Germany

The borders of Germany have changed numerous times since it became a unified country in the 1870’s.

During World War II, Germany expanded its borders and conquered much of Western Europe.

After the war, Germany was divided as punishment for starting World War II. The original intention was to eventually re-unite the country.

With the advent of the Cold War, the Soviet Union created the communist “puppet state” of East Germany, called the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

East Berlin Life was quite different in East and West Germany and in East and West Berlin. West Berlin

Cars produced in the east and west told the story. Trabant – East Germany’s most popular car. Mercedes Cars produced in the east and west told the story. VW Bug

With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the collapse of communist East Germany was a certainty.

There was now a push from both east and west to re-unify Germany into one country. This occurred quickly. October 3, 1990, the two countries reunited.

With reunification, new problems arose With reunification, new problems arose. East Germany had been a command (inefficient) economy. West Germany was capitalist. Profit was the goal in the West. West German factories operated to make money. Closing inefficient and polluting East German factories would cost thousands of jobs.

Reunification issues that created problems for both East and West Germany after reunification. East Germany The West was going to have to pay for reunification (prox $40,000 per person. Many factories were closed, many thousands of jobs were lost. There would be a mass migration of East Germans to the West looking for jobs. Women had to give up access to free day care in order to work. The government no longer guaranteed jobs. East Germans would work for less than West Germans. The government no longer offered free housing. Not enough resources. Raw materials would have to be imported. East German money was worthless.

Now the question is, why would the West want to reunify with the East? The population of a single Germany would increase some 25%. The German “people” were linked together in a single country. Families were re-united (separated since 1945). Potential for the future. German Reunification Day, 10/4/04.

Germany today is an economic powerhouse Germany today is an economic powerhouse. One of the ten richest countries in the world.