Timeline of Erfurt

Last updated December 13, 2025

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Erfurt, Germany.

Prior to 19th century

741 - Roman Catholic Diocese of Erfurt established.^[1]
755 - Catholic diocese absorbed into that of Mainz.^[2]
805 - Market rights granted by Charlemagne.^[2]
932 - Religious Synod of Erfurt held.^[3]
1060 - Benedictine Peterskloster [ de ] (monastery) first recorded mention.^[3]
1094 - Old Synagogue construction begins ^[4]
1109 - Landgrave of Thuringia in power.^[2]
1255 - Municipal rights granted by bishop Gerhard I. von Dhaun [ de ].^[2]
1277 - Building of St. Augustine's Monastery begun.^[5]
1290 - Rebuilt St. Mary's Cathedral consecrated.^[6]
1325 - Stone Merchant's Bridge built.^[7]
1349 - 21 March: Pogrom against Jews.
1392 - University of Erfurt opens.^[7]
1472 - Fire.^[7]
1480 - Building of Cyriaksburg Citadel begun.^[8]
1483 - Saxons in power per Treaty of Amorbach.^[7]
1494 - Printing press in operation.^[9]
1521 - Protestant reformation.^[2]
1664 - Erfurt becomes part of the Electorate of Mainz.^[2]
1665 - Foundation stone for Petersberg Citadel laid on 1 June 1665.^[10]
1754 - Akademie gemeinnütziger Wissenschaften zu Erfurt [ de ] (learned society) formed.^[11]

19th century

1802 - Erfurt becomes part of Prussia.^[2]
1806 - 16 October: Prussian forces capitulate to French at Erfurt during the War of the Fourth Coalition.
1807 - Principality of Erfurt of the French Empire established.
1808 - International Congress of Erfurt held in the Kaisersaal [ de ] and other venues from 27 September to 14 October 1808 .^[2]
1816 - University of Erfurt closes.^[7]
1840 - Kleine Synagoge (Erfurt) [ de ] (synagogue) built.^[3]
1847 - Erfurt Hauptbahnhof (train station) opens.
1850 - Erfurt Union of German states created.
1862 - Königlich Preußische Gewehrfabrik Erfurt [ de ] (manufactory) established.
1863 - Verein für die Geschichte und Altertumskunde von Erfurt [ de ] (history society) founded.^[3]
1865 - Stadtarchiv Erfurt [ de ] (city archives) established.^[12]
1869 - Nordhausen–Erfurt railway begins operating.
1875 - Rathaus (Erfurt) [ de ] (town hall) built.^[2]
1878 - Topf and Sons founded as an engineering firm. It later made crematoria for Nazi concentration camps.
1878 - the Andreasstrasse Prison opened.
1880 - Population: 53,254.^[13]
1884 - Große Synagoge (Erfurt) [ de ] (synagogue) built.
1889 - Martin Luther monument (Erfurt) [ de ] erected on the Anger [ de ].^[3]
1891 - Meeting of the Social Democratic Party of Germany held in city; "Erfurt Program" adopted.
1895 - Population: 78,174.^[14]

20th century

1909 - Gutenbergschule (school) opens.
1911 - Ilversgehofen [ de ] becomes part of Erfurt.^(de)
1919 - Population: 129,646.^[15]
1937 - Population: 152,651.^(de)
1938 - Hochheim and Melchendorf [ de ] become part of Erfurt.^(de)
1940 - Bombing of Erfurt in World War II [ de ] started.^[3]
1945
- April: United States forces take city.^[3]
- July: City becomes part of the Soviet Occupation zone of Germany.^[3]
1949 - City becomes part of the German Democratic Republic.^[3]
1945 - Thüringische Landeszeitung (newspaper) begins publication.
1950
- Bindersleben [ de ], Bischleben-Stedten, Dittelstedt, Gispersleben, Marbach, Möbisburg-Rhoda, and Schmira become part of Erfurt.^(de)
- City becomes capital of the Kreis Erfurt-Land [ de ] (district).^[7]
1952 - Neue Synagoge (Erfurt) [ de ] (synagogue) built.
1958 - Thüringer Zoopark Erfurt [ de ] founded.^[16]
1960 - Heimattreue Erfurter [ de ] association of Erfurters who moved to West Germany founded.^[3]
1971 - Population: 198,265.^(de)
1974 - Stadtmuseum Erfurt [ de ] opens in the Haus zum Stockfisch [ de ].^[3]
1989 - Demonstrations against the GDR government,^[17] and citizens' occupation of the Stasi district headquarters and Stasi prison in Andreasstrasse.^[18]
1990
- City becomes capital of state of Thuringia in the reunited nation of Germany.^[7]
- Manfred Ruge [ de ] becomes mayor.
- Thüringer Allgemeine newspaper in publication.
1993 - University of Erfurt reestablished.^[7]
1994
- Alach [ de ], Azmannsdorf [ de ], Büßleben, Egstedt, Ermstedt, Frienstedt, Gottstedt, Hochstedt, Kerspleben, Kühnhausen, Linderbach, Mittelhausen, Molsdorf, Niedernissa, Rohda, Salomonsborn, Schaderode, Schwerborn, Stotternheim, Tiefthal, Töttelstädt, Töttleben, Urbich, Vieselbach, Wallichen, Waltersleben, and Windischholzhausen become part of Erfurt.^(de)
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Erfurt reestablished.^[1]
1995 - Naturkundemuseum Erfurt (museum) built.^[3]
1997 - Erfurt Stadtbahn (tram) begins operating.

21st century

2001 - April: Topf and Sons squat begins.^[19]
2002 - 26 April: Erfurt school massacre occurs.
2006 - Andreas Bausewein becomes mayor.
2007 - Erfurter Bahn (railway) begins operating.
2010 - Population: 204,994.^(de)

References

1 2 "Chronology of Catholic Dioceses: Germany". Norway: Roman Catholic Diocese of Oslo . Retrieved 18 November 2016.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Britannica 1910.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Geschichte: Chronik" [Historical Chronology]. Erfurt.de: das offizielle Stadtportal der Landeshauptstadt Thüringens (in German). Landeshauptstadt Erfurt. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
↑ Jewish Life in Erfurt. Old synagogue Retrieved 3 June 2017
↑ Stade, Heinz (2010) Augustinerkloster. Luther-Ort und Stätte der Begegnung, Bonn: Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz
↑ "Erfurt", Oxford Art Online . Retrieved 18 November 2016
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Levi 1995.
↑ Die Cyriaksburg: Sitz des Deutschen Gartenbaumuseums Erfurt. Retrieved 23 December 2017
↑ Bouchot, Henri (1890). H. Grevel (ed.). The book: its printers, illustrators, and binders, from Gutenberg to the present time. London: H. Grevel & Co. pp. 368–374.
↑ Verein der Freunde der Citadelle Petersberg zu Erfurt e.V. (2015). 350 Jahre Zitadelle Petersberg. Tagungsband: Wissenschaftliches Kolloquim zum 350. Jahrestages der Grundsteinlegung der Zitadelle Petersberg vom 29. Mai bis 31 Mai 2015. Universität Erfurt.
↑ Jim Parrott (ed.). "Chronology of Scholarly Societies". Scholarly Societies Project. Canada: University of Waterloo. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
↑ "Geschichte des Stadtarchivs Erfurt". Erfurt.de: das offizielle Stadtportal der Landeshauptstadt Thüringens (in German). Landeshauptstadt Erfurt. October 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
↑ Hunter, Brian; Paxton, John; Steinberg, S. H.; Epstein, Mortimer; Renwick, Isaac Parker Anderson; Keltie, John Scott; Martin, Frederick (1885). "Germany: Prussia". Statesman's Year-Book. London: Macmillan and Co. hdl:2027/nyp.33433081590469 – via HathiTrust.
↑ Hunter, Brian; Paxton, John; Steinberg, S. H.; Epstein, Mortimer; Renwick, Isaac Parker Anderson; Keltie, John Scott; Martin, Frederick (1899). "German Empire: States of Germany: Prussia". Statesman's Year-Book. London: Macmillan and Co. hdl:2027/nyp.33433081590550 – via HathiTrust.
↑ "Germany". Statesman's Year-Book. London: Macmillan and Co. 1921. hdl:2027/njp.32101072368440 – via HathiTrust.
↑ Vernon N. Kisling, ed. (2000). "Zoological Gardens of Germany (chronological list)". Zoo and Aquarium History. USA: CRC Press. p. 372. ISBN 978-1-4200-3924-5.
↑ Raßloff, Steffen (27 October 2012) Besetzung Stasi-Bezirksverwaltung 1989. Die Angst überwunden. Denkmale in Erfurt (69): Mit der Besetzung der ersten Stasi-Bezirksverwaltung gab Erfurt am 4. Dezember 1989 ein DDR-weites Signal. Beitrag der Serie Denkmale in Erfurt aus der Thüringer Allgemeine on www.efurt-web.de. Retrieved 6 August 2019
↑ How ordinary people smashed the Stasi in The Local.de, 4 December 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2019
↑ "Ende einer Entführung: Polizei befreit Bernd das Brot", Der Spiegel (in German), 1 February 2009

This article incorporates information from the German Wikipedia.

Bibliography

in English

"Erfurt". Handbook for North Germany. Murray's hand-book Rhine & North Germany (20th ed.). London: J. Murray. 1886. hdl:2027/hvd.hn1imr.
"Erfurt". Chambers's Encyclopaedia. London. 1901. hdl:2027/njp.32101065312892.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
"Erfurt", Jewish Encyclopedia, vol. 5, New York, 1903, hdl:2027/mdp.49015002282276 {{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
"Erfurt", Northern Germany (15th ed.), Leipzig: Karl Baedeker, 1910, OCLC 78390379 – via Internet Archive
"Erfurt" . Encyclopædia Britannica . Vol. 9 (11th ed.). 1910. pp. 736–737.
Levi, Anthony (1995). "Erfurt". In Trudy Ring (ed.). Northern Europe. International Dictionary of Historic Places. Fitzroy Dearborn. pp. 267–271. ISBN 978-1-136-63944-9.
John M. Jeep, ed. (2001). "Erfurt". Medieval Germany: An Encyclopedia. Garland. pp. 208–210. ISBN 978-0-8240-7644-3.

in German

"Erfurt". Biblioteca geographica: Verzeichniss der seit der Mitte des vorigen Jahrhunderts bis zu Ende des Jahres 1856 in Deutschland (in German). Leipzig: Wilhelm Engelmann. 1858. (bibliography)
"Erfurt". Neuestes Reisehandbuch für Thüringen. Meyers Reisebücher (in German). Hildburghausen: Bibliographisches Institut. 1864. hdl:2027/njp.32101030685257.
Erfurt in seiner Vergangenheit und Gegenwart: historisch-topographischer Führer durch die Stadt (in German). Carl Villaret. 1868.
"Erfurt". Brockhaus' Konversations-Lexikon (in German) (14th ed.). Leipzig: Brockhaus. 1896. hdl:2027/njp.32101064064478.
P. Krauss und E. Uetrecht, ed. (1913). "Erfurt". Meyers Deutscher Städteatlas[Meyer's Atlas of German Cities] (in German). Leipzig: Bibliographisches Institut.
Benary, Friedrich (1919). Zur Geschichte der Stadt und der Universität Erfurt am Ausgang des Mittelalters (in German). Gotha.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Thüringen. Griebens Reiseführer (in German). 1919.
Dehio, Georg (2003). Thüringen. Handbuch der Deutschen Kunstdenkmäler [ de ] (in German). Munich. ISBN 3-422-03095-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Geschichte der Stadt Erfurt (in German). Weimar. 1986.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Friedhilde Krause; Felicitas Marwinski, eds. (1998). "Erfurt". Thüringen (in German). Georg Olms Verlag. pp. 176–221. ISBN 9783487418148.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
Köbler, Gerhard (2007). "Erfurt". Historisches Lexikon der Deutschen Länder (in German) (7th ed.). Munich: C.H. Beck. p. 171. ISBN 978-3-406-54986-1.
Raßloff, Steffen (2012). Geschichte der Stadt Erfurt (in German). Erfurt: Sutton Verlag. ISBN 978-3-95400-044-9.
Stade, Heinz, et al. (2015) Erfurt: eine Stadt im Wandel, Leipzig: Edition Leipzig. ISBN 978-3361007130

External links

Links to fulltext city directories for Erfurt via Wikisource
Items related to Erfurt, various dates (via Europeana)
Items related to Erfurt, various dates (via Digital Public Library of America)

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[katolsk-1] 1 2 "Chronology of Catholic Dioceses: Germany". Norway: Roman Catholic Diocese of Oslo . Retrieved 18 November 2016.

[FOOTNOTEBritannica1910-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Britannica 1910.

[Chronik-3] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Geschichte: Chronik" [Historical Chronology]. Erfurt.de: das offizielle Stadtportal der Landeshauptstadt Thüringens (in German). Landeshauptstadt Erfurt. 8 December 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2016.

[4] Jewish Life in Erfurt. Old synagogue Retrieved 3 June 2017

[5] Stade, Heinz (2010) Augustinerkloster. Luther-Ort und Stätte der Begegnung, Bonn: Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz

[OxfordArt-6] "Erfurt", Oxford Art Online . Retrieved 18 November 2016

[FOOTNOTELevi1995-7] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Levi 1995.

[8] Die Cyriaksburg: Sitz des Deutschen Gartenbaumuseums Erfurt. Retrieved 23 December 2017

[Bouchot1890-9] Bouchot, Henri (1890). H. Grevel (ed.). The book: its printers, illustrators, and binders, from Gutenberg to the present time. London: H. Grevel & Co. pp. 368–374.

[10] Verein der Freunde der Citadelle Petersberg zu Erfurt e.V. (2015). 350 Jahre Zitadelle Petersberg. Tagungsband: Wissenschaftliches Kolloquim zum 350. Jahrestages der Grundsteinlegung der Zitadelle Petersberg vom 29. Mai bis 31 Mai 2015. Universität Erfurt.

[parrott-11] Jim Parrott (ed.). "Chronology of Scholarly Societies". Scholarly Societies Project. Canada: University of Waterloo. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.

[12] "Geschichte des Stadtarchivs Erfurt". Erfurt.de: das offizielle Stadtportal der Landeshauptstadt Thüringens (in German). Landeshauptstadt Erfurt. October 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2016.

[13] Hunter, Brian; Paxton, John; Steinberg, S. H.; Epstein, Mortimer; Renwick, Isaac Parker Anderson; Keltie, John Scott; Martin, Frederick (1885). "Germany: Prussia". Statesman's Year-Book. London: Macmillan and Co. hdl:2027/nyp.33433081590469 – via HathiTrust.

[14] Hunter, Brian; Paxton, John; Steinberg, S. H.; Epstein, Mortimer; Renwick, Isaac Parker Anderson; Keltie, John Scott; Martin, Frederick (1899). "German Empire: States of Germany: Prussia". Statesman's Year-Book. London: Macmillan and Co. hdl:2027/nyp.33433081590550 – via HathiTrust.

[15] "Germany". Statesman's Year-Book. London: Macmillan and Co. 1921. hdl:2027/njp.32101072368440 – via HathiTrust.

[Kisling2000-16] Vernon N. Kisling, ed. (2000). "Zoological Gardens of Germany (chronological list)". Zoo and Aquarium History. USA: CRC Press. p. 372. ISBN 978-1-4200-3924-5.

[rassloff2-17] Raßloff, Steffen (27 October 2012) Besetzung Stasi-Bezirksverwaltung 1989. Die Angst überwunden. Denkmale in Erfurt (69): Mit der Besetzung der ersten Stasi-Bezirksverwaltung gab Erfurt am 4. Dezember 1989 ein DDR-weites Signal. Beitrag der Serie Denkmale in Erfurt aus der Thüringer Allgemeine on www.efurt-web.de. Retrieved 6 August 2019

[18] How ordinary people smashed the Stasi in The Local.de, 4 December 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2019

[19] "Ende einer Entführung: Polizei befreit Bernd das Brot", Der Spiegel (in German), 1 February 2009

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v t e Years in Germany (1871–present)
19th century	Pre-1871 1871 1872 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900
20th century	1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
21st century	2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025