Facts About Germany

Overview

As the biggest economy and 2nd most populous country in Europe, Germany remains is a critical player in the continent's political, economic, and defense institutions.

Two World Wars during the first half of the twentieth century resulted in Germany being devestated and occupied by victorious Allied forces of the US, the Soviet Union, the UK, and France in 1945. With the Cold War's start, Germany was split in two during 1949: the German Democratic Republic of the East and the Federal Republic of Germany in the West. The democratic Federal Republic became a key Western ally in security and economic institutions such as the EU and NATO, while the Communist Democratic Republic was a member of Soviet Warsaw Pact.

The dissolution of the USSR brought the end of the Cold War, permiting German unification during 1990. Following that time, Germany spent significant funds to raise Eastern wages and productivity to Western Germany's standards. In 1999, Germany and 10 other European Union countries implemented the Euro, a European exchange currency.

Government

Country Name: Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland)

Government Type: federal republic

Capital Name: Berlin