Germany (/ ˈ dʒ ɜr m ə n i /), officially the Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland, pronounced [ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant] ( listen)), is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km and has a largely temperate seasonal climate. With 81.8 million inhabitants, it is the most populous member state and the largest economy in the European Union. It is one of the major political powers of the European continent and a technological leader in many fields.

A region named Germania, inhabited by several Germanic peoples, was documented before AD 100. During the Migration Age, the Germanic tribes expanded southward, and established successor kingdoms throughout much of Europe. Beginning in the 10th century, German territories formed a central part of the Holy Roman Empire. During the 16th century, northern German regions became the centre of the Protestant Reformation while southern and western parts remained dominated by Roman Catholic denominations, with the two factions clashing in the Thirty Years' War, marking the beginning of the Catholic–Protestant divide that has characterized German society ever since. Occupied during the Napoleonic Wars, the rise of Pan-Germanism inside the German Confederation resulted in the unification of most of the German states into the German Empire in 1871 which was Prussian dominated. After the German Revolution of 1918–1919 and the subsequent military surrender in World War I, the Empire was replaced by the Weimar Republic in 1918, and partitioned in the Versailles Treaty. Amidst the Great Depression, the Third Reich was proclaimed in 1933. The latter period was marked by Fascism and the Second World War. After 1945, Germany was divided by allied occupation, and evolved into two states, East Germany and West Germany. In 1990 Germany was reunified.

Germany was a founding member of the European Community in 1957, which became the EU in 1993. It is part of the Schengen Area and since 1999 a member of the eurozone. Germany is a member of the United Nations, NATO, the G8, the G20, the OECD and the Council of Europe, and took a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2011–2012 term.

It has the world's fourth largest economy by nominal GDP and the fifth largest by purchasing power parity. It is the second largest exporter and third largest importer of goods. The country has developed a very high standard of living and a comprehensive system of social security. Germany has been the home of many influential scientists and inventors, and is known for its cultural and political history.

Proper noun

Germany (countable and uncountable; plural Germanies or Germanys)

1. Country in Central Europe. Official name: Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland).
2. (countable; hist. 1949-1990) Either of the German states, FRG and GDR. The two Germanies exchanged permanent representatives in 1974.
3. (countable; hist. pre-1871) Any of the German states. Melton’s useful new book traces the explosion of public institutions in eighteenth-century England, France and the Germanies.

Quotations

1. • 1872, History of English Literature, an abridgment by John Fiske of H. van Laun's translation of Hippolyte Taine's 1864 Histoire de la littérature anglaise; page 26:

     While the Germans of Gaul, Italy, and Spain became Romans, the Saxons retained their language, their genius, and manners, and created in Britain a Germany outside of Germany.

Mrs Germany @ MrsGermany.com
An informational site about Mrs Germany. ... Social Studies: Geography: Europe: Germany (14) Regional ... mrs in germany" "list of mrs germany in germany" "german mrs"
www.mrsgermany.com

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• Kids: School Time: Social Studies: Geography: Europe: Germany (14)
• Regional: Europe: Regions: Baltic Sea (50)
• Regional: Europe: Regions: Central and Eastern Europe (63)
• Regional: Europe: Regions: North Sea (67)
• World: Deutsch (521,155)

• Discover Germany
  entdecke-deutschland.diplo.de
  The official internet portal of the Federal Republic of Germany. Offers details of the country's health services, tourism, government, economy, and culture.

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