Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was born on 14 March 1879. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and best known scientists and intellectuals of all times. He grew up in a jewish family and from was a very successful pupil in elementary school. Einstein had begun to show a talent for mathematics. So, in 1896 the just 17 years-old genius srated studying at university. Four years later he achieved his diploma as a specialized teacher of mathematics and physics. Einstein is the founder of the theory of relativity which was first published in 1905. This theory contains the formula E=mc2. In 1921 he got the Nobel Prize of physics for his achievements in science. In 1999 Einstein was elected the greatest physicist of all times by 100 leading scientists. Einstein died in the USA at the age of 76 years on 18 April 1955.

Martin Luther

He was born in 1483. The priest and professor of theology initiated the Protestant reformation of church in Europe. In his 95 Theses he wanted to show that you cannot get God`s grace and be absolved from your sins just by paying money to the church. This was a revolutionary progressive thought at the time. But Pope Leo X demanded Luther to retract all of his theses. Luther refused and was excommunicated in 1521.

Later he translated the Bible into German (instead of Latin) and made it more accessible and generally understandable, especially for ordinary people. Like this he also created a standard version of the German language and influenced the translation of the Bible into English, the King James Bible.

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Johann Sebastian Bach

The famous German composer and organist was born on 31 March 1685 and died on 28 July 1750. He spent his youth in Eisenach. In 1703 he became the organist in a church in Arnstadt. Bach had several disputes with the church. In 1708 he moved to Weimar where he composed most of his music. Bach was married and had six children. In 1723 he became the cantor of famous St. Thomas Church in Leipzig.

Bach`s most famous music - click the name to listen:

Brandenburgische Konzerte

Fuge

Weihnachtsoratorium

Pope Benedikt XVI

(born Joseph Alois Josef Ratzinger on 16 April 1927) is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the head of the Catholic church and, as such, Souvereign of the Vatican City State.

He succeeded John Paul II and was elected on 19 April 2005 in a papal conclave, celebrated his Papal Inauguration Mass on 24 April 2005.

A native of Bavaria, Pope Benedikt has both German and Vatican citizenship.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

was one of the most famous German poets and is one of the best-known writers in the world. He wrote beautiful poetry, but also drama, novels and novellas. His drama "Faust" is read and performed all over the world.
But he did not only write fictional texts, he also published lots of scientific texts.
Goethe was born on 28 August 1749 and died on 22 March 1832.

As a child he got a good education and later he studied law.

He was a universal genius and he did research in many different fields of science. He was a politician at the same time.

Still today students in Germany and in many other countries learn about Goethe`s poems and plays.