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• Germany is centrally located in the European Union and on the European continent. It is a popular tourist destination. German culture and language is prominent in countries such as Switzerland and Austria.

• Fast Facts

  1. Capital: Berlin
  2. Population: Approx 82,314,900
  3. Currency: Euro (EUR)
  4. Official Language: German
  5. Chancellor: Angela Merkel
  6. Calling Code: +49
  7. GDP Per Capita: $35,072

• Early History

  Germany existed largely as a region rather than a nation until the 1800s. In the nine centuries before that, it had been the core of the Holy Roman Empire. The states of the German Federation did not have their first congress until 1849, and in 1871, it became a constitutional monarchy through the efforts of Wilhelm I and Otto von Bismarck.

• World War I and Aftermath

  Wilhelm II led the country into the disastrous "Great War", now known as World War I. An angry nation revolted in 1918, the Weimar Republic was born, and Wilhelm II was forced to abdicate. Wartime reparations and a global economic depression destroyed the German economy and quality of life.

• World War II and Modern Era

  Germany, seeking a rescuer, experienced its darkest era under Adolf Hitler. The Nazi party, with a policy of conquest and ethnic cleansing, conquered most of Europe and systematically killed 11 million people, including an estimated six million Jews, largely in concentration camps. After its defeat and a long period of reconstruction, Germany grew to be an economic powerhouse of Europe.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Treaty of Versailles | Berlin | Munich | Berlin Vacation | Munich Vacation | Frankfurt Vacation | Hamburg Vacation | Angela Merkel | How to Speak German | German | Learn German with the Music of David Hasselhoff | World War I | World War II | England | France | Poland | German Food | Beer | David Hasselhoff | Charlemagne | Danube River | The Battle of the Bulge | Sweden | North Sea | Deutschneudorf | Auschwitz Blueprints

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