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German History
It began with the Merovingian kings of Gaul. They conquered several German tribes in the sixth century, and placed them under the control of self-ruling dukes of mixed Frankish and native blood. Colonists from Gaul were encouraged to move to the newly conquered territories. While the local German tribes were allowed to preserve their laws, they were pressured into changing their religion.
From around 600 there was a renewed Christian mission of the pagan Germanic tribes. Irish-Scottish monks founded monasteries at Würzburg , Regensburg , Reichenau , and other places. The missionary activity in the Merovingian kingdom was continued by the Anglo-Saxon monk Boniface , who established the first monastery east of the Rhine at Fritzlar . Bishoprics under Papal authority were established to spread the Christian faith in the Germany. |
Medieval German Clergy
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During the Dark Ages, Germany was discovering itself. It grew and became a recognized nation. It became strong in the Catholic Church, but soon the church became its burden. Years later, it became a world power. |
After World War I and II, Germany was divided. In 1949, the German Democratic Repu-blic (East Germany) developed out of the Soviet zone of occupation, and the Federal Repub-lic of Germany out of the U.S., British and French zones. |
The (German) City Theater
Now the National Opera |
The German Democratic Republic claimed East Berlin as its capital, while the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany was located in Bonn. On August 13, 1961, the East German government built the Berlin Wall, sealing off Berlin East from Berlin West. Twenty-eight years later, on November 9, 1989, the exodus of thousands of East Germans via Hungary and Austria to West Germany, and mass demonstrations in a number of East German cities, led to the opening of the Berlin Wall. On October 3, 1990, East Germany acceded to the Federal Republic of Germany. Germany was united again. In June 1991, the German Parliament decided to move the seat of government and parliament to the capital Berlin. |
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