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Germany

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Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a major country in Western and Central Europe.

EU-Germany
EU-Germany

It sits between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea to the north. To the south, the landscape is marked by the high Alps. The nation shares borders with many neighbors. Denmark lies to the north. Poland and the Czech Republic are to the east. Austria and Switzerland are to the south. France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands border the west.

EU-Germany (orthographic projection)
EU-Germany (orthographic projection)

Germany is divided into sixteen constituent states. These states hold a total population of over 82 million people. This makes Germany the most populous member state of the European Union.

Flag of Europe
Flag of Europe

Modern Germany is a highly developed nation with a powerful economy. It holds the largest economy in Europe by nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP is a way to measure the total value of goods and services produced. Germany is a global leader in industrial, scientific, and technological sectors. It is the world's third-largest exporter and third-largest importer. The country is also considered a great power in international politics. It is a member of many important international organizations. Germany contains 55 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Of these, 52 are classified as cultural sites.

Human history in this region stretches back hundreds of thousands of years. Ancient humans inhabited the territory at least 600,000 years ago. The first Neanderthal fossil was discovered in the Neander Valley. Evidence of modern humans also appears in the Swabian Jura. Researchers found 42,000-year-old flutes there, which are the oldest musical instruments ever found. Other ancient finds include the 40,000-year-old Lion Man and the 41,000-year-old Venus of Hohle Fels. Later, various tribes moved through the land. The Celts lived there, and Germanic tribes inhabited the north. The Romans called this area Germania.

During the Middle Ages, the region underwent significant political changes. In 962, the Kingdom of Germany formed the core of the Holy Roman Empire (HRE). This empire lasted for many centuries. In the 16th century, northern German regions became the center of the Protestant Reformation. This was a religious movement led by Martin Luther. His translation of the Bible helped standardize the German language. Religious conflicts, such as the Thirty Years' War, lasted from 1618 to 1648. These wars devastated the land and reduced the population. Following the Napoleonic Wars and the end of the HRE in 1806, the German Confederation was created in 1815.

German Confederation (1815)
German Confederation (1815)

Germany eventually became a unified nation-state through the leadership of Prussia. This unification led to the establishment of the German Empire in 1871. Prussia was the dominant state within this new empire. Berlin was named the capital, and the King of Prussia became the Emperor, or Kaiser. However, the 20th century brought great instability. After World War I and a revolution, the Empire was replaced by the Weimar Republic. The rise of the Nazi party in 1933 established a totalitarian dictatorship. This period led to World War II and the Holocaust.

After World War II, Germany was divided into two separate political entities. In 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) was formed in the west. This became known as West Germany. It was a founding member of the European Economic Community. In the east, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) was established. This was a communist state and a member of the Warsaw Pact. The two nations remained separate until the fall of the communist government in East Germany. On 3 October 1990, German reunification occurred. The former East German states joined the FRG to become one country again.

Today, Germany's landscape is a mix of large cities and diverse regions. Berlin serves as the capital and the most populous city. Frankfurt is the nation's main financial center.

Frankfurt Skyline 2022 (cropped)
Frankfurt Skyline 2022 (cropped)

The Ruhr is the largest urban area in the country. The sixteen states each contribute to the nation's identity. You can see this through different coats of arms.

Coat of arms of Germany
Coat of arms of Germany

From the mountains in the south to the coasts in the north, Germany remains a central part of Europe.

Arms of the Free State of Bavaria
Arms of the Free State of Bavaria
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🖼️ Images & Media (46)
File:EU-Germany.svg
EU-Germany.svg
File:EU-Germany (orthographic projection).svg
EU-Germany (orthographic projection).svg
File:Flag of Europe.svg
Flag of Europe.svg
File:European Union main map.svg
European Union main map.svg
File:Coat of arms of Lower Saxony.svg
Coat of arms of Lower Saxony.svg
File:Brandenburg Wappen.svg
Brandenburg Wappen.svg
File:Coat of arms of Hesse.svg
Coat of arms of Hesse.svg
File:Coat of arms of Saxony.svg
Coat of arms of Saxony.svg
File:Coat of arms of Thuringia.svg
Coat of arms of Thuringia.svg
File:DEU Brandenburg COA.svg
DEU Brandenburg COA.svg
File:Coat of arms of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (great).svg
Coat of arms of Mecklenburg-Western...
File:East Francia 843.svg
East Francia 843.svg

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