German Biographies

The lives of some of Germany's many leading figures throughout the ages have left lasting legacies, both at home and abroad. Spanning over many centuries, this has seen significant male and female rulers, philosophers, scientists, poets, authors and more. While their extraordinary lives are often fascinating, the biographies of these great characters have often been incredibly diverse and varied. In this article, we take a look at some of Germany's most illustrious people and explore their fascinating life stories.

Ottokar II of Bohemia

Ottokar II, also known as Ottokar Premysl, was the seventh King of Bohemia from 1253-1278 CE. During his reign, Ottokar II expanded the country's borders to its largest size in the centuries before him and is remembered as one of the most successful rulers in the region's history. After coming to power Otookar II immediately began a series of military conquests, capturing much of Austria and the Czech Republic.

His success was not just confined to military affairs however, as he also enacted numerous reformations in economic and agricultural matters within his kingdom and improved the legal system. Unsurprisingly, his reign as King has often been looked back upon fondly by the people of Bohemia to this day.
Waldemar @ Unsplash

Goethe

One of the most influential figures in German history, Goethe needs little introduction. He was an acclaimed poet, novelist, dramatist, scientist, statesman and more. His most notable works include The Sorrows of Young Werther, Faust, and Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship. Goethe was born in the city of Frankfurt am Main, the son of a wealthy patrician family. From an early age, he showed an aptitude and fascination with poetry, literature and science.

He was accepted into the University of Leipzig at the age of 16 and went on to become Germany's most renowned author, pioneering the Sturm und Drang movement and becoming a major figure in the Age of Reason. His legacy lives on until today with his works still widely read, performed and discussed.

Karl Marx

Karl Marx was one of the most influential and important figures of the 19th century. A philosopher and revolutionary, Marx was a key thinker, writer and architect of communism. His ideas and theories were among the major catalysts of the industrial revolution and beyond. He was born in Trier in Germany in 1818.

Inspired by the likes of Hegelian philosophy, Karl Marx developed his own ideas about economics, political economy and philosophy which laid the foundations for the proletarian revolution. He spoke out vehemently against the capitalist system of exploitation and bias and firmly believed that a worker-led class revolution was the only way to true liberation of the proletariat. His theories live to this day and the results of his work can still be felt in almost every corner of the world.

Marie Curie

The only person in history to have won Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields, Marie Curie was an acclaimed physicist and chemist. She was born in Poland but studied in both Warsaw and later Sorbornne in Paris. A ground breaking scientist, Curie made major contributions to the fields of radioactivity and chemistry. She discovered both of the radioactive elements polonium and radium and also was heavily involved in research into the effects of ionising radiation.
Simon Infanger @ Unsplash

Her most impressive feat however, is arguably that she managed such accomplishments in a field largely dominated by men. She was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and remains a beacon of inspiration to the many women in science today.

Bertolt Brecht

One of the most influential and important writers and dramatists of the 20th Century, Bertolt Brecht was the leader of the influential artistic movement the Berliner Ensemble. Brecht wrote some of the most famous play of the era, such as The Life of Galileo, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, and Mother Courage and Her Children.

He is perhaps most famous for his distinctive literary style, which combined elements of expressionism, epic theatre, and alienation to explore the social and political issues of the time. His most lasting legacy however, may simply be his unwavering dedication to defending the rights of the working classes and standing against oppressive authority.

Klaus Henrich

A philosopher and literary figure, Klaus Henrich was born in Berlin in 1929 and lost the sight in his left eye aged just seven. He studied philosophy and linguistics at the University of Berlin, after which he went on to teach at the Universities of Münster and Kiel. An acclaimed philosopher, Henrich is best known for his theories on alienation, creativity, religion and the role of art in society.

In his writing, he often sought to bring together many of the various branches of thought in the twentieth century to present a unified view of the world. He saw this as being essential in reconciling the crisis in values in the post-war era and revolutionizing the way we look at the world, art and ourselves.

Suggested Keywords for Images