THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC

 by Lester Cowling

The Weimar Republic - we’re talking about that period of German history between the end of the First World War in 1918 and the rise of Hitler almost 15 years later. So fairly recent history, but intriguing.

How did it come about that the German people, for most part decent, hardworking moderate people come to choose Hitler.

The Weimar Republic was a venture in democracy more or less doomed from the start.

Norman Kings and Queens of England

 by Sheila Alderman

William 1 1066-87 (William the Conqueror).

William was the illegitimate son of The Duke of Normandy and Herleva the daughter of a wealthy citizen of Falaise. He was born in 1028 at about the time his father Robert became Duke of Normandy. Soon after his birth Herleva married a follower of Robert and had two sons, Robert who became Duke of Mortain and Odo who became Bishop of Bayeux in 1049.William was known as William the Bastard but was his father’s only son. When Robert Duke of Normandy went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1034 he persuaded the Norman Barons to recognise William as his heir.

Robert of Normandy died in Asia Minor on his way home in 1034. Thus, William became Duke of Normandy.

Queen Emma

by Caroline Nairn

I had never heard of Queen Emma before I visited a museum in Falmouth some years ago where there was a section about her and her more well-known husband King Canute, who reigned from  1017-1035 in England and was also king of Denmark.

 Emma is depicted on the Bayeux tapestry and was known for being a power seeking and formidable operator who became wife of two kings and mother of two kings.

She was born around 980 AD, one of seven children of duke Richard 1 and the great granddaughter of the Viking Rollo who was the founder of Normandy.  Norman comes from Northman, from the Vikings who settled in Normandy.