Content:
Early period (- ~450 AD)
smaller groups of person's live together in loose federations (for example Franconia, Alemannen, Saxonia), direct will formation by the people, parts of South Germany belong to the Roman empire
Frankish Kingdom (~450 - ~950)
Gradual development to the absolute hereditary monarchy, Karl der Große (~800)
962 - 1806
Roman realm of German nation
The early Middle Ages (~900 - ~1200)
Feoff state with noble ones and emperor at the top, absolute monarchy, formation of a state with different social status: Aristocracy and clerymen, citizens as well as farmers
The high Middle Ages / the late Middle Ages (~1200 - ~1500)
Emperor loses power, the aristocracy wins more independence, city federations for example the Hanse attain great economic importance
Early modern times (~1500 - ~ 1650)
Religion fights, 30 years of war, the individual national princes prevail independently of the emperor, dividing of the realm in more and more, smaller and smaller units (several hundred small territories in the area of the today's Federal Republic)
Modern times (~1650 - ~1800)
Absolutism, formation of larger rule territories, dualism between Prussia and the Habsburger monarchy (Austria)
1787
Federal Constitution of the United States of America, model for later European constitutions
1789
French revolution ("liberty, equality, fraternity"), liberal ideas affect also Germany, in particular in those areas bordering to France
1794
Farmer release in Prussia
1803
During a negotiation at the highest Court of Justice of the US in the case Marbury against Madison the president of the court John Marshall gives a theoretical reason for the requirement of the jurisdiction to check the legislation for agreement with the constitution, an important aspect of the distribution of responsibilities thereby is developed for the first time
1806
Formal dissolution of the German realm as consequence of the wars with Napoleon
1808
Prussian city order with urban autonomy
1815 - 1866
German Federation, a confederation of states after the Viennese congress
1818
Constitution in Baden
1819
Constitution in Wuerttemberg
1833
Establishment of the German customs union for the creation of a economy unity
1847/1848
Unrests/revolutions in many German states with the goal to establish democratic structures, Paulskirchenverfassung as the first "modern" constitution for the whole Germany with basic right catalog. However durably converting this constitution was not successful, the parliament is dissolved by the national princes by force
1848
Constitution in Prussia
1866
Prussian - Austrian war, in the consequence Austria withdraws from the German Federation
1866 - 1870
North German Federation as Federal State under the guidance of Prussia
1870
In the consequence of the French-German war the states of South Germany join the North German Federation
1871 - 1918
2. German Empire as Federal State under Prussian guidance, realm constitution considerably determined by the princes, industrial revolution and associated social tensions, start of social legislation, emergence of the BGB (1900)
1914 - 1918
1. World war leads to the dissolution of the 2nd German Empire, November revolution 1918
1918 - 1933
Weimar Republic, designated according to the meeting place of the constitution-giving national assembly, with a constitution from the wording similarly to the Basic Law, however with basic rights catalog only in the context of the laws and not above the laws and without protective mechanisms, no support of the democracy in the people, increasing radicalization because of economic problems
1918 - 1923
Inflation, internal unrests and revolts
1919
Establishment of the League of Nations (-1939), the forerunner organization of the UN (since 1945)
1924 - 1928
Economical illusory bloom owing to economic aids in particular from the US
1929 - 1933
Gradual decay of the Weimar Republic, unemployment, bad economic layer, world economic crisis
1933 - 1945
Time of the Nazis, Hitler dictatorship, Germany central steered unit state, human rights are systematically hurt and ignored, the basic rights are set out of strength
1939 - 1945
2. World war
1945
On 8 May the surrender of the third realm takes place, Germany is divided in four zones of occupation and governed by the victorious states
1947
Union of the three western zones to an economical unit
1948/1949
01.09.1948 - 23.05.1949 Parliamentary advice for the production of the Basic Law. The Parliamentary advice consisted of 70 members elected by the parlaments of the Laender. Its chairmann was Konrad Adenauer who later became the first chancellor
1949
Establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany within the range of the three west zones
The Basic Law (GG) which was enacted upon expiration of the 23.05., is affected intense by the Weimar constitution. The formation of the federal organs finished at 20.09.1949, however special rights of the Allies exist
Establishment of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) within the range of the Soviet zone (07.10.1949)
Establishment of the Council of Europe
1951
On 9 December the population in the area of today'sBaden-Wuerttemberg (in the countries Wuerttemberg-Baden, Baden and Wuerttemberg-Hohenzollern) vote for the formation of the southwest state
1953
On 11 November the national constitution of Baden-Wuerttemberg is adopted by the constitution-giving state meeting
1955
The Federal Republic joins the NATO
1957
The Saarland, after the end of the war with special status, is integrated into the Federal Republic
Roman contracts for the establishment of the EEC, a forerunner community of the European union
1961
Building of the Wall within Berlin and the German domestic border
1973
The Federal Republic and the German Democratic Republic join the UN
1989
Opening of the German Democratic Republic border on 9 November
1990
The GDR joins the Federal Republic of Germany according to Article 23 GG - old version - on 3 October. Federal Republic as a sovereign state
1992
Treaty on the European union (Treaty of Maastricht)
2002
Introduction of the euro as actual currency
2004
Enlargement of the EU upon 25 states (May 2004)