Recent history

1949: After World War 2, with the advent of the Cold War, two German states formed: western Federal Republic of Germany (BDR) embedded in key western economic and security organisations – the European Community and NATO), and eastern, German Democratic Republic (DDR) one of the leading states of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact.

1989: 9 November - first breach of the Berlin Wall, separating West and East Germany in the city.

1990: German reunification followed the collapse of communist regime in DDR.
Germany has since then invested heavily to bring productivity and wages in the former DDR up to western levels.
Berlin became the capital once again.

1999: Germany adopts the €uro.