Schweinfurt is one of the oldest cities in Bavaria. It was first documented in 791. The Margraves of Schweinfurt controlled large areas of northern Bavaria around 1000. From the 12th century to 1802, Schweinfurt was a Free Imperial city within the Holy Roman Empire. That meant is self ruled and had a certain amount of autonomy in the empire.  This card is of the famous Fernsehturm. It was built by the East German government between 1965-1969 to serve as a functional broadcasting facility and as a symbol of Communist power. With the antenna, it is 368 metres tall and is the tallest structure in Germany (third tallest in Europe). There is also a viewing tower with an observation deck and bar at 203 metres.  After the reunification of Germany, the tower became a citywide symbol of a reunited Berlin. The Fernsehturm is used as a symbol of Berlin internationally, similar to the Eiffel Tower of Paris, or the Statue of Liberty in New York City. It attracts more than a million visiter...

Magdeburg is the capital city of Saxony-Anhalt. It was founded by Holy Roman Emperor Otto I. He was buried in the city's cathedral after his death.  Magdeburg has been destroyed twice. In 1631 the Catholic League sacked the city resulting in the death of 25 000 non-combatants during the Thirty Years War. Magdeburg was a Protestant city as most of the citizenry turned Protestant in 1524. Once the soldiers entered Magdeburg, they set fire to single houses to smoke out people. Wind fanned the flames and 1700 of the 1900 buildings were destroyed. Soldiers went out of control after the fire died down. They had not been paid and began looting the city. When people couldn't give the soldiers anything, they began to beat, skewer, and hang people, as well as gang rape minors and commit torture. Only 20% of residents survived. The bodies were dumped into the Elbe River so as to prevent disease.  Magdeburg was also heavily bombed by British and American forces in World War II. Magdeburg ...