Area of the Federal Republic of Germany Federal Republic of Germany (1949-1990). Social protection system
Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) is a state in Central Europe, the capital is Berlin.
The Russian name of the state comes from the Celtic Gair - “neighbor”, and the German from the Proto-Germanic ?eodisk - “relating to the people” and Land - “country”. The founding date of the German state is considered to be February 2, 962. Germany was the first country to introduce a social insurance system, the basis of which was developed by Bismarck in the 1890s.
Geography
Germany is located in Central Europe and borders 9 countries; in the north it has a natural border in the form of the North and Baltic seas. The territory of the state is 357,021 km?. The lowest point of Neuendorf-Saxenbande is located in the North German Lowland - 3.54 meters below sea level. The Alps begin in the south of the country, with the highest mountain being the Zugspitze – 2,968 meters. The largest lake in Germany is Lake Constance, its area is 540 square meters. km, and a depth of 250 meters.
The state includes 16 equal subjects - states: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt , Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia.
And Poland. In the south it is bordered by Austria (border length 784 km) and Switzerland (334 km). In the west - with the Netherlands (577 km), France (451 km), Belgium (167) and Luxembourg (138 km). In the east - with Poland (456 km) and the Czech Republic (646 km). In the north, Germany borders Denmark (68 km) and is washed by the North and Baltic seas.
Germany is a beautiful and majestic country. Its rich history still amazes many historians. Germany is the homeland of many of the most outstanding and brilliant people. It is enough to recall such well-known names as Goethe, Beethoven, Bach and many other world-famous names. Germany can rightfully be called a great place on earth, where great people are born.
Many people are surprised by one interesting fact - how is the German economy developing? The high rate of economic development can be explained by the fact that Germany cooperates on open markets with countries such as France, the USA and the UK. It is to these countries that Germany exports most of its goods. To date, Germany has been able to fully prove that its economy is highly competitive.
If we talk about the peculiarities of Germany’s position in the world, it is worth noting that this country is one of the most active and active participants in the European Union. On the world stage, Germany has long established itself as one of the most stable countries and has won universal respect.
The greatest length from north to south is 876 km, from west to east - 640 km. The extreme points of the borders are: in the north - the village of List on the island of Sylt, in the east - the Saxon village of Deshka, in the south - the Bavarian village of Oberstdorf and in the west - the village of Selfkant (North Rhine-Westphalia). The total length of the border is 3621 km, the length of the coastline is 2389 km. The total area of the country is 356,957 square meters. km.
The founding day of the republic is considered to be May 23, 1949. – the day of adoption and entry into force of the country’s Constitution. On October 3, 1990, the GDR joined the scope of the Basic Law. In June 1991, Berlin was declared the capital. The transfer of the government and parliament of a united Germany from Bonn to Berlin was almost completed in 1999. The national flag is black, red and gold. Coat of arms with the image of an eagle. The national holiday - German Unity Day - is celebrated on October 3. The anthem of Germany is “Song of the Germans” (music by Haydn, lyrics by G. Hoffmann von Fallersleben).
The cities and lands of Germany are very attractive to tourists from many countries. One of the most attractive lands is Bavaria, which is also called the “beer land”. Oktoberfest, Neuschwanstein Castle and the lush scenery of the Alps attract more foreign tourists here than to any other land. However, the slogan “Laptop and leather pants” testifies: Bavaria is something more than just living traditions. Its economy (which is stronger than Sweden's) is famous for such global brands as BMW, Audi, Siemens, MAN and EADS (Airbus). The Bavarian capital, Munich, has more publishing houses than any other German city. But Germany's largest federal state also shines outside the metropolis.
The cathedrals of Germany will amaze you with their beauty and majesty. It is there that you can hear the divine sounds of a real organ. The small town of Amberg is definitely worth a visit. It is famous for its theater, which is located in a former Gothic church. And, of course, Germany is famous for its national art - brewing beer. Only in this country can you taste the most delicious beer on Earth.
The official language is German. The monetary unit is the euro (since 2002, in 1948–2001 the German mark). Population – 82.5 million people. (October 2002). The natural population growth in the country is 0.5 and is one of the lowest in the world. The average life expectancy for men is 73 years, for women – 78 years. The ethnic composition of the population is not very diverse: 96% are Germans. In addition to them, the country is home to 1,000 thousand Turks, 600 thousand people from the former republics of Yugoslavia, 570 thousand Italians, 200 thousand Spaniards, 170 thousand Austrians, 120 thousand Portuguese, 80 thousand Danes, 70 thousand US Americans, 60 thousand French, 50 thousand English, 30 thousand Jews, 20 thousand Russians, etc.
Christianity predominates in the country: Protestantism - 40%, Catholicism - 35%; Islam - 3%. Administratively, Germany consists of 16 states, each of which has its own capital, constitution, parliament and government.
The federal states are divided into old and new, in addition there are three cities - independent states - Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg. The new federal states include: Schleswig-Holstein (Kiel), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Schwerin), Brandenburg (Potsdam), Saxony (Dresden), Saxony-Anhalt (Magdeburg), Thuringia (Erfurt) and the state of Berlin. The old federal states include: Lower Saxony (Hannover), North Rhine-Westphalia (Düsseldorf), Rhineland-Palatinate (Mainz), Hesse (Wiesbaden), Saarland (Saarbrücken), Baden-Wüttemberg (Stuttgart) and Bavaria (Munich) and two state-states - Bremen and Hamburg. The head of state is the president, the head of government is the federal chancellor. The legislative body is the Bundestag, the bodies of representation of the states are the Bundesrat.
History of Germany
Until the end V centuries there was no state on the territory of modern Germany. Only after the Frankish leader Clovis defeated the Romans did he create a kingdom that included most of Gaul and southwestern Germany. Charlemagne united Saxon, Bavarian, Rhineland, Frankish and other lands in his empire. However, after his death, the great empire disintegrated, and its eastern part became the German Empire. Under Frederick I Barbarossa in the middle XII centuries, the borders of the German Empire expanded significantly. At first XVI century in Germany there was a split along religious lines. Martin Luther began his activity at that time. As a result of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), Germany was split into several dozen principalities and kingdoms, the most influential of which was Prussia. After several successful military campaigns and international treaties, Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck virtually restored the German Empire and declared Wilhelm the King of Prussia I German Emperor (Kaiser). The German Empire reached its peak by 1914.
But after the defeat in the First World War, the country lost part of its lands and was subject to huge indemnities. In 1919, Germany was proclaimed a republic and, according to the constitution adopted in the city of Weimar, it was called the Weimar Republic. The difficult economic situation of the country and the general world crisis led to the power of the Nazis led by Hitler in 1932, who unleashed the Second World War (1939-1945). After the war, Germany was divided into two parts. In 1949–1990 in the western part of the country there was the capitalist Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), and in the eastern part there was the socialist German Democratic Republic (GDR). In 1990, they were united within modern borders. Currently, Germany is a democratic republic. The state is headed by the federal president, who mainly performs representative functions. Legislative power belongs to a bicameral parliament consisting of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. Executive power is vested in the federal government, headed by the chancellor, a representative of the party that wins the elections. Administratively, Germany is divided into 16 states.
Economy of Germany
Economically, Germany is a highly developed industrial country. Extraction of brown and hard coal, oil, natural gas, polymetallic ores, potassium and table salts is carried out. Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, various mechanical engineering: machine tool building, electrical engineering and radio electronics, instrument, automobile and shipbuilding and others. Powerful chemical and petrochemical industry. The woodworking, light and food industries, the production of porcelain and musical instruments are developed. High-intensity agriculture with a predominance of livestock industries (pig and dairy farming). Crop farming specializes in the production of grain, sugar beets, and potatoes. Hop growing. Winemaking. Fish farming.
Sights of Germany
Germany is a relatively new unified state; before that, for centuries, the country was made up of scattered principalities, counties and monarchies. As a result, Germany has several main cities, each with its own unique character shaped by its history and surrounding area. In each city, you will not only find yourself in a completely different world with a special architectural style and artistic riches, but you will also experience a lifestyle unique to that city.
Speaking about the north of Germany, it is necessary to mention the cities of Hamburg, Bremen and Lubeck, which were brought prosperity by maritime trade. The capital Berlin is deservedly one of the most popular destinations, regardless of the purpose of the trip, be it a cultural program, business or just entertainment. In the center of the country, Hanover deserves attention, and in the east there are true pearls - Leipzig, Weimar, Schwerin and Dresden. The latter, although heavily damaged by bombing, retained much of its pre-war architectural heritage. Moving south, you will pass Nuremberg - the birthplace of the famous German painter Durer, and sooner or later you will arrive in Munich - the capital city of beer and art, where the famous Pinakotheks are located. Munich makes a great starting point to explore the treasures of Bavaria. Don't miss the lovely cities of southwestern Germany - Freiburg, Heidelberg and Tübingen. In the west of the country, French influence is still felt. Discover Bonn, Düsseldorf, Cologne and Trier - the oldest city in Germany and the former capital of the Roman Empire.
83039 thousand people
Location of Germany. The state is located in Central. In the north it borders with, in the east - with and, in the south - with and, in the west - with, and. In the north it is washed by the Northern and.
Administrative divisions of Germany. Consists of 16 states: Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Brandenburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, North Rhine-Westphalia, Thuringia, Schleswig Holstein.
Form of government of Germany. Republic, with a federal government structure.
Head of State of Germany. Federal President, elected for a term of 5 years.
Official language of Germany. German.
Religion of Germany. 45% are Protestants (mainly Lutherans), 37% are Protestants, 2% are Muslims.
Ethnic composition of Germany. 95% - Germans, 2.3% - Turks, 0.7% - , 0.4% - Greeks, 0.4% - .
Currency of Germany. Euro = 100 cents.
Sightseeings of Germany. The country is rich in historical and cultural monuments. In Berlin - the Museum of Prussian Cultural Treasures, the Pergamon Museum, the Water Museum, Charlottenburg Castle, where in the 17th century palace. there are several museums, the palace and park of Sanssouci, and the arsenal, the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, the building, and the world's largest zoo. In Leipzig - the citadel, the Old Town Hall, the Battle of the Nations tower. In Dresden there is the Zwinger Palace with the famous art gallery, treasury and Weapons Museum. In Cologne there is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world, the St. Gereon Church. In Bonn there is the Beethoven House Museum. In Weimar there is the Goethe House Museum, in Meissen there is an old town museum, a porcelain factory-exhibition and much more.
Useful information for tourists
The day off for museums is usually Monday. On other days of the week, standard museum opening hours are from 9.00 to 18.00. Possible lunch break. On Tuesday and Wednesday, many museums are open late.
When speaking, you need to address your interlocutor, mentioning his name or position. If they are unknown, then you can call him “Herr Doctor! The word “doctor” is not reserved, as with us, only for doctors, but is used in any case when indicating a specialty or profession.
Before drinking, they raise a glass and clink glasses with their neighbor at the table (although, for example, in France they raise a glass but do not clink glasses).
The restaurant greets everyone around you, even strangers, with the expression “Mahlzeit,” which roughly means “Bon appetit.”
A “village on a federal scale” (bundesdorf) is often called a small town in western Germany, which for more than 40 years was the capital of Germany, and to this day some key ministries (including the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Defense) live here in Bonn, not in Berlin. How did it happen that neither Hamburg, nor Munich, nor Cologne, nor Frankfurt received this honor?
01. In fact, about 323 thousand people live in today's Bonn, but it still looks patriarchal, quiet and even provincial. 
02. The main attraction of the city is Beethoven, who was born here. This monument of his stands on Münsterplatz, opposite the Basilica of St. Martin - by the way, XI century - the oldest building in the city. 
03. How quiet and cozy it is here on Sundays... 
04. Awoke residents and a few tourists are drinking coffee... 
05. Literally a stone's throw from Münsterplatz, right between the houses, the medieval Sterntor Gate, dating back to 1244, has been preserved. In fairness, I note that in 1900 the gate was rebuilt partially from the remains of the original structure. This apparently explains the close proximity of medieval fortifications to relatively modern houses. 
06. During the Second World War, Bonn suffered relatively little damage, so the core of the old center was well preserved, so to speak, in its historical form. 
07. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why the choice of the capital of Germany in 1948 fell on Bonn. 
08. In addition, this issue was lobbied by the future chancellor, the architect of post-war democratic reforms, Kondrad Adenauer, a native of neighboring Cologne. Why not Cologne? Obviously, Cologne at that time was still in ruins... Bonn was a different matter. In addition, the Belgian occupation troops stationed here expressed their readiness, at the request of the German government, to leave the city, which means that the future Government and Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany will not have to work next to foreign military force. Most likely, all these factors contributed to the fact that Bonn became the capital of Germany in 1949. 
09. And remained so until 1990, until the unification of the two Germanys. And it could remain the capital until today! Berlin then won by a small margin. 
10. Another iconic square of the city is Market Square. There was a market here already in the 11th century! Now it is the central square of the city, which is crowned by the ceremonial building of the Town Hall (XVIII century). There was such a tradition that each new ruler of the Federal Republic of Germany first appeared before the public at the old Town Hall. What can I say, an institution on a federal scale!) 
12. On Sunday of the 21st century, traditionally all the shops are closed, a few citizens and tourists move along the streets, Russian speech is heard...) 
13. The calls of the muezzin are not yet heard in the streets, although if you believe, a large community of radical Islamists is concentrated in Bonn today... By the way, an interesting article, I recommend reading it. 
14. Let's return to Beethoven. 
15. The house where the great composer was born and lived until he was 22 has been preserved. There is now a museum here, but it was closed... So I won’t tell you about the atmosphere of Moonlight Sonata... 
16. But portraits of the great composer are depicted even in the works of street artists. Favorite place for selfies of Chinese tourists, and what’s more... Russians too.) 
17. The Opera building and the Rhine embankment appeared ahead. 
18. The Opera building certainly didn’t impress me, but the Rhine here is very wide. The Kennedy Bridge was built on the site of the beautiful Rhine Bridge of 1898, which was blown up in 1945. 
19. So to speak for comparison... Great, right? Why was the bridge named after the 35th President of the United States? Good question. This beauty was blown up by the troops of the retreating Wehrmacht, and not by the Americans, as was first thought. So for me the question still remains open. 
20. On the right opposite bank of the river is the former city of Boyel, which became part of Bonn in 1969. Apparently it's a residential neighborhood. Sort of like Moscow Biryulyovo...) 
21. On the left bank, landmarks of the business center and the former government quarter are visible. The tallest building, Post tower, is the headquarters of the famous German postal company Deutsche Post. 
22. Piers, piers, running athletes, boredom... Although in the evenings it will probably be more fun here.) 
23. I turn into the Hofgarten palace park. 
24. This is an ancient park at the former palace of the Electors, the main residence of the Cologne archbishops (until 1818). 
25. It’s not bad here. Nature, creative innovative monuments, 
26. students... 
27. Oh yes, I forgot to say that the Electoral Palace is, as it were, the main building of the University of Bonn (since 1818). 
28. How do you like this city avenue? 
29. The University of Bonn is a fairly well-known and significant educational institution in Europe. Friedrich Nietzsche, Heinrich Heine, Karl Marx, and many, many other world-famous names studied within its walls. 
30. And who knows what famous names in the future will be discovered within its walls? 
31. Opposite the university is the Academic Museum of Art. Interesting of course, but for another time. 
32. By the way, the well-known Joseph Ratzinger, the future Pope Benedict XVI, taught at the university. 
33. An interesting fact: within the walls of the university in the 19th century, two (!) theological faculties functioned in parallel: Catholic Theology and Protestant Theology. I don’t know if there are other similar precedents in world history?) 
34. The old town is quite small, it’s easy to get around it in an hour, maximum two. 
35. The walls of the Basilica of St. Martin have already appeared, 
36. on Münsterplatz. Everything is just as quiet and cozy here. If you listen closely, you can hear what the visitors of the cafe on the opposite side of the square are talking about. I wish I knew German...) 
37. I would love to go to the former government quarter, but alas, time is running out, we need to go to the airport. While waiting for the bus at the train station, I made full use of my camera, trying to capture moments of life in the city.
I will definitely come back here in the future. See what you didn’t see, and just plunge into the quiet provincial life of the former capital. This would probably be the atmosphere in Moscow if the capital were moved to, say, St. Petersburg, what do you think?)
The years 1945-1948 became a thorough preparation, which led to the split of Germany and the appearance on the map of Europe of two countries formed in its place - the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic. Decoding the names of states is interesting in itself and serves as a good illustration of their different social vectors.
Post-war Germany
After the end of World War II, Germany found itself divided between two occupation camps. The eastern part of this country was occupied by troops of the Soviet Army, the western part was occupied by the Allies. The western sector was gradually consolidated, the territories were divided into historical lands, which were administered by local governments. In December 1946, a decision was made to unite the British and American occupation zones - the so-called. Bisonia. It became possible to create a unified land management body. Thus, the Economic Council was created - an elected body empowered to make economic and financial decisions.
Prerequisites for the split
First of all, these decisions concerned the implementation of the “Marshall Plan” - a large-scale American financial project aimed at restoring the economies of European countries destroyed during the war. The Marshall Plan contributed to the separation of the eastern zone of occupation, since the USSR government did not accept the proposed assistance. Subsequently, different visions of the future of Germany by the allies and the USSR led to a split in the country and predetermined the formation of the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR.
Education Germany
The western zones needed full unification and official state status. In 1948, consultations between Western allied countries took place. The outcome of the meetings was the idea of creating a West German state. In the same year, the French occupation zone also joined Bisonia - thus the so-called Trizonia was formed. The Western lands carried out a monetary reform with the introduction of their own currency. The military governors of the united lands proclaimed the principles and conditions for the creation of a new state, placing special emphasis on its federalism. In May 1949, the preparation and discussion of its Constitution ended. The state was named Germany. The decoding of the name sounds like Germany. Thus, the proposals of land self-government bodies were taken into account, and republican principles of governing the country were outlined.
Geographically, the new country was located on 3/4 of the lands occupied by the former Germany. Germany had its own capital - the city of Bonn. The governments of the anti-Hitler coalition, through their governors, exercised control over the observance of the rights and norms of the constitutional system, controlled its foreign policy, and had the right to intervene in all areas of the economic and scientific activities of the state. Over time, the status of the lands was revised in favor of greater independence for the lands of Germany.
Education of the GDR
The process of state creation also took place in the eastern German lands occupied by the troops of the Soviet Union. The controlling body in the east was SVAG - the Soviet Military Administration. Under the control of SVAG, local government bodies - lantdagi - were created. Marshal Zhukov was appointed commander-in-chief of the SVAG, and in fact the master of East Germany. Elections to the new government bodies were held according to the laws of the USSR, that is, on a class basis. By special order of February 25, 1947, the Prussian state was liquidated. Its territory was divided between new lands. Part of the territory went to the newly formed Kaliningrad region, all settlements of the former Prussia were Russified and renamed, and the territory was populated by Russian settlers.
Officially, SVAG maintained military control over the territory of East Germany. Administrative control was carried out by the central committee of the SED, which was completely controlled by the military administration. The first step was the nationalization of enterprises and lands, confiscation of property and its distribution on a socialist basis. In the process of redistribution, an administrative apparatus was formed that took on the functions of state control. In December 1947, the German People's Congress began to function. In theory, the Congress was supposed to unite the interests of West and East Germans, but in fact in the Western lands its influence was insignificant. After the separation of the western lands, the NOC began to perform the functions of parliament exclusively in the eastern territories. The Second National Congress, formed in March 1948, carried out the main events related to the Constitution of the emerging country being prepared. By special order, the German mark was issued - thus, the five German states located in the zone of Soviet occupation switched to a single monetary unit. In May 1949, the Socialist Constitution was adopted and the Inter-Party Social and Political National Front was formed. The preparation of the eastern lands for the formation of a new state was completed. On October 7, 1949, at a meeting of the German Supreme Council, the creation of a new body of supreme state power, called the Provisional People's Chamber, was announced. In fact, this day can be considered the date of birth of a new state created in opposition to the Federal Republic of Germany. Decoding the name of the new state in East Germany - the German Democratic Republic, East Berlin became the capital of the GDR. The status was specified separately. For many years, the ancient city was divided into two parts by the Berlin Wall.
Development of Germany
The development of countries such as the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic was carried out using different economic systems. The Marshall Plan and the effective economic policies of Ludwig Erhrad allowed the economy to quickly grow in West Germany. Large GDP growth was announced. Guest workers arriving from the Middle East provided an influx of cheap labor. In the 50s, the ruling CDU party adopted a number of important laws. These include a ban on the activities of the Communist Party, the elimination of all consequences of Nazi activities, and a ban on certain professions. In 1955, the Federal Republic of Germany joined NATO.
Development of the GDR
The self-government bodies of the GDR, which were in charge of the administration of the German lands, ceased to exist in 1956, when a decision was made to liquidate local self-government bodies. The lands began to be called districts, and district councils began to represent the executive power. At the same time, the personality cult of advanced communist ideologists began to be implanted. The policy of Sovietization and nationalization led to the fact that the process of restoration of the post-war country was greatly delayed, especially against the backdrop of the economic successes of Germany.
Settlement of relations between the GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany
Deciphering the contradictions between the two fragments of one state gradually normalized relations between the countries. In 1973, the Treaty came into force. He regulated relations between Germany and the GDR. In November of the same year, Germany recognized the GDR as an independent state, and the countries established diplomatic relations. The idea of creating a single German nation was introduced into the Constitution of the GDR.
End of the GDR
In 1989, a powerful political movement, the New Forum, emerged in the GDR, which provoked a series of disturbances and demonstrations in all major cities of East Germany. As a result of the resignation of the government, one of the activists of the New Norum, G. Gysi, became the chairman of the SED. The mass rally that took place on November 4, 1989 in Berlin, at which demands for freedom of speech, assembly and expression of will were proclaimed, had already been agreed upon with the authorities. The response was a law allowing GDR citizens to cross without a valid reason. This decision was the reason for the division of the German capital for many years.
In 1990, the Christian Democratic Union came to power in the GDR, which immediately began to consult with the German government on the issue of uniting countries and creating a single state. On September 12, an agreement was signed in Moscow between representatives of the former allies of the anti-Hitler coalition on the final settlement of the German question.
The unification of Germany and the GDR would have been impossible without the introduction of a single currency. An important step in this process was the recognition of the German Deutsche Mark as a common currency throughout Germany. On August 23, 1990, the People's Chamber of the GDR decided to annex the eastern lands to the Federal Republic of Germany. After this, a series of transformations were carried out that eliminated socialist institutions of power and reorganized state bodies along the West German model. On October 3, the army and navy of the GDR were abolished, and instead of them, the Bundesmarine and Bundeswehr - the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany - were stationed in the eastern territories. The decoding of the names is based on the word "Bundes", which means "federal". The official recognition of the eastern lands as part of the Federal Republic of Germany was secured by the adoption of new subjects of state law by the Constitutions.
