Notes on Gerrmany

Dr Sergelde Wessilitsky Merriman 1882 - 1957

1.Dresden, Saxony. An Historical Outline.

About 1000 A.D mention was made of the March of Meissen.

From 1216 mention was made of Dresden being founded as a city in accordance with German Law.

Dresden became the chief city and capital of Saxony.

Silver was mined in the area from the 13th century. There was involvement with the Hanseatic League and trade in the Baltic Sea area from the 14th century.

Saxony was part of the German Empire during the Middle Ages.

Dresden on the River Elbe was involved with the Hussite religious campaigns during the 14th century.

The University of Leipzig was founded in 1409.

Leipzig was involved with early capitalist trade associations in particular with Frankfurt, Nurember gand Breslau.

The Peasant Revoltof 1525 involved Saxony south of Dresden and Leipzig.

Wittenberg associated with Religious Discord (16th and 17th centuries) and Martin Lutherlies in the vicinity.

Saxony was allied to Sweden in 1632 (Note: the Peace of West Phalia of 1648).

Dresden was the capital of Saxony from the 16th century or before.

The Sovereign of Saxony was traditionally and practically an Elector of the Holy Roman Empire from early times until1806,

Saxony was involved in the Seven Years War: 17566 —17683.

Second Silesian War 1744 -1745,

The Peace of Dresden 1745. Cession of Silesiaby Austria.Bavariawas recognised by Austria.

The Royal Porcelain factory at Meissen near to Dresden was founded earlyin the18th century.It was the first fine porcelain to be made in Europe.

Our family still own some of this early Meissen porcelain.It was made in the Royal Porcelain Factory prior to 1800.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the King of Saxony was allied to France under the Emperor Napoleon.

At the Battle of the Nations, close to Leipzig in 1813 the French were decisively defeated by the armies of the Allies; Russia, Austria and Prussia.

In 1871 with the declaration of the German Empire, Saxony became an integral part of the Empire.

During the Second World War 1939-1945 the British Royal Air Force carried out a very large bombing raid on Dresden and its vicinity in 1945.This was one of the longest range bombing raids undertaken and it demonstrated the great power of this form of warfare.It was understood that the effect of the raid upon the whole city was devastating.

Since the Second World War much re-building has taken place.

Dresden was the birthplace of Dr Sergei de Wesselitsky Bojidarovitch in 1882 on the 31st August.

2.Leipzig Historical Notes

As a town Leipzig originated from a Slav community at this site before the year 1000 A.D.

Important trading fairs were founded here in 1170. These were continued throughout the history of the place.

In 1408 the Universityof Leipzigwas founded by students from Praguein Bohemia.

In 1631 Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden,defeated the Austrian Imperial Army under Tilly nearby.

During the Thirty Years War the city suffered from six sieges.

Towards the end of the Napoleonic Wars the french Emperor Napoleon I suffered a decisive defeat here.During the Battle of the Nations near here in 1813 the Allied armies of Russia, Austria and Prussia fought for four days to secure their important victory.France was then invaded and Paris was occupied by these armies.

In 1815 the German Confederation was set up. Leipzig was admitted in due time to Zollverein,(Customs Union of Germany)in 1834.

From the end of the 17th century the book trade and printing grew in importance.

These together with book publishing became of great importance from 1825 onwards.

In 1839 the early and important Dresden to Leipzig railway was constructed.

From 1853 the important piano manufacturing industry began here.

Leipzig became an important musical centre for Europe.

From the 18th century Leipzig gradually became the centre of literary activity in Germany.

The city continually grew in commercial and industrial importance.

Notes on Germany

In general terms it is known the Roman Empire had its eastern and northern limits roughly along the line of the River Rhine and the River Danube.For parts of the duration of Roman Rule its territories extended a limited distance also to the north of the River Danube. North and east of this riverline was the area later to be known as Germany.

The Holy Roman Empire has been described as being neither holy or Roman nor anEmpire. In a few words one could say that its territories covered Germanic lands for a period of about a thousand years from the time of Charles the Great known as Charlemagne in 800 to 1806 when it came to an end during the NapoleonicWars.

The Holy Roman Empire was led by a Christian Emperor who was elected by seven Electors, traditionally as follows: Rulers of Hanover, Saxony, Brandenburg, Austria,County Palatine of the Rhine, Bavaria and the Archbishop of Treves. Traditionally the Emperor acted in the interests of Germanic people and provided a focus for National feeling. During all this time Germany was never united.

Germany More Recently

Germany has been divided much longer than it has been united. The Teutonic Knights of the Middle Ages ruled a Kingdom that stretched all the way eastwards to Russia.The HanseaticTrading League brought some prosperity to parts of Northern Germany and to neighbouring ports too.

In 1815 after the Napoleonic Wars the European Powers setup the German Confederation. This Included most of Prussia, Austria,and what is now

Czechoslovakia.

After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871,Bismarckian Germany spread all the way eastwards, also into Poland.

After the First World War Germany was reduced in size, in particular losing Alsace, Lorraine,etc, at the Treaty of Versailles in 1919.

The World War of 1939-1945 left the country divided and shorn of disputed lands in Poland across the Oder—Neisseline.

Now in 1990 there is a move towards some form of German re—unification