The Most Important Dates for the Einbürgerungstest
The Einbürgerungstest regularly contains questions about historical years. When was the Berlin Wall built? When was the euro introduced? When did the Second World War end? Around 10 to 15 questions revolve around specific dates from German history. Anyone who knows these dates collects safe points. In this article you'll find all the important dates neatly sorted; with tips to make them easier to memorize.
National Socialism (1933–1945)
The period of National Socialism is a central topic in the Einbürgerungstest. You should know the most important events and their dates.
| Year | Event | Memory tip |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | Hitler comes to power (seizure of power) | Double 3 = double trouble. 33 sounds threatening. |
| 1935 | Nuremberg Race Laws | Two years after the seizure of power: 33 + 2 = 35. Discrimination becomes law. |
| 1938 | November pogroms (Reichspogromnacht, 9 November) | 38 = 33 + 5. Five years after the seizure of power, the synagogues burn. |
| 1939 | Start of the Second World War (1 September) | One year after the pogroms: 38 + 1 = 39. The war begins. |
| 1945 | End of the Second World War (8 May), liberation | The war lasted 6 years: 39 + 6 = 45. May = the war is over. |
Remember: the years of the Nazi era all lie close together: 33, 35, 38, 39, 45. If you memorize 1933 as your starting point, you can derive the others.
Post-war period (1945–1949)
After the war, Germany was divided. The post-war period was shaped by reconstruction and the emergence of two German states.
| Year | Event | Memory tip |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Berlin Airlift (June 1948 – May 1949) | 48 – the Allies look after Berlin and fly in aid. |
| 1949 | Founding of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) on 23 May and the GDR on 7 October | 49 – four years after the end of the war, two new states emerge. Think: 45 + 4 = 49. |
Remember: 1949 is a key year. Many exam questions are tied to this date: Grundgesetz, first government, division of Germany.
GDR & Cold War (1949–1989)
The division of Germany shaped people's lives for more than 40 years. These events are especially important in the test.
| Year | Event | Memory tip |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | Uprising in the GDR (17 June) | 53 = half a century + 3. Just four years after the founding of the GDR there is already protest. |
| 1961 | Construction of the Berlin Wall (13 August) | 61 – the 6 and the 1 look like a wall with a watchtower. Or: 12 years after the division, it becomes visible. |
| 1989 | Fall of the Berlin Wall (9 November) | 89 = the wall stood for 28 years (61 + 28 = 89). And the 9 in November fits with 9 November. |
Remember: 9 November is a fateful day in German history: 1938 pogroms, 1989 fall of the wall. Both dates come up on the test. More about the questions on antisemitism and Jewish life in the article The 10 New Antisemitism Questions.
Reunification
After the fall of the wall it didn't take long until Germany became one country again.
🎯 Not sure if you meet the requirements? Take our free Quick-Check in 2 minutes and get an initial assessment. Start now →
| Year | Event | Memory tip |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | German reunification (3 October – Day of German Unity) | One year after the fall of the wall: 89 + 1 = 90. The 3rd of October is today the national holiday. |
Remember: 3 October 1990 is the German national holiday. This question comes up almost every time on the test; memorize the date well!
European Union
Germany is a member of the EU, and there are questions about that on the test too.
| Year | Event | Memory tip |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Introduction of the euro as cash (1 January) | 2002 – the double zero in the middle matches the round euro coins. Or: "zero-two = new currency". |
All dates at a glance
Here is the complete overview again; perfect for review:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1933 | Hitler's seizure of power |
| 1935 | Nuremberg Race Laws |
| 1938 | November pogroms (9 November) |
| 1939 | Start of the Second World War |
| 1945 | End of the Second World War (8 May) |
| 1948 | Berlin Airlift |
| 1949 | Founding of the FRG and the GDR |
| 1953 | Uprising in the GDR (17 June) |
| 1961 | Construction of the Berlin Wall (13 August) |
| 1989 | Fall of the Berlin Wall (9 November) |
| 1990 | German reunification (3 October) |
| 2002 | Introduction of the euro |
Study tip: go through the table once a day. After a week, every date will stick. And don't forget: in the real test you have four answer options; you can often rule out wrong years, even if you're not 100 % sure.
Bereit zum Üben?
Alle 463 offiziellen BAMF-Fragen kostenlos, mit Prüfungssimulation und Übersetzungshilfe in 16 Sprachen.
Jetzt kostenlos üben