Mat Schulze

In 1517, Martin Luther published the Ninety-Five Theses, and 2017, "The Luther Year," celebrates the 500th anniversary of this beginning of the Reformation. Luther’s German translation of the Bible has remained influential to this day; his hymns are still sung; and many still use his proverbs. But does all this make him the inventor of High German?

Berlin’s name change to Kitchener was not just a simple vote. Tumultuous times divided the otherwise peaceful city into two groups, reflecting the Great War that had erupted in Europe two years prior and, in the end, made the name change in 1916 Berlin/Kitchener anything but simple.