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February
21 in German History
--------------------------------- February 21, 1866
Birth of August von Wassermann in Bamberg,
Germany. Wassermann was the bacteriologist who discovered the
blood-serum test for syphilis, the Wassermann test. He worked
at the Robert Koch Institute of Infectious Diseases in
Berlin.
February 21, 1867
Birth of Otto Hermann Kahn in Mannheim,
Germany. A banker, Kahn was stationed at the London branch of
the Deutsche Bank. In 1893 he moved to the United States and
became a partner in the firm of Kuhn, Loeb and Co. He became
a key figure in railroad financial reorganization. When the
Metropolitan Opera encountered financial difficulties, he
became involved and was a heavy donor. It was he who brought
Arturo Toscanini to the company.
February 21, 1916
The German Fifth Army attacks the area of
Verdun. In spite of repeated attacks during the spring and
summer, the French hold and by December 18 the lines are back
to roughly the configuration before the assault. (World War
I)
February 21, 1919
Death of Kurt Eisner in Munich, Germany.
Eisner was a journalist and member of the SPD. In 1918 he
organized and led a revolt which overthrew the Bavarian
monarchy and established the Bavarian Republic. Eisner became
the first prime minister of the Bavarian Republic. He was
assassinated in 1919 by a right wing student.
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