Lands of the German Empire and Before

o-germanlands1Most countries, if not every country, in the world have experienced ebbs and flows in their political boundaries and territories. Some countries and fallen forever to be replaced by new ones. However, both as a people and a nations, few have probably seen as much change in the past 1200 years, as the German people have experienced in the area of modern day Germany. Over the centuries literally hundreds of small kingdoms and territories existed, swelling and falling through war and domination. Beginning as early as 843, larger territories were broken up into hundreds of small lands. The people of these various lands spoke a similar language and shared many of the same customs; yet, no leader could bring them under the control of a single king or government. The squabbling and constant border changes lasted until 1871, when the German Empire was established.

As genealogy is about people and places, when places change, you need a guide to provide direction. A very popular book on the subject of political boundary changes in Germany, and of immense use to the genealogist with German ancestry, is The Lands of the German Empire and Before. This book examines the history and maps of the ever changing lands which comprise, for the most part, today’s Germany. Author Wendy K. Uncapher has take the map of the German Empire and broken it down by individual states. She then examines each state in detail, providing maps and key historical facts for each. Uncapher also takes a detailed look at Prussia, dedicating a chapter to describing exactly what and where it was.. Chapter 3 of the books takes a quick look at the overall map of the German area through major historical periods, broken down as follows:

  • Holy Roman Empire
  • Confederation of the Rhine
  • German Confederation
  • North German Confederation
  • German Empire
  • Weimar Republic
  • Third Reich
  • Allied Occupation
  • Federal Republic of Germany and German Democratic Republic
  • Federal Republic of Germany

To genealogists researching their Germany heritage, especially prior to 1919, The Lands of the German Empire and Before is an indispensable tools for finding place names for cities and lands which have come and gone, or may exist today under a different name. With historic timelines, points of interest, and alternate names, this book is not lacking in interest or useful information.

Table of Contents

Preface

Turning Points for the German Empire

Chapter 1: States of the German Empire

Chapter 2: Prussia

Chapter 3: Eras of German Political History

Lands of the Holy Roman Empire

Rivers and Ports

Rulers of Major German States and Dynasty Families

Glossary

Internet Sources for Town Lists

Gazetteers

Bibliography

Index

Following is a List of Maps provided in the book (note: the individual states are grouped together as Kreise Maps covering pages 9–70):

  • Allied Occupation
  • Berg, Mark, Kleve, Julich
  • Bishopric and Archbishopric Territories
  • Black Forest
  • Confederation of the Rhine 1806–1814
  • Europe in 1871
  • Federal Republic of German Democratic Republic 1949–1990
  • Federal Republic of Germany (Deutschland) 1990–present
  • German Confederation 18115–1866
  • German Empire 1871–1918
  • Grand Duchy of Berg
  • Grand Duchy of Frankfurt
  • Grand Duchy of Warsaw 1807–1815
  • Grenzmark Posen-Westpreussen 1918–1938
  • Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation 800–1806
  • Kingdom of Westphalia
  • Kreise Maps (individual states)
  • Luxemburg
  • North German Confederation 1867–1870
  • Partitions of Poland 1772, 1793, 1795
  • Polish Corridor
  • Prussia, Growth of
  • Rivers and Ports
  • Saarland
  • Schaumburg
  • Stem Duchies 843
  • Sudentenland
  • Swedish Land in Germany
  • Teutonic Knight’s Land
  • Third Reich 1933–1945
  • Weimar Republic 1919–1933

 

Get a copy of The Lands of the German Empire and Before for your own or a society library; available at Family Roots Publishing; Price: 24.50.

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