Germany in Our World

Germany in Our World book cover — Countries in our WORLD GERMANY in our world Michael Burgan

Germany in Our World — page 1 — DENMARK Hamburg North Sea Introducing Germany Germany is one of the most powerful nations in Europe with the largest economy and the second-largest population The Germans are famous for their hard work and skill with advanced technology The country’s great wealth makes it a world leader in economic and political affairs Where in the World Germany lies in the center of Europe It is bordered to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic To the south are Austria and Switzerland On Germany’s western border lie France Luxembourg Belgium and the Netherlands To the north is Denmark as well as the North and Baltic seas A Troubled Past For centuries the area that is now Germany was made up of separate states ruled by dukes and princes By 1871 many of these small German speaking countries had united to form the German Empire After losing World War I 1914 18 life was difficult for the German people In 1939 the German leader Adolf Hitler tried to expand the country’s borders by invading other countries This sparked World War II 1939 45 and led to the Holocaust the killing of six million European Jews Hitler had also ordered the murders of five million other innocent people including gypsies Catholics and people with disabilities Today people around the world still try to understand how this event happened They also try to make sure nothing like it ever happens again Leipzig GERMANY THURINGIA Frankfurt er A L P S Zugspitze AUSTRIA Zugspitze Dan u b e R iv er BAVARIA Munich Wittenberg Berlin Berlin Ruhr River Cologne CK FOREST Elbe River Moselle River THE NETHERLANDS R h i n e R i v e r BLA Lake Constance Main Riv Darmstadt LUXEMBOURG FRANCE Stuttgart SWITZERLAND BELGIUM 4 Germany’s position in the 쒀 heart of Europe has helped it become a powerful leader in areas such as trade and politics Baltic Sea Usedom Island O d erRiver Cottbus 00 milesmiles 100100 00 kilometers kilometers 100100 POLAND NN W W E E SS CZECH REPUBLIC KeyKey Capital city Capital city Other cities Other cities Mountain Mountain

Germany in Our World — page 2 — INTRODUCING GERMANY BASIC DATA Building a New Germany After losing the war Germany was divided into two nations West Germany and East Germany West Germany became one of the world’s strongest economies The communist Soviet Union gained control over East Germany resulting in their limited freedom In 1989 the Soviet Union gave up its control and the two German nations soon reunited as a free country Since then Germans have worked to overcome problems of the past The west still has many more people and a stronger economy but all Germans are proud of their country and work to make it better The Brandenburg Gate in the capital Berlin 쑽 was built in the 1800s as a symbol of peace Official name The Federal Republic of Germany Capital Berlin Size 134,847 sq miles 357,022 sq km Population 82,282,988 2010 est Currency Euro

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