March 3
Birthdays
1804: Johann Philipp Abresch
Johann Philipp Abresch (1804-1861) was a German democrat who first put the colors in order of Schwarz – Rot – Gold (black – red – gold) and made flag with those colors and the words “Deutschlands Wiedergeburt” (Germany’s Rebirth) The flag was carried at the Hambacher Fest 1832, and is located at the Hambacher Schloss in a permanent exhibition. Read more about the German flag here.
1849: Leonhard Tietz
Leonhard Tietz (1849-1914) was a German merchant and department store entrepreneur. He had great success because he sold high quality goods at set prices if payment was made in cash. He also let customers make returns. His sons continued the business after Tietz died in 1914. During the Nazi regime, the Tietz family had to sell their business for pennies on the dollar because of their Jewish background. Galerie Kaufhof originated from the Leonhard Tietz GmbH while Hertie came out of the department store founded by Oscar Tietz (1858-1923), brother of Leonhard Tietz.
1924: Lys Assia
Lys Assia (1924-2018) was a Swiss Schlagersängerin who won the first Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson (today Eurovision Song Contest) in 1956 with the song “Refrain”.
1928: Gudrun Pausewang
Gudrun Pausewang (1928-2020) was a German writer who wrote mostly children’s and young adult fiction. Her most known books are Die letzten Kinder von Schwebenborn (1983) and Die Wolke (1987) which address the consequences of a ultimate MCA. Pausewang has been awarded many prizes among them the Order of Merit (1999) and the German Children’s Literature Award for her life work (2017).
Death Anniversaries
1706: Johann Pachelbel
Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706) was a German composer of the Baroque era. He worked as an organist in several cities before returning to Nuremberg in 1695 as an organist for the St. Sebald church. Because of his contribution to the south German organ tradition, the city of Nuremberg awards the Johann-Pachelbel Prize to junior organists.
1714: Hans Carl von Carlowitz
Hans Carl von Carlowitz (1645-1714) was a German cameralist (type of accountant), and in charge of mining offices in the Ore Mountains. Shortly before his death, he published a book about forestry and arboriculture. He is credited with formulating the principles of forestry sustainability.
2003: Horst Buchholz
Horst Buchholz (1933-2003) was a German actor. In 1943, he was sent to Silesia (Kinderlandverschickung) and found himself in a Czechoslovakian foster home after the war. He and a friend found their way back to Berlin in 1946. Buchholz started acting in theater productions and worked as a voice actor. In order to focus on his movie career he left school without a diploma in 1950. He starred in many movies, and in TV shows in his later career. International audiences will know him from the U.S. films “The Magnificent Seven” (1960), and “One, two, three” (1961). Because of his looks, he was also called “German James Dean”.
1808: Johann Christian Fabricius
Johann Christian Fabricius (1745-1808) was a German zoologist and is regarded the father of entomology. He traveled extensively and was in contact with many natural scientist, though he also was a professor for economics at the university of Copenhagen and later Kiel. In 1767, he viewed the insect collection of William Hunter and wrote around 400 first descriptions.
Seasonal Events and Holidays
2025: Rosenmontag, Shrove Monday
Historical and Cultural Events
1866: Gustav Gödecke, owner of a paint and dye company, founded the Goedecke & Co company together with his nephew. The new company sold essential oils and essences. They were very successful, also in the U.S., and in 1898 expanded their business with pharmaceuticals. Today, Gödecke is part of the Pfizer corporation.
19o5: The German zoologist and Fritz Schaudinn and the German dermatologist Erich Hoffmann of the Charité in Berlin discovered the syphilis pathogen, spirochaeta pallida.
1975: The German government releases 5 political prisoners in exchange for Peter Lorenz. The politician had been kidnapped by the terrorist group Bewegung 2. Juni on February 27. The left-extreme group formed in response to the killing of Benno Ohnesorg by a police officer on June 2, 1967 during a protest. Their criminal activities included bombings, bank robberies, and kidnappings. This is the only time, the German government gave in to the demands of terrorists.
2002: Switzerland decides per referendum (Volksentscheid) to join the United Nations.
1906: The Naturkundemuseum Leipzig opened. The Natural History Museum houses collections from the areas of geology, paleontology, mineralogy, botany, zoology, and archaeology. It has the largest collection of taxidermied animals by Hermann H. ter Meer, a Dutch taxidermist and pioneer of modern taxidermy. Find out more here: www.naturkundemuseum.leipzig.de.
Action Days and Invented Holidays
Mulled Wine Day: Find out more about Glühwein here.
