian rearguard and ironically ordered cheers for that victory while at the same time not far away Napoleon suffered his fatal defeat.
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That would be Grouchy(sp).
Nick
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Perfectly right! I had not expected this question to be a chestnut. Good going Nick! :)
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What did President Ebert die of?
Nick
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An untreated appendicitis I think.
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Yep. Your turn malte.
Nick
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What is the name of the famous place in Berlin where shortly before the building of the Berlin wall American and Soviet tanks were facing each other, waiting for the order to unleash WW3. And what was the cause of this?
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The cause of the crisis was Stalin's blockade of West Berlin.
Nick
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The place was the Brandenburg gate
Nick
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sorry Nick. Both is wrong. Stalin didn't live anymore by the time we are talking about.
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So this occured in 1954, then?
Nick
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later
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Can you tell me the year?
nick
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I already gave a crucial and direct hint on the time in the opening of the riddle.
shortly before the building of the Berlin wall
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The closing of the German border?
Nick
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Sorry, I need to correct myself. The incidence I was refering to took place a few month AFTER the building of the Berlin Wall and the closing of the border.
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Would that be the shooting of a person trying to cross the Wall/
Nick
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Nope. Remember, we are talking of American and Soviet tanks facing each other on a certain spot in Berlin.
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I give up. The only timre I've read of American and Russian tanks facing each other was during the Berlin Blockade.
Nick
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Did they even get to the point of facing each other in tanks during the time of the blockade and the airlift? I'm not sure about that.
Here is a picture taken in 1961 that might help you. It shows the Point I'm talking about with American tanks in the fore- and Soviet tanks in the background.
(http://www.times.spb.ru/archive/times/717/images/041_40.jpg)
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This place by the way has an English name. If you could read the signs on the picture (which are to small here) you would know the place.
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Yes, the two sides faced off on the outskirts of Berlin.
Nick
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Actually at this place I'm talking of, which is shown on the picture, they don't face on the outskirts of Berlin, but pretty close to the center of the city.
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Mauerstrasse, or 'wall street'?
Nick
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No, I don't even know that there is a Mauerstra?e in Berlin (though I sure know the Wallstreet ;) ) Remember that the point has an English name.
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I looked at a map of berlin and Mauerstrasse is about 4 or 5 blocks from the Reichstag.
Nick
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Still it is not the Point on the picture. You can Check it out and add the international spelling alpahbet C to it. (Hints).
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Hold on.. I'll go look up the map of Berlin again.
Nick
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I'm not so sure wether or not the Point is marked on a contempory map of Berlin, as it is no longer "in use". It is still a sight for tourists though, so the Point may be on the map.
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Point Central?
Nick
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Point is good. It was a Checkpoint at the border between east- and westberlin. This checkpoint had a special name though on which I gave a hint already.
...add the international spelling alpahbet C to it.
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So something with a C in it? Hmm. This is a puzzler.
Nick
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Checkpoint Charlie?
Nick
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Yes! Yes! Yes! That's it! Right!
Checkpoint Charlie is the name of the famous checkpoint in Berlin were US and Soviet tanks were facing each other waiting for the order to open fire. The thing that provoked this whole incident was the refusal of a western diplomat to show his passport to the GDR border guards when he wanted to enter eastern Berlin. Showing his passport, this diplomat stated, would mean a recognition of the GDR.
I think in the end they agreed on something silly, something like the diplomat had to show his passport but just through the closed window of his car, or something like that. ;)
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Finally!
Let me have a moment to think of a question.
Nick
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Who succeeded Hitler after his death, and how long did he rule Germany?
Nick
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The immediate successor of Hitler was Joseph Goebbels who commited suicide just a few hours after Hitler did (Hitler's suicide was on April 30th, Goebbels on May 1st). In his testament (apparently aware that Goebbels would commit suicide within a short time) Hitler appointed Admiral Karl Dˆnitz as his sucessor. Dˆnitz and his government were arrested on May 23rd.
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Correct. Your turn malte
Nick
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Which gesture of chancellor Willy Brandt became especially famous?
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I believe it was some sort of hand gesture. Perhaps the V for Victory?
Nick
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Nope, that would be Winston Churchill. Willy Brandt's gesture didn't really involve his hands. He made that gesture in Poland.
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Perhaps he was famous for winking?
Nick
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Well, not exactly now. Remember he was Kanzler from 1969 to 1974. You wouldn't find any German politician in the post war and cold war times making any ambiguous or funny gestures in Poland.
He made that gesture in Warsaw.
With that you have keywords which should make it very easy to find out about the gesture.
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Perhaps it was a spoken gesture, the support for reunification with Eastern Germany perhaps?
Nick
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No it wasn't!
Please try to research at google or elsewhere with the keywords we have already. It would take very long to just guess through all possible gestures.
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I got it. He knelt at the foot of a monument honoring the Warsaw uprising, which no one else in his delegation did.
Nick
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That's it!
It was considered important as Brandt did it on his own accord. It was not "planned" by somebody else and it was by a time the "iron curtain" still ran through Europe. The monument honored especially the victims of the uprising who were senselessly murdered by German soldiers.
Your turn Nick.
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Who suceeded Brandt as Chancellor?
Nick
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That would be Helmut Schmidt.
Why did Brandt by the way resign from his office as Bundeskanzer (sort of a "Cold War story")?
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Because one of the ministers in his cabinet was revealed as a Communist spy. He didn't have to resign, but he did.
Nick
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Perfectly right! :)
Your turn.
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who was the East German leader during Brandt's tenure?
Nick
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There are two. Until 1971 it was Walter Ulbricht and from 1971 on it was Erich Honecker.
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Good. Your turn again.
Nick
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Even years before the begin of WW2 did Germany violate the regulations of the treaty of Versailles. Please give two examples.
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I'm taking a crack from memory here.... they built up their arms program - and everyone knew they were doing it, and they sent troops up into the Rhineland near the border of France, an area that was off-limits.
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Exactly. They Built up an air force (which they were not allowed). They built larger ships than they were permitted. They occupied the Rhineland...
Your answer was correct Arvens. :)
Your turn.
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Very good Arvens. There were many ways that Germany violated the Versailles treaty, but you already listed the most obvious ones.
Nick
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You gave the right answer Arvens. :yes
You may come up with the next question.
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ask something Arvens.
Nick
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I'll bump this up for you Arvens.
Nick
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I had no idea I had even responded to this since I hardly know anyhing about German history. -_-
This is all I can think of right now:
This 1998 merger allowed a prominent German company to acquire a prominent American one in this type of manufacture.
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That would be Daimler acquiring Chrysler(sp). A German car producer buying an American car producer.
Nick
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That it is.... ;) Couldn't think of anything else. :p
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Oh Well, At least you know that much. Why was Hemut Kohm Defeated by Konrad Schroeder in the 1998 election?(give me specifics)
Nick
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bump
nick
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Their names are Helmut Kohl and Gerhardt Schroeder and Schroder defeated Kohl because the first got more votes than the later :lol:
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I want specifics Malte :P: What were the reasons WHY he got more votes than Kohl?
Nick
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Because more voters had made their crosses on Schroeder's part of the ballot :P:
"Perhaps" it also played a role that Kohl was chancellor for 16 years already and the economic disadvantages of the reunification of Germany became more and more apparent. Schroeder appeared more dynamic.
If you want to hear anything about the donation scandals of the CDU (Kohl's party) I have to disappoint you. They had no influence on the election as they were discovered later.
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That's better. I knew the Scandals weren't disclosed until later. Yearning for change and a strong canidacy by Schroeder are good reasons.
Nick
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Which terrible German desaster, that affected many other countries as well, began above a dung hill?
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I have nio idea Malte.
Nick
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Does it have to do with that hydrogen airship? Heindenburg or something like that...I don't remember the name too well. :p
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That was in the US Arvens not Germany.
Nick
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Crap. :P: :lol: Now you know why I don't participate in this game too often.
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^and The Name of that Airship was called the HINDENBURG, after the president of the Weimar Republic and WWI military hero. FYI Arvens
Nick
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But it was not a disaster that had a very tremendous impact on many nations. The number of death (horrible as it was) was surprisingly low (about 2 thirds on board of the Hindenburg survived). The dung hill we are talking about was not located in Germany and I recommend you to look further back in time.
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So It must have occured in the 19th century....
Nick
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Earlier
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Was this one of the causes of the War of the Austrian Sucession?
Nick
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The dung hill was involved into the cause for a war, but an earlier one.
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Hmm I'll have to google for this one.
Nick
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It will be very difficult to find with what you have, so let me add that you your looking for the triggering of the largest war being fought in what is today Germany in the 17th century.
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The 30 years War?
Nick
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That's the one we are talking about. Just name what triggered it (and involved that dung hill) and the turn will be yours.
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So the event that started it happened in 1618. Ok I'll look it up.
Nick
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bump
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This event occured when two imperial govrrnors were tried and convicted for violating the Letter of Majesty. They were thrown out of a castle window where they landed in a dungheap.
Nick
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Exactly. The so called "Prager Fenstersturz". It happened near Prague, the capital of today's Czech Republic. It seems people there made a habit of throwing other people out of windows as almost exactly 200 years before the "Prager Fenstersturz" that triggered the 30 years war another "Prager Fenstersturz" triggered the Hussite war.
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The Prague Windowtoss" also occured when the sole remaining non-communist official was found dead after being thrown from a window.
Nick
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Ok. Here a question for you Malte. What was the last political party to dissolve itself before the one-party decree was put intio effect in July of 1933?
Nick
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Bayerische Volkspartei (BVP)?
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Yep. Your turn Malte.
NIck
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Please give me the name of the famous brother and sister who were arrested and executed for depositing leaflets against the nazi-regime.
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I've heard about them... they were mentioned in my Nazi Germany class, but I can't recall their names. Were they the leaders of the White Rose movement?
Nick
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They were of the White Rose movement indeed. Please give me their names, the next question will be yours and I shall have the satisfaction to have made the name of two people better known who mustn't ever be forgotten.
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I found thier names in my notebook. Hans and Sophie Scholl were thier names.
Nick
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Yes. May they rest in peace!
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Indeed. It Takes great courage to stand up to dictators, especially ones like the Nazis who had broken down the milieu of most Germans.
Nick
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Please name one of the Main criminals of war to be sentenced in the Nuernberg trial who pleaded guilty of committing nazi crimes.
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Goering
Nick
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Nope. Perhaps the formulation of my question was ambiguous. When I wrote about pleading guilty I meant that the defendant admitted committing crimes and accepted that he had to be sentenced for this.
One hint, none of those sentenced to death pleaded guilty. Most of them showed hardly any sign of conscience. Sure enough that !&%(/! :angry: Goering didn't.
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Then I can rule out leaders like Eichmann and Frick. Hmmm.
Nick
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And you can rule out anyone else who was hanged as well. Another hint: Nobody who pleaded guilty (thus admitting commiting nazi crimes) is likely to have been cleared of all charges and set free. So there are three more people you ca rule out.
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Donitz?
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No. He didn't plead guilty and got away with a rather mild punishment as he had a good lawyer.
The one I'm talking of was no member of the military.
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Albert Speer?
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Yes. He pleaded guilty (being responsible for many of the crimes against forced laborers). Your turn Nick.
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Who was the last high-tranking Nazi to die?
Nick
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Depends on the definition of "high" ranking. But I suppose you're refering to Rudolf Hess who committed suicide in jail in 1987.
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Yep. Hess was 92 or 93 at the time, and his mental health was in question. I personally think he went insane while in prison, but I have no proof of that.
Nick
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I guess his being considered insane (because of his little trip to Scotland during the war) was one of the reasons for him not being executed.
What was the name of the German colony in China?
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Kioachow, which was located in northeastern China.
Nick
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Right.
"Important" was mainly Kioachow's the harbor Tsingtao.
The German colonies in general were mainly established for prestige "reasons" which didn't stop the Germans there from arrogant behaviour towards the natives and even the committing genocide in African colonies.
Your turn Nick.
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Who took Kiaochow from the Germans after the World War I?
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Depends on how late after WWI. During the war (in 1914) the Japanese conquered Kiaochow, and it wasn't returned to China until 1922.
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I'll accept either one. Your turn Malte
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Especially during WW1 German soldiers were named "Huns" (the huns were a people that invaded Europe during the migration of nations and became almost a synonyme for barbarism though it is to be questioned whether other people were much less ruthless than them at that time) by their enemys.
Apart from crimes committed by German soldiers there is a special reason for this naming of them. A direct reference. Please name it.
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Yes, the Huns came initially from Russia and thier leader Antilla became particularly infamous for his brutality.
Nick
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True, but the applying of the name to the German soldiers at that time had a particular reason that had not directly to do with an action of one soldier. That reason for the naming is what the question is about.
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Well, all I could find is that Huns was a Deragatory name, much like "kraut". It didn't give any specifics.
Nick
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There is a very specific reason for this name. It is not arbitrary. The name has something to do with a speech delivered by one German in the early 20th century. Who held this speech and what did it say?
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Kaiser Wilhelm in 1900. The speech adressed the Troops he was sending to China to help put down the Boxer rebellion. He instructed them to show the Chinese no mercy and act like the Attila and the Huns would have.
Nick
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Exactly!
That infamous "Hun speech" caused quite a bit of frowning both in Germany and (probably even more) in other countries. That name stuck to the Germans during WW1 (pilots were instructed for example to "Beware the Hun coming out of the sun") and partly through WW2.
Your turn Nick.
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Name 3 people who were acquitted at the Nuremburg Trials.
nick
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Franz von Papen, Horace Greely Hjalmar Schacht, and Hans Fritzsche. Every single one of them was later tried and convicted to imprisonments in later trials.
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Good. Your turn.
Nick
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Name the three Germanic tribes that migrated to England during the so called dark age.
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Saxons , Normans and .. what's the other one? hmmm.
Nick
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The Normans were not a German tribe. The Saxons are right. Remember the name the people in England had at the time of the Norman invasion, it will give you the name of a second tribe and as for the third... forget about it. They aren't too famous anyway.
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Britons
Nick
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Nope, the Britons were a Celtic people and probably the people who lived in Great Britain for the longest time.
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i give up. ask another question Malte
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The three tribes (with the last one not being required) were the Angles, the Saxons (those two names were combined to Anglosaxons), and the Jutes.
I'll think of another question.
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Please name the German national anthem and explain why a few stanzas of the original song were not addapted when the song was made the anthem.
-
Deustchland Uber Alles" and some of the stanzas were added after the Second World War to 'soften' the tone of the song.
Nick
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Actually the title of the anthem is "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit" (Unity and justice and liberty). The parts with the "Deutschland Deutschland ¸ber alles" (Germany Germany above everything) however were indeed cut out as they are too nationalist.
Your turn Nick.
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Oh I See. "I've alway thpought that Deutschland Uber Alles" Was the national athem. Silly me.
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I guess if any politician here suggested making a song with that title the national anthem it would be the end of that person's political career.
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Probably, considering all the nazi connations the songs has acquired over the years. OK Here a question,
Name the abbey the US bombed because they thought (Mistakenly) that the Germans were using it as a defensive position.
Nick
-
Monte Cassino (Italy)?
-
Yep That's the one. the Nazis agreed to move all the historical artifacts to the Vatican, and they got everything of historical importance out before the abbey was bombed.
Nick
-
Hitler made one decision about a plane that was developed late in the war. A decision which probably shortened the war (though this definitely wasn't Hitler's intention). What was the plain and what was the decision?
-
The V-2 plane his decision was to not put it in production .
Nick
-
The V2 was a rocket, not a plane and it was produced. As for the plane I'm talking about, Hitler's decision was not to stop it from being produced.
-
Ok, Let me see. It Was a plane and it unitentionally shortened the duration of the war.. hmm. let me think..
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Not the plane shortened the length of the war, but Hitler's decision about it. If it hadn't been for that decision that plane might have prolonged the war.
-
He must have decided to send the plane against the Western Allies, instead of using it against the Russians, where it could have held them off for a while.
Nick
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Nope, that was not the nature of his decision. To make it easier for you, here is an image of the plane we are talking about:
(http://www.suchoj.com/andere/Me-262/images/Me-262A-1a_16.jpg)
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He Decided to stop production of it...
-
No he didn't.
-
Did he limit the number of planes?
-
I think they were already near defeat by the time those planes were being made. I saw that plane before, but I just can't place the name.
-
Could they be the V-2s?
-
Nope they aren't. Look at the photo, it is a jet-plane...
Oh well, the name of the plane is Me-262. Please tell me what Hitler deceided about it.
-
It Was The First turbojet... had hitler used it more effectively he would have won the war...
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So what was the decision he made? The decision that was so wrong?
And I disagree about it really changing the course of the war. It certainly would have had a huge impact and many people think that it may have changed the course of the war. However, those people overlook that there hardly was the fuel left for it to be used effectively in the long run. Moreover it is frequently overlooked that England too produced a jet plane during the war (Gloster Metador) though it was hardly used. Still the effect the Me 262 might have had should not be underestimated.
What was the decision Hitler made that spared us this? It can be summed up precisely in one sentence.
-
Yes and the Us had the nuclear bomb at the end of the war, had Germany Held out for a few more months,the Us would probably have nuked berlin. So this decison came before he commited suicide?
-
So this decison came before he commited suicide?
Well, it would have been sort of difficult for him to make an decisions AFTER his suicide ;)
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Was it that the planes used too much of the little resources they have, so Hitler chose to put the resources to their tanks in their invasion of Russia, which was pretty much wasted when they were forced to retreat?
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At this time the forces in Russia had surrendered so I don't think that's it, BUT i could be wrong...
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No. In fact the decision he made was about the use of the plane. It can be found at google, wikipedia etc.
-
let me search...
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I never forbid you to search.
-
he failed to use them in large numbers against Britian, by the time he started using them, the allies had a commanding air superiority.
-
Nope. I gave you the name of the plane. Entering it at google will certainly give you the answer.
-
I'm not sure, but perhaps this link might mention the answer:
http://www.warbirdalley.com/me262.htm (http://www.warbirdalley.com/me262.htm)
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The answer to the question can indeed be found on that page Kenji.
-
Just give us the answer Malte so we can move on to the next question...
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Aha! Hitler made the decision for the plane to be used as a bomber rather than a preferred interceptor, which the latter was the intended use for its performance in combat.
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THANK YOU KENJI!!! :yes :lol: :DD :birthday :D :) Cheers! Hooray! Yeah! Yes! That's it!
Your turn! Well deserved! Congratulations!
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Didn't I say that in a previous post? :blink: I thought i did malte... oh well, good job Kenji.. your turn. BTw Malte, did you vote in the recent German elections?
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No you didn't Nick. Sorry, but you can check out your earlier posts. The closest statement of yours was that he didn't use the plain effectively which was a bit too vague.
You bet I did not abstain from my right to vote. I consider it a pity that many people take their right to vote as something so granted that they don't bother to vote at all...
Anyway, I voted (my decision is not a secret) for the green party. Strange fact is that there is no clear result in this election. No party or coalition of parties got a majority of votes which would allow them to install their candidate as "Bundeskanzler" (prime minister). Now parties have to try to make up a new coalition in order to get the required majority of votes to install their candidate. Parties who usually get along about as good as fire and water have to work together now. There are two possible outcomes of the current talks and neither constellation seems quite imaginable.
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Hmm I guess I Was too vague.. So you voted for the green party, which is one of chancellor Schroeder's coalition partners. Who was his opponent? Think it was a woman named Merkel(sp) she got around 32% of vote compared to Schroder's 31% Are those figures about right?
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The SPD (Schrˆder's social democratic party) got 34.3 and the CDU/CSU (Merkel's party and it's bavarian faction) got 35.2.
The FDP (in support of Merkel) got 9.8 and the Greens 8.1. The new left wing party got 8.7 percent.
Much as I would personally welcome a female "Bundeskanzler" for a change I do not consider Angela Merkel a person competent to do the job, nor do I agree with a number of points in their party platform.
Right now it seems like either SPD and CDU/CSU will form a coalition (but both insist on their candidate being made "Bundeskanzler" in that case) or the CDU/CSU will form a coalition with the FDP and try to get the Greens along (a coalition often refered to as "Jamaica coalition" as the parties colors (black for the CDU/CSU, yellow for the FDP and green for well, the Greens) are the colors of Jamaica's flag. I doubt however that any kind of coalition will be possible without parties abandoning quite a bit of their platforms during the negotiations.
-
Going back to the trivia, I kind of got into the last question because I have a thing for planes. Knowing that I don't know much about this topic, I'll hand the mic over to Nick.
-
Alright, to finish our disussion, there will be a lot of horse-trading' (i forget the german word for it) by the polticans in order to cobble together a government. Both Merkel and Schroeder would be liberals in American politics, as American politics are on on the whole far more conservative than in Germany. So Merkel and her allies have around 45% and Schroeder and his allies have a little more than 42 %(I'm including the greens as allies for Schroeder, but they may not have allied themselves with him). so it would seem that it would be easier for Merkel to piece togethger a government as her coaltion is slightly closer to having 50.1 % than Schroeder's. however, we will have to wait and see. now for the question. name me the famous Nazi hunter who passed away this week.
-
The famous nazi-hunter who died recently is Simon Wiesenthal. He became especially known for hunting down Adolf Eichman, a nazi who was responsible for much of the organization of deportating the victims into the camps where they were murdered.
There is one major party in Germany which can be voted for, but only in one "Bundesland" (district). Name the party, the "Bundesland", and the meaning of the parties abbreviated name.
-
i think the Bundesland is Bermin, and I can't thgink of the party's name. I'm probably wrong though.
-
You mean Berlin? That's not the one, but to make the rest a bit easier (it is a tough question that came to my mind only because of the recent elections) I will give you the Bundesland. It is Bavaria.
-
Bavaria. Is this Party the Centre?
-
Nope. The Centre cannot be voted for in Bavaria only. But neither does it deserve to be named a major party. Though it is the oldest existing party in Germany few people even know it exists. Also, like I said, the parties name is an abbreviation.
-
oh so it gets only a tiny percentage of votes and is not sucessful enough to be in the Reichstag. Alright let me think... I only know the major poltical parties well, so this may take a while...
-
In fact one may name the party I'm looking for as part of a major party. This party has an agreement with another party which rules that while that other party won't run in Bavaria this Bavarian party we are looking for will not run in any other "Bundesland". One of the most (in)famous representative of that Bavarian party is Edmund Stoiber (candidate in the Bundeskanzler election of 2002).
-
tHe Christian Social Union? KSU , i think is its initials...
-
Right! The abbreviation is CSU (The German word for Christian is also spelled with C). Good going Nick! Your turn. :)
-
thanks I was thinking of Katholisches which is the German word for 'catholic' I might be mispelling it though. now there has been a bit of interest over here in the US due to the deadlock. I believe the last Bundeslander' to vote is Bremen, and the results may break the dealock, or extend it....
-
Not in Bremen, but in Dresden. Usually the election should be over by this time. However, as one party's candidate died shortly before the election in that district of Dresden the election had to be postponed.
-
that's right.. I have Bremen on the brain :lol: Yeah I read about that, That's quite a bummer. In the US though they don't postpone elections when a canidate dies, he or she is left on the ballot, and usually gains a large 'sympathy' vote. If a deceased canidate wins, then thier widow or widower will serve thier term. The most recent time this happened was i think 2000. Missouri Congressman Mel Callahan was running for the Senate against John Ashcroft who we would come to know (and me personally despise) as the Attorney General in Bush's first term. Callahan tragically died in a plane crash a few weeks before the election, it had been a tight race but he had been inching ahead over the last few weeks. Now the rules about deceased canidates vary from state state, but I believe in Missouri's case if a canidate dies less than 60 days before an election then thier name must remain on the ballot. Callahan won the election so his his wife was appointed to serve his term.
-
Your turn Nick. :)
-
what is the minimal number of seats required to form a government in Germany?
-
299, but there was only one case in the history of the FRG when one single party got this required 50% of the 598 seats.
-
So 300 out of 598 is the '50 plus 1" needed for a simple majority. Good job malte.
-
Not really a good job though as I gave one seat too few. I guess these days I should know better. Sure enough a party would get in a state if they got 299 rather than 300 seats :lol
Name the German scientists who played a major role in astronautics. I might add that his dubious role during WW2 was forgotten because of his achievements <_< .
-
Werner Von Braun?
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Right, right away. Your turn Nick.
-
:blink: What role did Von Braun play in the Nazi regime?
-
He was one of the main engineers who created the V1 and V2 rockets and especially for the cruel exploitation of slave labororers. Quite a few nazis were "pardoned" after the war. Several held high offices.
-
Perhaps he emigrated to the US in order to atone for his collaboration with the nazis.
-
Not quite a painful penance. Some nazis were "valuable allies" against communists. In Germany (FRG) some held high office after the war. Quite a shame! :angry:
Anyway, your answer was right. Your turn Nick.
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Anyway, how many Chancellors were there during the wemiar republic? You don't neeed to list themn all, just give me the number.
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15 in case the "last one" really is to be counted as one of them. 14 if we do not count him.
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the last one was Hitler... Yes yoou're right Malte, your turn.
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This German musician had dedicated a symphony to Napoleon Bonaparte. However, when he learned about Napoleon's imperial ambitions (rather than democratic and republican ideals) he tore out the title page upon which he had written a dedication to Napoleon exclaiming: "Composed to celebrate the memory of a great man!"
Who was this musician?
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Bethovan
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Perfectly right (apart from the spelling ;)). Ludwig van Beethoven. There are quite a few other interesting anecdotes about him.
Your turn Nick.
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A true master, Ludwig was,. He was deaf for the last ten-fifteen years of his life, but he wrote his greatest works in that time..
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True. It reminds me of the artist Claude MonÈ who painted some of his greatest pictures when he was almost blind.
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Yes, in both Beethovan's and Monet's cases, physical handicaps did not stop them from practicing thier craft.
-
Your turn Nick.
-
what role, if any, did Ludendorff play in the NAzi regime?
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None after Hitler came to power. But in the early days he was the popular figure in the NSDAP, took part in the Hitler Putch in 1925 he ran as Reichspresident candidate for the NSDAP (got 1.1%). Despite being an extremist and antisemite he broke with Hitler (for no noble reasons whatsoever) and thus had no influence after 1933.
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Correct. Didn't he die shortly after Hitler became Chancellor?
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He lived till 1937 (December 20th).
Which historical person is portrait in "General Harras" in Carl Zuckmayer's drama (the devil's general). Please give a few sentences about the historical person (who he was, what he did etc.)
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never read it Malte I'm sorry...
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But you do know google and you know wikipedia.
-
Ernst Udet, who served under Goering. he killed himself rather than put up with Goering Incomptence.
-
indeed. In fact he was blamed for some of Goerings mistakes. Udet was also the German WW1 fighter pilot with most victories (62) who survived WW2. In several ways he was not the kind of person one would expect to side with the nazis which is partly what "the devil's general" is about. Because of this the book has been critiziced for being a kind of excuse for a certain kind of accomplice. The nazis concealed Udet's suicide by the way. They told he had died testing a new weapon. Your turn Nick.
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what postions did Goering Originally hold in the Hilter government?
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First he was Reichstagspr‰sident (1932) and later minister for aviation, Prussian Ministerpr‰sident, and "Reichsmarschall des Gro?deutschen Reiches" (he loved to invent new titles and medals he could give himself).
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Arrogant bastard :angry: Pretentious and full of himself...
-
Indeed, though I consider inventing titles and orders for himself some of his most harmless crimes compared to his other atrocities.
My turn?
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Yes it is...
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Who was Klaus Stˆrtebecker and what was (according to legend) so special about his execution?
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He was one of the conspirators who tried to assassinate Hilter in July of 1944.
-
No he wasn't! He lift in 14th / 15th century!
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Was he executed inside a hollow log?
-
No, should he? Who was he?
-
He Was A pirate, who according to legend offered to build a chain of gold around the town in exchange for his freedom.
-
That's the very same. According to legend he did offer a chain of gold around the town of Hamburg ("Hamburgers" had captured him) in exchange of freedom. Others legends say it was a crown of gold around the tower of a church in Hamburg. However, he wasn't released but executed. There is a legend about the execution as well. Please tell me what this legend is about.
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They cut off his privates before cutting off his head.
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Nope. That would hardly be anything special. People everywhere did that all the time. Men are nasty :x
Stˆrtebecker was beheaded, and according to legend he had made an agreemend with the judges about something he meant to do AFTER loosing his head. What was it he (according to legend) actually DID?
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I'm guessing to give back the money he stole...
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Nope. Couldn't do that with his head already chopped off and also he had no reason to hand them back any money after they had refused to set him free for the gold chain around Hamburg respectively that church tower crown. You are not going to guess the answer by chance.
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That's not going to stop me from guessing Malte... :lol:
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Yet I'm positive that you won't guess the answer by chance. I confess that it is very difficult to find information about Stˆrtebecker on English pages. In fact I made sure myself that you can find the information I'm asking for.
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I think I found the legend:
After he was beheaded, if he could still walk, any of his comrads whom he passed would be freed.
Hopefully this is correct.
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Cheers and fireworks to our new shooting star! Perfectly right, and I admit it was a tough question! Good going :lol:
They also say that the executioner tripped Stˆrtebecker's body after he had passed 11 of his comrades and that despite the earlier promise of the city counsel those eleven men were executed anyway. It is almost certain that the whole story is a legend though.
Your turn :)
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Good job Stitch...
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Your turn Stitch :)
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Here's an easy one:
When did Germany leave the League of Nations?
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in the 1930s when the League of nations rebuked Germany for recoccupyinhgg the Rhineland.
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You got the decade.
What is the exact year?
-
I think 1935...
-
Lower
-
1933
-
Correct
Your turn
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which was the last territory Germany acquired before the start of WWII?
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The part of Czecheslovakia that had not been taken after the Munich conference. So everything of the country that was not Sudetenland.
After the Munich conference Winston Churchill (not prime minister by that time) said:
"Owing to the neglect of our defences and the mishandling of the German problem in the last five years, we seem to be very near the bleak choice between War and Shame. My feeling is that we shall choose Shame, and then have War thrown in a little later, on even more adverse terms than at present."
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No there was territory seized after that Malte.
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Namely the Memelland on March 22nd 1939.
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Yep that's the one. memmelland was part of Lithuania, but the germans demanded it back, and the Lithuuanians had no choice. They knew thatr if they refused, Germany would invade and crush them.
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Who was the (pre French Revolution) king of Prussia who said that anyone should be allowed to follow (literally "become blessed by") the own faith or to put it in the literal words (mixed of German and French and thus very difficult to translate): "Jeder sollte nach seiner Fasson selig werden!"
-
Frederick III?
-
He ruled for a few months only in 1888 (a considerable time AFTER the French Revolution).
-
So the phrase litearally means "anyone who wants to practice thier faith is free to do so"? I'll go google...
-
That's what it says. A litteral translation is very difficult due to the use of a French word, "fasson". Your first guess was not too far actually. Make it less.
-
Frederick II?
-
Indeed. Frederick (or Friedrich as he is called in Germany) II, who was named "The Great" was the one who said this. I'm very critical about Prussia and the Prussian militarism (which was also represented by the same man). But this is one point one can hold in the man's favor. It was also political reason to act that way for by inviting French Hugenuts and Swis Calvinists who were persecuted in their homelands Friedrich won many skilled workers most of whom felt an appreciative loyalty for him.
Your turn Nick.
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i would argue that prussian Miltarism was represented by Frederick in 1700s and by Bismarck in the 1800s. It was this aloofness that spread throughout the military and was one of the reasons for the military ambivalance to the Weimar Republic.
-
Your turn Nick.
-
What were the goals of the 1848 revolution?
-
One of the goals (which was not achieved) was the creation of a democratic state of Germany with a common constitution and a liberal government (what is today Germany was still parted in many duchies and kingdoms).
This is however too strong a generalization, as there were many different groups of individual goals taking part in the revolution. Despite its failure the revolution still strengthened the political influence of the evolveing middle class.
-
very good. The Revolution was in part inspired by the American and French revolutions.
-
Many Germans went to America after the 1848 revolution (some couldn't stay in Germany at all). Several of them became known during the American Civil War. Please name three Germans who fought in the Civil War.
One of them became "known" for hiding in a pig sty during the battle of Gettysburg.
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Okay, I don't reckon the previous question will ever be answered, so for the sake of continuing here is another question. Which German island was attempted to be erradicated by blowing it up completely?
-
I'll have to google again...
-
To help you on this here is another piece of information: Nearby this island the very first naval battle of WW1 was fought.
-
If I may ask, why did the Germans want to blow up the island?
-
It weren't the Germans who wanted to blow up the island.
-
So it wasn't them? Thanks...
-
Forgive the spelling, but Skagerrak?
-
No. Skagerrak is not an island but a sea passage between Denmark and Norway. The battle fought there was as late as 1916 while the battle that took place nearby that island I'm looking for was actually the first sea-battle in WW1.
-
Just thought I'd guess.. I'll google some more.
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I pray you do.
-
Battle of Heigoland?
-
Heligoland is that island I was looking for. Your turn Nick.
-
Alright, give me a moment to think of one...
-
Your turn Nick.
-
Thank you Malte...
-
You are very, very welcome indeed Nick, but it is still your turn.
-
Still your turn Nick.
-
Ooops.. sorry... In 1871, Germany was created after the Franc-_german war. Which German speaking areas were excluded from Germany? I may have alreadyy asked this question, but It'ds the best I can do at the moment.
-
All those regions which belonged to Austria at that time plus Switzerland.
-
Yep, you got it. Your turn Malte...
-
Which dispatch caused a war and how did it?
-
Rather vague question, but I'll give it a try. Was the dispatch misinterpreted by one side which caused the war?
-
Here is a hint. The dispatch caused one of the three wars which are sometimes refered to as the wars of German unification. So what was the name of the dispatch, which war did it cause and how did it?
-
Would that be the Ems Telegraph which started the Franco-german war?
-
The very same. Just tell us in which way it triggered the war and the floor is all yours :)
-
Bismarck edited the telegraph to make it appear that France was acting beligerently..
-
Yes, Bismarck shortened the text of the dispatch, sharpened its tone and did what he could to make France declare war on Germany. French king Napoleon III. swallowed the bait.
Your turn Nick.
-
I'll need a few minutes to think of one...
-
How was the Gestapo formed?
-
The Gestapo was established on April 26, 1933 in Prussia, from the existing organization of the Prussian Secret Police. The Gestapo was first simply a branch of the Prussian Police, known as Department 1A of the Prussian State Police.
However, it gained ever more power especially after new laws in 1936 enabled the Gestapo to operate without any control of other instances.
Is that what you were asking for?
-
Precisely... :)
-
Your turn Malte....
-
A more recent event:
Which very famous German author confessed to have belonged to which organization?
(The "confession" happened just some days ago so you may learn about it from news pages).
-
Gunter Grass? I believed he confessed that he joined the Nazis...
-
G¸nther Grass is correct, but it is not that he joined "the nazis". The huge majority of Germans, sad as it is, were nazis of the one or the other degree at that time. It was one organization he belonged to. Which organization?
-
was it the gestapo?
-
Nope.
-
The Army?
-
Nope. Just read a news article on the matter and you will know the answer.
-
Ohj, the Waffen SS.. :slap
-
Indeed. There is quite some debate going on about this as G¸nther Grass has always spoken up not to deny our past but deal with it properly, while he told that he had served at the Flak (Anti Aircraft Guns) to which almost every kid of his age was sent in the last year of the war.
Anyway, your turn.
-
How did the Nazi party inspire the rise of Saddam Hussein?
-
Alright... around how many people were killed during the Rohm Purge? Secondly name me 5 prominent victims..
-
While there is no absolutely certain number of victims it were probably about 400, while official records back then claimed that 77 were killed.
Amongst those who were killed were:
Ernst Rˆhm (SA leader).
Edmund Heines (SA officer and lover of Ernst Rˆhm).
Kurt von Schleicher (German Chancellor from December 1932 to January 1933). His wife Elizabeth von Schleicher was murdered along with her husband.
Gregor Stra?er (former Bavarian commissar and NSDAP member who used to be considered a great friend of Hitler, but had run afoul with him).
Fritz Gerlich (journalist and publisher who was perhaps the most prominent member of the press resistance against Hitler; which was soon to be surpressed by the nazis).
Erich Klausener (Catholic politician and member of the resistance against Hitler).
Kuno Kamphausen (member of the centrist party).
Ironically many of the SA members to be murdered on Hitler's order were shot while performing the "Hitlergru?" with "Heil Hitler" on their lips.
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Very good... Fritz Von papen was target too, but escaped because he was under Hindenburg protection..Your turn Malte..
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The last words of a famous member of the German resistance against Hitler, when led to the scafold were: "The sun still shines".
Who was this member of the resistance, and what "crime" was this member of the resistance convicted for?
-
Was this a members of the White Rose" orginization? I'm guessing the crime was distributing pamphlets..
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You are on the correct track. Which member of the White Rose did speak those final words before being executed?
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An Aside for a moment malte.. I have heard that it has been ruled that the Nazi party is a legitimate political organization, and thus can hold office.. If this is true, it greatly disturbs me. I don't need to remind you of what the original nazis did, and they are idolized by the current groups.
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I see you have posted a seperate thread on the matter. Thanks, because it sdeserves more attention than an aside discussion.
-
Do you know whose last words were "The sun still shines"? One hint, a movie was made about the last days of this member of the "White Rose". The movie was nominated for the acadamy awards as the best foreign language film, but didn't win this award.
-
I'm tried googling, and the sun still shines hasn't come up yet...I'll keep looking
-
Hints:
The fact that the person I'm looking for was a member of the White Rose leaves not too many people. About whom of these few was a movie produced not too long ago? If you enter just "The sun still shines" at google you will get many music titles. How about adding "White Rose" to your keywords?
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Sophie Stohl?
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Spell her right (she deserves that much) and the turn is yours.
-
Sorry scholl... How did Nazi Germany inspire the rise of Saddam Hussein?
-
Since this question has not been answered , I'll ask a different one...
-
Please do.
-
Please, please do.
-
The answer to the previous was that Sadam's Unclee was a an admier of Hilter, and Sadam Baath came to use many of tactics of the third Reich. Ok, here the next Quesition. Who was the czech leader at the time of the Sudetan Cessation?
-
Eduard Benes?
-
You got it Tails.. your turn..
-
I'm afraid he won't. Therefore I just post the next question:
Who was the only member of the Reichstag to vote against the continuation of the war in 1914?
-
Fredrich Ebert?
-
No, in 1914 Friedrich Ebert was all in favor of the war and his influence within the SPD contributed to the almost unanimous vote.
-
a very good question then. did the person ever become famous, or is he/she an unknown to most?
-
He is well known over here, but not primarily for voting against the war in 1914 but for other political work. I don't know just how famous he is in English speaking countries, but with your knowledge about German history between 1914 and 1945 you're almost bound to have heard of him Nick.
-
Alright..I'm going to need a hint here.... what political work did he become famous for?
-
He is particularly known for his far left activities for which he was murdered in 1919, along with a friend and female politician.
-
Karl Liebknecht?
-
Yes :yes
-
That hint about being murdered jarred my memory. I had no idea that he was the only one to vote no against the war. The "Spirit of 14" was something that the military were constantly trying to regain after the war. the total and complete unity of the people behind the military.
-
Your turn Nick.
-
What action taken by Chancellor Fritz Von Papen severely weakened the wEimar Republic in 1932?
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Among other Franz von Papen ordered the so called "Preu?enschlag", an order by which the cabinet of Prussia (by then the largest German state) was dismissed. The move destroyed the Prussian government (it was replaced by Papen in the rank of a "Reichskommissar") which had till then been a Republican opposition to Papen, but to Hitler as well.
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Very good, that government had been run but the Social Democrats inmn a minoriy government (where the combined support isn't ebnnough to haave majority support, but still has more support thabn any other group). Papen move was probably unconstutional, but since Article 48 gave the president such immense emergency powers, he used Article 48 to justify doing that. your turn.
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Which famous treaty (treaties actually) was signed in the towns of M¸nster and Osnabr¸ck in 17th century (and when exactly)?
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The peace treaties, which finished the war about 30 years. In german (the 30-j‰hrige Krieg).
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The 30 years war in 1648..
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yes, thanks, that what I mean ;)
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Exactly Patrick! The Peace of Westphalia is the English term for the "Westf‰lische Frieden" which indeed ended the 30 years war.
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so, I guess it¥s my turn now, isn¥t it? :DD . I am good in answering questions, but not in find some. But, let¥s see. I am sure something comes up to my mind :wow
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In the year 1517 happened something very important. It has to do with religion. What excactly happened?
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In the year 1517 the 95 Theses from Martin Luther were publized.
They were nailed on a church's door.
right?
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yes, that¥s right Laura. Your turn
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Seeing that Love.Hurts. hasn't been around since May I'll just take over not to let this thread die.
Very many Germans emigrated to the US in 19th century (in fact for a very long time they were the largest group of immigrants to the US) and about 17% of the American population today has some German ancestors.
Please give me either 3 people who were born in Germany but emigrated and became famous in the US or else 8 famous Americans with German ancestors.
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I know Albert Einstein, and maybe Otto Frank, but that's all I've got. I'll keep thinking.
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Otto Frank is dutch.. I think! :p
I dont know any sadly enough hmm...
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Otto Frank was born in Frankfurt am Main Germany (same as both of his daughters) and in WW1 he fought for the country whose later "government" would impose so indescribable pains upon him and so many people. After the begin of WW2 he tried to emigrate to the US or Cuba but only succeeded in obtaining a Cuban visa for himself and wouldn't leave his family behind. He never emigrated to the USA after WW2 he lived in Switzerland.
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Now I feel stupid :p
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Please don't. It is not like this is basic knowledge. Rather than feeling stupid as a result of having learned something you should cherish the ability to learn thereby becoming smarter and better every day ;)
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Yea you're right.. :)
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OH, they have to go to the USA? The question says they merely "emigrated" somewhere and also "Became famous in the USA." I read it wrong. In that case I don't know any others for sure.
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Werner Von Braun immigrated to the US after the second World War... he learned his rocketry from American Robert Goddard (who, to be fair, was another German-American...) I also known of Einstein... but the only other scientist I know who immigrated to the U.S. was Guglielmo Marconi, an Italian-American (like half of me...)
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I'm definitely not an expert in German history, but I'll give it a try
George Armstrong Custer, he fought in the battle of Little Bighorn
Sandra Bullock, she was a famous actress
Hannah Arendt, she was a JEWISH-German philosopher
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OH, they have to go to the USA? The question says they merely "emigrated" somewhere and also "Became famous in the USA." I read it wrong.
No you didn't. I didn't put that question with sufficient accuracy.
Those are three good examples Rat_Lady. I think I asked for too many cases and that it should be your turn to post the next question :yes
Further examples of Germans who emigrated to the US and became famous there are:
John Jacob Astor - Founder of the Astor family and one of America's first multimillionaires.
Carl Schurz - Fled to America after the failed Revolution of 1848 in Germany. In the Civil War he was a general for the north and later the first German born US senator.
Franz Siegel - Another 1848 revolutionary who fled to the US fought in the US civil war and later on held political positions in New York, for both the Republicans and the Democrats.
Henry Kissinger - Security adviser in the Nixon and Ford Administration.
Thomas Nast - Famous 19th century newspaper caricaturist (among other the Democrat donkey and the Republican elephant are his creation).
Roland Emmerich - Movie Director (e.g. Independence day).
Wolfgang Peterson - Another movie director (e.g. The perfect storm).
Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von Steuben - Played an important role in training George Washington's army in the war of independence.
There are many more examples of people born in Germany and becoming famous in the US. The list of those descended from Germans is even longer (Dwight D. Eisenhower, Herbert Hoover, the Rockefeller clan, Paris Hilton, Harrison Ford, Kevin Costner, Chester W. Nimitz, John Joseph Pershing are some examples). Here is a longer list (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_German_Americans).
Anyway, your turn Rat_Lady :yes
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Tell me if this sentence is true or false:
"Germany has not influenced any other languages what so ever."
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False? I can't imagine that Germany has never influnced any languages. There's probably loads of German words that have been adopted by other languages.
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I'd say true.
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The sandwich is correct! English is a germanic language. I'm sure it probably influenced other languages as well. It bes your turn. :yes
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^ At the university one lecturer tells us to pronounce middle English the way we would pronounce German to get a fair idea of what English sounded like in the middle ages. All those Angles, and Saxons, and Jutes, and Frisians who set out for England took their various dialects of German with them thereby influencing the English language. In modern times there are not as many English words based on German words. Examples for German loan words (not all of them spelled exactly the same way as the German origin) in the English language are kindergarten, iceberg, sauerkraut, angst, blitz (the German meaning of the word is just "lightning" however), doppelg‰nger, ersatz, pretzel, poltergeist, realpolitik, rucksack, wanderlust, and zeitgeist. There are more examples.
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Keeping on the topic of sandwiches...
In 1241 Luebeck entered into an alliance with another German port, laying the foundations for the development of the Hanseatic League. Which was the other port? (and what does this answer have to do with sandwiches?)
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That other town was Hamburg (no, the hamburger was not invented here) :P:
Funnily enough I am in Hamburg as I type this. I'm visiting my sister who lives here.
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Cool! What are the odds?
The name Hamburger came from Hamburg, New York, from some dude selling them at a fair, I think. Still, anti-German feelings in the 1920s caused the hamburger to recieve the alterante name "Salisbury Steak."
You're up, Malte!
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That other town was Hamburg (no, the hamburger was not invented here) :P:
Funnily enough I am in Hamburg as I type this. I'm visiting my sister who lives here.
xD nice! (sorry I don't mean to spam...but I just thought that was pretty funny)
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What is "Canossa" and what is the importance of it in German history?
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Shall I come up with a new one?
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Nah.
Canossa is a rocky point where King Henry IV stood for three days in the snow, to reverse his excommunication from the Catholic Church.
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Aye, one of the most important points in the century lasting so called "Investiturstreit" between the Kaiser and the Pope.
Your turn :yes
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During the age of the Weimar Republic, who led a four-day revolt of dissolved Freikorps against Berlin, declaring himself Reich Chancellor?
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Wolfgang Kapp?
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That was certainly fast. Yep.
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Everyone knows what the stars and stripes or the Union Jack stands for (stars for the states, stripes for the colonies, crosses for England, Scotland and Ireland), but who can tell what the German Flag black, red, gold (often depicted as yellow) is based on?
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Anyone? It got to do with the days of Napoleon Bonaparte.
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They had to do with the Holy Roman Republic, whicgh collaspsed to 1806, after Napolean Invaded and conquered it. This was the First Reich..
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Sorry, not right. The meaning of the colors of the German republic doesn't really have anything to do with the so called Holy Roman Empire of German Nation.
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One might say it got something to do with a kind of clothing.
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does it have to do with the coloring of thier unifoirms?
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You are on the right track. Whose uniforms are we talking about?
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Would that be the Prussian forces lead by Von Blucher?
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The standard Prussian uniforms were dominated by "Prussian blue" (even the name for the color was derived from the uniforms) which is absent in the German flag. There was one particular outfit with black uniforms, red embroidery and golden (actually brass) buttons which are the colors taken into the flag that became popular among other during the revolutionary movements of the 1830s and 1848 (hence the democratic reference of the flag). But which was that particular outfit with those uniforms?
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Poking awake a dying thread I will post the answer to my question and give a new one. The colors of the German flag, black, red, and gold (yes, it usually looks yellow, but it is supposed to be gold :lol) go back to the uniforms of the L¸tzow Free Corps, a voluntary unit during the Napoleonic wars. Black uniforms, red seams, golden (brass) buttons. Veterans of the Corps were active in some of the protests calling for a republican government of a unified Germany (most notably the Wartburg Festival and the Hambacher Fest).
Here is the next question. Which (very early) battle in German history is often referred to with the name of the defeated general added with the word "Schlacht" (battle)?
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^ Last year there were quite a couple of events going on to commemorate the anniversary of the battle.
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Schlacht bei Verchen?
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Nope, the battle took place a lot earlier than the battle of Verchen.
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i have no idea i guess i'll goggle it
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the anniversary of that battle in 2009 had many zeros involved.
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so this happened in 9 AD?
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Yes.
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Teutoburg Forest?
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Aye, that battle is often referred to as the "Varusschlacht" after the defeated Roman leader Publius Quinctilius Varus. To this day there is no absolute certainty where exactly the battle (a series of battles on the march stretching over three days actually) took place though there is much to suggest it was near Kalkrise. In any case there is nothing really to suggest it was fought in what is today referred to as the Teutoburg forest.
Your turn Nick.
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alright, its been awhile since i asked one of these .. in what year did the holy roman empire collapse?
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1806 after the Francis II abdicated following his defeat by Napoleon.
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very good, Malte, your turn..
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With the rather loose confederation of different kingdoms, dukedoms etc. doms Germany was finally made of it was a rather frequent thing to have different parts of what would today belong to the Federal Republic of Germany fight wars against each other. When was the last time that different parts of what would today belong to Germany fight a war against each other?
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I believe Prussia was involved .. let me check..
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Prussia was involved, but even though Prussia as such does no longer exist large parts of what used to belong to Prussia are now part of the Federal Republic of Germany.
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was it Saxony?
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Saxony was also involved in this (same as many other parts of then Germany). To answer this question you need to name the war we are talking about and the year (it did not stretch over several years) of it.
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ok.. lets me check..
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Never prohibited you to do that :lol
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was it the 7 weeks war in 1866?
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Aye, this is one of many names that have been given to this war (some of the others being "German War", "Austro Prussian War", and "Unification War"). Among other Prussia, Mecklenburg, many Westphalian duchys, and the large towns of Hamburg and Bremen on the one and Bavaria, Saxony, Baden, W¸rtemberg (again these are just some of the many then more or less souverreign parts of Germany which were involved) on the other side.
Your turn Nick :yes
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what was the highest percentage of votes the nazis recioeved before gaining power?
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36.8%?
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close, but no..
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I must of jumped the time frame. 6.55% gained seats in Reichstag during the election in 1924.
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no, the nazis gaimed thier most votes , prior to taking over in 1932.. thats only hint I'm giving..