Germany

1
Germany

• A Nation Reunited

2
Hitler and WWII

• Adolf Hitler promised to make Germany great
  again, like it was prior to WWI
• By 1933, Hitler became chancellor of Germany.
• He claimed Germans were a superior ethnic group,
  and should lead Europe.
• He invaded Poland and other European countries,
  thus starting WWII.
• Mass murder of 6 million Jews was called the
  Holocaust.
• Germany was defeated in this war.

3
The Cold War

• Following WWII, Germany was divided.
• The US, British, and French side became known as
  West Germany. This was a democratic country.
• East Germany was under the Soviet Unions
  control. This became a communist country.
• Berlin was divided in half. Though it was in the
  East, communist, side, West Berlin was democratic
  while the East Berlin was communist.
• A wall, the Berlin Wall was erected to separate
  the two.
• It was a symbol of a divided world- The Wall of
  Shame.
• 1948, USSR attempted to takeover West Berlin by
  stopping access to and from West Berlin.
• President Truman began airlifting supplies into
  the city.
• By 1949, USSR lifted the blockade.

4
Germany WWII- 1989
East Germany Communist
West Germany Democratic
West Berlin Democratic
East Berlin Communist
Berlin Wall
5
Communism Weakens

• Communist rule began to change.
• East Germanys economy was struggling, while West
  Germanys was strong.
• The rules began to become less strict.
• Gorbachev stated the Soviet Union would no longer
  force communism on Eastern European countries.
• He told East Germanys government to make reforms
  and grant new freedoms, they refused.
• East Germanys government collapsed.
• The Berlin Wall also collapsed in 1989.
• By 1990, Germany became a united country again.

6
Germany 1990-Present
Berlin Democratic
Germany Democratic
7
Germany Reunited

• The cultures of the two countries were very
  similar
• Same language
• Same foods
• Same composers, writers, and painters
• Still, reunification would not be easy
• Germans spent millions repairing East Germanys
  economy.
• They now enjoy consumer goods, such as T.V.,
  cars, etc.
• Some problems for the former East Germany
• Fewer jobs
• Have to work for food
• Have to pay for child care
• Higher prices for apartments and homes