1946 in Germany

Events in the year 1946 in Germany.

Events

January

• January:
• German steel production limited to 25% of prewar level by the Allied Control Council.
• British occupation zone denazification responsibilities turned over to the Germans.
• Soviet 2nd Shock Army returned to the Soviet Union.
• 8 January: Braunschweiger Zeitung founded.

February

• 1 February: Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra founded.
• 5 February: Soviet 47th Army disbanded.
• 20 February: The worst explosion in German history kills more than 300 coal miners in Bergkamen.
• 21 February: Die Zeit founded two days later.

March

• March:
• Law for Liberation from National Socialism and Militarism turns denazification responsibility over to the Germans.
• Seventh United States Army inactivated.
• Bamberg Symphony founded.
• 2 March: Rheinische Post founded.

April

• April: Badisches Volksecho founded.
• 2 April: Die Welt founded.
• 3 April: Lübecker Nachrichten founded.
• 8 April: Sozialistische Einheit ceased publication.
• 13 April: Sächsische Zeitung founded.
• 21 April:
• Merger of the KPD and SPD into the Socialist Unity Party of Germany.
• Deutsche Volkszeitung ceased publication.
• 23 April:
• Neues Deutschland founded.
• Das Volk ceased publication.

May

• 16 May: Handelsblatt founded.
• 17 May: DEFA film studio founded.
• 20 May: Lausitzer Rundschau founded.

June

• June: Gehlen Organization established.
• 29 June: Provisional German administration under Soviet supervision established in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
• 30 June: June 1946 Bavarian state election.

July

• July: Europa-Archiv founded.
• 1 July: ABC-Zeitung founded.

August

• 20 August: Dissolution of the Wehrmacht.

September

• 6 September: Restatement of Policy on Germany.
• 16 September: BRIXMIS established.

October

• 1 October: Nuremberg trials conclude.
• 20 October:
• 1946 Berlin state election.
• 1946 Soviet occupation zone state elections.
• Rhine Province disestablished.

November

• 13 November: Münchner Merkur founded.

December

• 1 December: December 1946 Bavarian state election.
• 5 December: Hamburg Ravensbrück trials begin.
• 11 December: Hörzu founded.
• 21 December: Middle Rhine Football Association founded.
• Christmas: First edition of Auto motor und sport appears.

Undated

• Average intake per day of 1,080 kilocalories.
• German Association for Housing, Urban and Spatial Development founded.
• Hansawelle founded.
• Südwest Presse founded.
• West German Athletics Championships established.
• Westphalian Football and Athletics Association founded.

Births

• 10 January – Dieter Fersch, German alpine skier
• 23 February — Bodo Hauser, German journalist and writer (died 2004)
• 25 February — Franz Xaver Kroetz, German dramatist
• 27 March — Olaf Malolepski, German musician (Die Flippers)
• 16 April – Mordechai Geldman, Israeli poet and writer (died 2021)
• 17 April — Georges J. F. Köhler, German biologist (died 1995)
• 9 May — Drafi Deutscher, German singer (died 2006)
• 14 May — Elmar Brok, German politician
• 15 May – Klaus-Peter Siegloch, German journalist
• 17 May — Udo Lindenberg, German singer
• 1 June — Werner Müller, German politician and businessman (died 2019)
• 4 June — Hans-Josef Klauck, German theologian and priest (died 2025)
• 26 June — Maria von Welser, German journalist
• 1 July:
• Stefan Aust, German journalist
• Rosalie Abella, German jurist
• 10 July – Max Rieger, German alpine skier
• 20 August
• Henryk M. Broder, German journalist
• Ralf Hütter, German techno musician
• 2 September — Angelika Volquartz, German politician
• 15 September — Gerd Uecker, German artistic director (died 2024)
• 26 September – Margret Hafen, alpine skier
• 1 October — Michael Sladek, German physician and environmentalist (died 2024)
• 6 October
• Otmar Bernhard, German politician
• Renate Holub, German philosopher
• 14 December — Ruth Fuchs, German athlete
• 30 December — Berti Vogts, German football player and manager

Deaths

• February 8 - Felix Hoffmann, German chemist (born 1868)
• February 10 - Eduard Fresenius, German entrepreneur (born 1874)
• May 16 - Bruno Tesch, German chemist and entrepreneur (born 1890)
• June 6 - Gerhart Hauptmann, German dramatist (born 1862)
• September 6 - Alfred Körte, German philologist (born 1866)
• 15 October — Hermann Göring, World War I fighter ace and Reichsmarshall of Nazi Germany (born 1893)
• 16 October — Alfred Rosenberg, Nazi ideologue (born 1893)
• Date unknown — Albert Hinrich Hussmann, artist and sculptor

References