The first electric trams! Badge

The first electric trams!

The first electric trams!
May 16 1881
First electric tram(Source: Siemens)

The Lichterfelde electric railway starts operation

In 1880, local opposition foiled the plans of Werner Siemens to build an elevated electric railway along Friedrichstrasse in the centre of Berlin. Turning his attention to a new project, he decided to build a tram line linking the Central Prussian Cadet School in Lichterfelde to the centre of Berlin. He had a ready-made customer base, as the presence of the most important German military academy in Prussia had established Lichterfelde as a thriving town and its inhabitants needed a fast and affordable means of getting to the centre of Berlin.

A temporary 2.4 km light railway from Berlin to Lichterfelde had been built in the 1870s to transport the materials needed to build the military academy. Taking advantage of this previously levelled ground, the company Siemens und Halske was quickly able to open the “Electric Railway in Lichterfelde” on 16 May 1881. It is considered to be the first electrically operated tram line in the world.

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The whole year at a glance

The Frankfurt Parliament convenes
May 18
Artikel erst ab morgen verfügbar
First woman German Minister-President
May 19 1993
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The “Magdeburg Wedding”
May 20 1631
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Happy birthday Albrecht Dürer!
May 21 1471
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Workers of Germany unite!
May 22 1875
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The Basic Law!
May 23 1949
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The origin of statutory retirement insurance
May 24 1889
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The Peace of Merseburg 
May 25 1013
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A Triumph for Nero Claudius
May 26 17 AD
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The Hambach Festival
May 27 1832
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The Volkswagen: cars for the common man!
May 28 1937
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The end of food rationing in Germany
May 29 1958
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The end of nuclear power
May 30 2011
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The Treasure of Priam
May 31 1873
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The Pill!
Jun 1 1961
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Assassination attempt on the German Emperor!
Jun 2 1878
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The Eschede train disaster
Jun 3 1998
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The Weavers’ Revolt
Jun 4 1844
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The Allied Control Council begins its work
Jun 5 1945
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D-Day
Jun 6 1944
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Workers on the boards of companies in the coal and steel industry
Jun 7 1951
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Foundation of the German Confederation
Jun 8 1815
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Voting at 18!
Jun 9 1972
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The Lidice massacre
Jun 10 1942
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Spy trade on the “Bridge of Spies”
Jun 11 1985
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The birth of the bicycle
Jun 12 1817
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Death of the “Fairytale King”
Jun 13 1886
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Anne Frank begins her diary
Jun 14 1942
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The invention of the beach chair
Jun 15 1882
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The death of Wernher von Braun
Jun 16 1977
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The People’s Uprising in the DDR
Jun 17 1953
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End of the “rump parliament”
Jun 18 1849
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Max Schmeling’s greatest fight
Jun 19 1936
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The Battle of the Catalaunian Plains
Jun 20 451
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The D-Mark is here!
Jun 21 1948
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“Operation Barbarossa”
Jun 22 1941
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“von” is now just a name
Jun 23 1920
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The wrapping of the Reichstag
Jun 24 1995
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5% to enter the German Parliament
Jun 25 1953
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“Ich bin ein Berliner”
Jun 26 1963
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Hanover wins a battle but loses its independence
Jun 27 1866
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The Treaty of Versailles
Jun 28 1919
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Reform of paragraph 218
Jun 29 1995
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The “Night of the Long Knives”
Jun 30 1934
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Discover history

Visit the unique Deutschlandmuseum and experience immersive history

2000 Jahre
12 Epochen
1 Stunde