Germany is known for its groundbreaking inventions. The car, the airplane, the Computer and the jet engine were invented here. But also a lot of small things of everyday life, saw the light of the world.
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10 surprising German inventions
The Punch
Once he was the king of the office, but in the age of digital data storage, he lost his supremacy. And yet the Punch of the Moment to a Large was determined, as Matthias Theel invented him, and Frederick of the sun cover him on 14. November 1886 patent. In addition to the sun cover-file folder he brought with his the rhythmic clack-clack of variety in the monotonous office environment.
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10 surprising German inventions
MP3
As invisible as ubiquitous: MP3 only wish was idea to the inventor Karlheinz Brandenburg had, in the early 1980s, in a flash of inspiration. Be MP3, or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III revolutionized the Audio world. Now you could encode pieces, compact and easy to store, play and transfer. The music exchange stock exchanges called as Napster on the Plan.
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10 surprising German inventions
The electric drill
By the way, you became the Symbol of the real man, and a tool shed without them is inconceivable. Although the drill was invented in 1889 in Australia, but the company from Ludwigsburg, Wilhelm Emil Fein developed in 1895, a portable variant and gave the man the boundless freedom. Without this drill, he would have repaired in your own home is never so much itself.
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10 surprising German inventions
Fanta
In the 2. World war wanted to meet the American, the German hard – and imposed a Coca-Cola boycott. No Problem for Max Keith: Germany Coca-Cola-the Chef invented for the German market, just a new shower head with ingredients such as whey and Apple pulp. It was the birth of a cult drink – the recipe has changed since 1941, added the teeth, but still.
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10 surprising German inventions
The Coffee Filter
In each of us there is an inventor – and in 1908, the hour of the housewife Melitta Bentz, who pondered why your coffee is always so bitter-tasted suggested. So she experimented with an improvised Filter made of paper – and was rewarded with an aromatic Cup of coffee. Bentz had the idea patented. Today, about 3300 people in the family company “Melitta Group KG”.
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10 surprising German inventions
The Tape
As if it was not enough that he developed a Nivea and Labello, wanted to invent of pharmacist Oscar Troplowitz definitely something that should crown his legacy: And so the tape was created. Small repairs were with his help henceforth never more like before. In 1901, finally, Troplowitz launched the band-aid adhesive plaster, the since then, countless broken children knee graced.
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10 surprising German inventions
The Accordion
Although it is associated with the Instrument rather with the French Chanson, it was actually invented in 1822 by Christian Friedrich Ludwig Buschmann. The instrument maker from Thuringia not only developed the accordion, the harmonica is attributed to him. By now, the accordion conquered the world, the street corner, as well as the concert hall.
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10 surprising German inventions
The Christmas Tree
Finland is entitled to claim the Nicholas of itself, but the Christmas tree comes from Germany. In fashion, the decorated fir-tree came first, around 1800, in the wealthy burgher houses from the end of the 19th century. Century part anywhere for Christmas eve. While we decorated the tree earlier, only with fruits, nuts and candles, in terms of Christmas tree decorations today, hardly any limits.
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10 surprising German inventions
Studs with screws
Although the prototype of the football Shoe was invented in the UK, it was Adidas’s founder, Adi Dassler, studs invented in 1954, the ground-breaking technology with screw-in. What contributed no doubt to the world Cup victory of the Federal Republic in this year. ADI’s older brother, Rudolf Dassler, who worked on a competitor of Puma, was angry – he claimed the invention for himself.
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10 surprising German inventions
The Meter
You love it or you hate it: Since then, the taximeter in 1891 in Berlin, was invented by Friedrich Wilhelm Gustav Bruhn for the automotive pioneer Gottlieb Daimler, it has driven some of the blood pressure in the height of the passenger and also at some of the drivers. Because in 2017 you could manipulate the devices in order to use the income tax-free. Fiscal taximeter is the name of the new apparatus.
-
10 surprising German inventions
The Punch
Once he was the king of the office, but in the age of digital data storage, he lost his supremacy. And yet the Punch of the Moment to a Large was determined, as Matthias Theel invented him, and Frederick of the sun cover him on 14. November 1886 patent. In addition to the sun cover-file folder he brought with his the rhythmic clack-clack of variety in the monotonous office environment.
-
10 surprising German inventions
MP3
As invisible as ubiquitous: MP3 only wish was idea to the inventor Karlheinz Brandenburg had, in the early 1980s, in a flash of inspiration. Be MP3, or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III revolutionized the Audio world. Now you could encode pieces, compact and easy to store, play and transfer. The music exchange stock exchanges called as Napster on the Plan.
-
10 surprising German inventions
The electric drill
By the way, you became the Symbol of the real man, and a tool shed without them is inconceivable. Although the drill was invented in 1889 in Australia, but the company from Ludwigsburg, Wilhelm Emil Fein developed in 1895, a portable variant and gave the man the boundless freedom. Without this drill, he would have repaired in your own home is never so much itself.
-
10 surprising German inventions
Fanta
In the 2. World war wanted to meet the American, the German hard – and imposed a Coca-Cola boycott. No Problem for Max Keith: Germany Coca-Cola-the Chef invented for the German market, just a new shower head with ingredients such as whey and Apple pulp. It was the birth of a cult drink – the recipe has changed since 1941, added the teeth, but still.
-
10 surprising German inventions
The Coffee Filter
In each of us there is an inventor – and in 1908, the hour of the housewife Melitta Bentz, who pondered why your coffee is always so bitter-tasted suggested. So she experimented with an improvised Filter made of paper – and was rewarded with an aromatic Cup of coffee. Bentz had the idea patented. Today, about 3300 people in the family company “Melitta Group KG”.
-
10 surprising German inventions
The Tape
As if it was not enough that he developed a Nivea and Labello, wanted to invent of pharmacist Oscar Troplowitz definitely something that should crown his legacy: And so the tape was created. Small repairs were with his help henceforth never more like before. In 1901, finally, Troplowitz launched the band-aid adhesive plaster, the since then, countless broken children knee graced.
-
10 surprising German inventions
The Accordion
Although it is associated with the Instrument rather with the French Chanson, it was actually invented in 1822 by Christian Friedrich Ludwig Buschmann. The instrument maker from Thuringia not only developed the accordion, the harmonica is attributed to him. By now, the accordion conquered the world, the street corner, as well as the concert hall.
-
10 surprising German inventions
The Christmas Tree
Finland is entitled to claim the Nicholas of itself, but the Christmas tree comes from Germany. In fashion, the decorated fir-tree came first, around 1800, in the wealthy burgher houses from the end of the 19th century. Century part anywhere for Christmas eve. While we decorated the tree earlier, only with fruits, nuts and candles, in terms of Christmas tree decorations today, hardly any limits.
-
10 surprising German inventions
Studs with screws
Although the prototype of the football Shoe was invented in the UK, it was Adidas’s founder, Adi Dassler, studs invented in 1954, the ground-breaking technology with screw-in. What contributed no doubt to the world Cup victory of the Federal Republic in this year. ADI’s older brother, Rudolf Dassler, who worked on a competitor of Puma, was angry – he claimed the invention for himself.
-
10 surprising German inventions
The Meter
You love it or you hate it: Since then, the taximeter in 1891 in Berlin, was invented by Friedrich Wilhelm Gustav Bruhn for the automotive pioneer Gottlieb Daimler, it has driven some of the blood pressure in the height of the passenger and also at some of the drivers. Because in 2017 you could manipulate the devices in order to use the income tax-free. Fiscal taximeter is the name of the new apparatus.
They call Germany the Land of Poets and thinkers. We think of the poet and naturalist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe or Albert Einstein, the inventor of the theory of relativity. He changed in 1905 to the world the views of space and time. Germany has produced many inventors with brilliant ideas. Here are some outstanding examples are:
Land
Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach build in 1885, the first functional internal combustion engine, and attach it to a Bicycle. This “riding car” was presented to the Public at the 1889 world exhibition in Paris. A year later, Daimler invents in collaboration with the engineer Carl Benz, a three-wheeled motor carriage, the power in the 1920s, the humanity and the travel time is shortened.
The first motorcycle in the world
In the air
Aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal designed the first flight and 1894 experiments with his hang glider, the first successful flight. Henrich Focke was regarded as the inventor of the modern helicopter. After many years of Development, the engineer will first fully operational helicopter in 1936 in Berlin. Also in the air travel to today’s used jet engine is the invention of a German researcher. The physicist Hans von Ohain had the idea for this new type of engine. In August 1939, a jet-powered aircraft, a Heinkel machine, the first rounds on Rostock rotates.
Otto Lilienthal’s Flying Machine
A long list of inventions
Konrad Zuse developed in 1941, the first functioning Computer, and is also the Initiator of today’s digital age. The first audiotape by Fritz Pfleumer in 1928, constructed the device. He had discovered that you can record with magnetized paper, sound waves in very good quality. Conrad Röntgen surprised 1895 the humanity with a device that makes our body transparent. Until today, it is used in medicine.
One could continue the list of German inventors and inventions – with book printing by Johannes Gutenberg, the bacteriology of Robert Koch or the refrigerator by Carl von Linde. But it is also a number of small:
Our photo gallery shows inventions from Germany, which, though less phenomenal, but from our everyday life.
Even more content about German traditions and characteristics you can find on our site dw.com/MeettheGermans_de.