Military history of Germany
From Freepedia
| History of Germany |
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Germany and the German people have had a long and complex military history.
Contents |
Ancient times
- German tribes often fought the Roman Empire.
- In AD 9 a Roman army led by Publius Quinctilius Varus was defeated by the Cheruscan leader Arminius (Hermann) in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest.
- Around 260, the Germans finally broke through the Limes and the Danube frontier.
First Reich
- Outside threats to the kingdom were contained when in 955 the Hungarians were decisively defeated near Augsburg at the Battle of Lechfeld and the Slavs between the Elbe and the Oder were submitted.
- In 1226 parts of Prussia were conquered,christianized and its population slaughtered by the Teutonic Order invited by Polish rulers.
- In 1524 the Peasants' War broke out in Swabia, Franconia and Thuringia against ruling princes and lords, following the preachings of Reformist priests.
- From 1618 to 1648 the Thirty Years' War ravaged Germany. Germany became the main theatre of war and the scene of the final conflict between France and the Habsburgs for predominance in Europe. The war resulted in large areas of Germany being laid waste, in a loss of something like a third of its population, and in a general impoverishment. It ended with the Peace of Westphalia
- In the War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748) Maria Theresa fought successfully for recognition of her succession to the throne. But in the Silesian Wars and in the Seven Years' War she had to cede Silesia to Frederick II, the Great, of Prussia. After the Peace of Hubertsburg in 1763 between Austria, Prussia and Saxony, Prussia became a European great power. This gave the start to the rivalry between Prussia and Austria for the leadership of Germany.
- German and Prussian trops were known as some of the best in Europe during the time of the Holy Roman Empire.
- Napoleon I of France relaunched the war against the Empire, which was formally dissolved on 6 August 1806. The Prussian army was defeated by the French revolutionary forces at Jena and Auerstedt.
- In 1813 the Wars of Liberation began, following the destruction of Napoleon's army in Russia (1812). After the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig, Germany was liberated from French rule.
Second Reich
- Second War of Schleswig, in the course of which the Prussians, joined by Austria, defeated the Danes.
- Austro-Prussian War (1866). With the decisive victory at the Battle of Königgratz, under the command of Helmuth von Moltke.
- Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) The French army was finally forced to capitulate at the Battle of Sedan.
- To protect Germany's overseas trade and colonies, Admiral von Tirpitz started a programme of warship construction in 1898.
- First World War. Germany attacked France through Belgium to avoid French defenses on the French-German border. Years of stalemate followed. The German Schlieffen plan was to deal with the Franco-Russian alliance involved delivering a knock-out blow to the French and then turning to deal with the more slowly mobilized Russian army. On November 11, an armistice ending the war was signed at Compiègne.
Third Reich
- Main article: History of Germany during World War II
- the treaty of Versailles imposed severe restrictions on Germany's military strength. The army was limited to one hundred thousand men with an additional fifteen thousand in the navy. The fleet was to consist of at most six battleships, six cruisers, and twelve destroyers. Tanks and heavy artillery were forbidden and the air force was dissolved. A new post-war military (the Reichswehr) was established on 23 March 1921. General conscription was abolished under another mandate of the Versailles treaty.
- German armed forces were named the Wehrmacht from 1935 to 1945.
- In 1936 German troops marched into the demilitarised Rhineland. On 12 March1938, German troops marched into Austria. After annexing the Sudeten border country of Czechoslovakia (October 1938), and taking over the rest of the Czech lands as a protectorate (March 1939), Germany and the Soviet Union in September 1939 invaded Poland.
- The German army took over an area from France to Russia, and from Norway to Libya, before being beaten by the United States, United Kingdom and Russia.
Military today
After WW2 Russian, American, French and British soldiers were based in Germany. Germany is only allowed a small military today as a defense force, though it has taken part in United Nations missions.
