A country of north-central Europe, Germany ranks among the world's leading economic powers. Germany was created in the 19th century through the unification of various European states. In the first half of the 20th century, the country was devastated by the two world wars. For 45 years after World War II, Germany was divided into two republics. The German Democratic Republic, or East Germany, became a Communist country. The Federal Republic of Germany, or West Germany, prospered as a democracy. The collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe in 1989 led to the unification of Germany on October 3, 1990. The capital of Germany is Berlin. Geography - Ulm cathedral, facing the Danube River, Germany.
Germany is bordered by nine countries: Denmark to the north; the Czech Republic and Poland to the east; Switzerland and Austria to the south; and France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and The Netherlands to the west. It also borders two coasts: one eastward from Denmark on the Baltic Sea and a second westward from Denmark along the North Sea. One of Europe's largest countries, Germany covers an area of 137,828 square miles (356,973 square kilometers) and has a wide variety of landscapes. The southern part of the country, lying mostly within the bounds of the state of Bavaria, is mountainous. The scenic Bavarian Alps reach an elevation of 9,718 feet (2,962 meters) at Zugspitze, Germany's highest peak. These alpine ranges are cut by rivers and deep, cold lakes. A notable feature of southwestern Germany is the vast Black Forest, so called for its thick groves of trees. The central part of Germany is hilly, forested, and laced by broad rivers. Most of the country's heavy industry is centered there. The northern part of Germany is a wide, sandy lowland region called the North German Plain. The area where the plain meets the Baltic and North seas is the site of Germany's major ports, among them Hamburg, Kiel, Rostock, and Bremerhaven. Berlin lies on the eastern edge of the plain. Most of Germany's rivers flow northward to the North Sea. The longest is the Rhine, which extends for 820 miles (1,320 kilometers) along Germany's western border. Among the Rhine's major tributaries are the Neckar, Main, Moselle, and Ruhr. The Elbe, Weser, and Ems also empty into the North Sea. The Oder River flows to the Baltic Sea. The Danube flows to the Black Sea. Plants and animalsIn ancient times Germany was covered with forests. As the centuries passed, most of the trees were cut down so that the wood could be used for building, for ships, and for firewood. After World War II West Germany began a massive planting program to replace the ancient woodlands. The main type of tree is pine, followed by beech and oak. Cutting is now carefully controlled. In recent years, however, millions of trees have been damaged by a form of pollution known as acid rain. Germany's wildlife is similar to that of most of Northern Europe. Game animals abound in most parts of Germany, especially deer, pheasant, and quail. They are protected by strict hunting laws. Other animals include various species of deer, wildcats, hares, wild boars, badgers, beavers, and foxes. Birds include thrushes, starlings, sparrows, owls, woodpeckers, herons, and falcons. People and cultureThe population of Germany is more than 90 percent German. The rest of the people are mainly other Europeans, the largest group being Turkish. Most Germans follow some form of Christianity, with Protestants outnumbering Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians. The northern part of the country is largely Protestant. Roman Catholic districts are found especially in Bavaria in the south and the Rhineland in the west. Germany also has small numbers of Muslims. - A village extends along a single street in eastern Germany.
More than 80 percent of Germany's population lives in urban areas. The largest city is Berlin, with about 3.4 million people. The second largest city is Hamburg, with about 1.7 million people. Other major cities include Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Essen, Dortmund, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Bremen, Duisberg, and Hannover. Smaller towns and historic villages can be found in the countryside. German culture has made a great contribution to Europe and the world, especially in the areas of music and literature. The country's renowned composers include Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann, and Richard Wagner. The greatest German poets—such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Heinrich Heine—are read throughout the world. Notable German writers of the 20th century included Thomas Mann, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Bertolt Brecht. The famous Ufa film studio, located in Babelsberg, was the filmmaking capital of the world in the early years of the 20th century. The directors Fritz Lang, Josef von Sternberg, Billy Wilder, and F.W. Murnau worked there. German cinema regained the international spotlight in the 1970s and 1980s with innovative works by directors Wim Wenders, Werner Herzog, and Rainer Werner Fassbinder. EconomyGermany is one of the leading industrial countries in Europe and in the world. About one third of the country's work force is involved in industry. The most important industries are engineering, chemicals, and food processing. Germany exports a variety of manufactured goods, including automobiles, machinery, chemicals, iron and steel, metal goods, electrical equipment, and textiles. - Lignite (brown coal) is mined from a pit in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, in western Germany.
Germany is not rich in natural resources. Most of the energy and raw materials needed for its industries is imported. The major mineral resources are coal, salts, and potash. Agriculture employs less than 3 percent of Germany's labor force. The main crops include barley, wheat, potatoes, oats, rye, sugar beets, and various vegetables and fruits. Germany is a major producer of hops, which are used in the country's world-renowned beer industry. Grape production supports a notable wine industry in the Rhine and Moselle valleys. The raising of pigs, cattle, and sheep is a major branch of farming in Germany. Tourism is a well-developed industry in Germany. It centers on winter sports in Bavaria, numerous historical sites, art galleries, museums, and cultural events. Most of the visitors are Europeans, followed by North Americans. HistoryKnown to the ancient Romans as Germania, the region was the home of hundreds of Germanic, Celtic, and Slavic tribes. Throughout the ancient and medieval periods, tribal leaders sought to unify these peoples despite their diverse cultures and languages. In the 6th century the Franks were able to do so. Later the Frankish king Charlemagne gained new lands for the Franks and helped create the Holy Roman Empire. After Charlemagne's death, however, his empire was divided into three parts. One of those parts became Germany, though for many years it too was divided into separate but loosely connected states. Thirty Years' WarIn the 16th century Martin Luther led a movement calling for reform of the Roman Catholic church in Germany. The conflict between Lutheranism and Catholicism added to the divisions among Germans. The religious struggle came to a head in the Thirty Years' War (1618–48). In this conflict, the Roman Catholic emperor and other Catholic princes and states battled Protestant towns and their supporters in other European countries. The war devastated Germany, and the empire's borders were greatly reduced. PrussiaIn the decades after the war the German state of Prussia began its rise to power. During the reign of Frederick II, from 1740 to 1786, Prussia expanded its territories and became a leading power of Europe. In the late 19th century Prussian prime minister Otto von Bismarck united many of Germany's political states to form the German Empire. The Second Reich, as unified Germany was called, became Europe's leading power and acquired colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. World War IWilliam II became emperor in 1888. He made Germany into a military nation. In 1914 Germany became involved in World War I. In this conflict, Germany and its allies, Austria-Hungary and Turkey, battled Britain, France, Russia, Italy, and the United States. The war ended in 1918 with a disastrous defeat for the German Empire. Under the Treaty of Versailles, Germany lost land to France, Belgium, Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, and Czechoslovakia. It also lost its colonies. The Third ReichAfter the war a democratic government known as the Weimar Republic took power in Germany. It collapsed, however, as the country struggled with economic depression and widespread unemployment. Adolf Hitler skillfully exploited postwar social unrest among the German people to advance the program of his Nazi Party. The Nazis gained control of the government in 1933 and created the so-called Third Reich. Hitler's desire to reestablish the German Empire led to World War II. In this war Germany was allied with Italy and Japan against Great Britain, the Soviet Union, and the United States. The war ended with the defeat of Germany and its allies in 1945. Division of GermanyFollowing World War II Germany was divided into four zones of occupation. The United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union each controlled a zone. In 1949 the United States, Britain, and France merged their zones to create the Federal Republic of Germany, or West Germany. It had a democratic government. Later in 1949 the Soviet occupation zone officially became the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany. Like the Soviet Union, East Germany had a Communist government. The former German capital, Berlin, remained divided into Soviet- and Western-controlled halves. The Soviet half was the capital of East Germany, while Bonn became the capital of West Germany. For the next four decades, divided Germany was at the center of tensions between the Western powers and the Soviet Union known as the Cold War. West Germany developed into an economic power and a stable democracy, while East Germany increasingly isolated itself from most of the world. In 1961 the Soviets authorized the building of the Berlin Wall, which separated the eastern and western sectors of that city. ReunificationIn late 1989 East Germans peacefully overthrew the Communist government. The Berlin Wall was opened at many points on November 9, 1989. That night tens of thousands of East Germans crossed into West Berlin to celebrate their new freedom. East and West Germany were officially reunited on October 3, 1990. The German government and private industry then began trying to modernize eastern Germany's economy and raise its standard of living. The government also tried to gain acceptance for Germany in the European community. In 1990 Germany joined the European Union (EU), and in 1998 the country qualified to join the European Monetary Union, a collection of EU countries with a shared currency. Population (2001 estimate), 82,386,000 |