1. Germany’s History and Road to Unification The Berlin Wall

2. 400s AD Germanic Tribes fight against and take down the Roman Empire

3. 700s AD Charlemagne Begins German unification, crowned emperor Holy Roman Empire

4. 700s – 1870 Germany ( Holy Roman Empire) split between many groups Christian Empire trying to reclaim the greatness of Rome…Really a Misnomer – not really Holy, not Roman, Not an Empire

5. 1871 Germany united as one country, immediately becomes world power Declaration of Otto Von Bismarck as chancellor of Germany

6. 1871-1914 Joins military alliances in Europe with Austria- Hungary, created Balance of Power

8. 1914-1919 Germany “loses” WWI – blamed for the War, pays for War

9. 1920s - 1939 Economy Collapses, Adolf Hitler takes Power, restarts War unit – Reclaim German pride/power

10. 1936 Summer Olympics German Power on display again

11. Ugly side of Nazi Power Jews = German “scapegoat”

12. 1939-1942 World War II - Germany Conquers Europe

13. Europe 1942 – Germany’s greatest Power

14. 1942-1945 Germany loses WWII

15. 1945 Germany is divided into East and West Germany – East – Soviet Union influence West – America, Britain France influence

16. 1945-1989 East Germany – Struggling Communist State West Germany flourishing Democracy

17. 1989 Berlin Wall taken down and Germany is Reunited

18. Today: Germany is a World Economic Power and a Member of the E.U.

19. The President of Germany Horst Köhler. The Reichstag in Berlin is the site of the German parliament.

20. Famous Germans

21. German Culture Mostly protestant, or non-religious German language (DUH!) deutschland

22. Physical Geography Rivers – Elbe, Rhine, Danube Northern European Plain – Rich soils for agriculture Ruhr Valley – Coal and industry areas

23. Issues Today 1. Inequality of East & West 1. Wessis better off 2. Ossis resentment, had guaranteed jobs/housing under communism 2. Immigration Mostly Turks – lack of German culture Prejudice, possible ethnic/religious fighting

24. 3. Germany (and Europe’s) Aging Population See page 334