Germany is a state in Central Europe. The official name of Germany is the Federal Republic of Germany; the abbreviation FRG is also widely used.
Territory of Germany - Area of the state of the Federal Republic of Germany - 357022 km².
Population of Germany - The population of Germany is more than 80 million inhabitants (80,594,017 as of July 2017).
The average life expectancy in Germany as of 2017 is 80.8 years (men - 78.5 years, women - 83.3 years).
The capital of Germany, Berlin, is the seat of the German government; some ministries and departments are located in Bonn.
Large cities in Germany - The largest cities in Germany are Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne. Next in importance is Germany's fifth most populous city and financial metropolis, Frankfurt am Main, which also has Germany's largest airport. It is the second largest airport in Europe, and the first in terms of profit from air cargo transportation.
The official language of Germany - The official literary language and language of office work in Germany is German. Along with this, the population of Germany uses Low, Middle and High German dialects, which are also spoken by residents of the border areas of neighboring countries. Recognized languages of national minorities include Danish, Frisian and Sorbian, as well as a regional language - Low Saxon (Low German), which has been recognized by the EU since 1994.
Citizens of foreign origin living in the country for whom German is not their native language, as well as their children, speak Russian (about 3 million), Turkish (about 3 million), Polish (about 2 million), and the languages of the peoples of the former Yugoslavia , Spanish, Italian, as well as in the languages of a number of Muslim states. As they assimilate into German society, these languages disappear over time. Mixed speech also arises. Migrants who are unable to master the German language, and therefore retain their original cultural identity, find themselves isolated. Russian is spoken by ethnic Germans, Russians and Jews, immigrants from the CIS countries (mainly from Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine).
Religion in Germany - Freedom of conscience and freedom of religion are guaranteed by the German constitution. The majority of Germans are Christians, with Catholics making up 32.4%, Protestants 32.0%, and Orthodox 1.14%. A small part of believers belong to Christian denominations - Baptists, Methodists, believers of the Free Evangelical Church and adherents of other religious movements. Some of the believers are Muslims (about 3.2 million or 3.8%), Jehovah's Witnesses (about 164,000 or 0.2%) and members of Jewish communities (about 100,000 or 0.12%). About 31% of the German population, mainly in the former GDR, are atheists.
Geographical location of Germany - Germany borders Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. In the north, its natural border is formed by the North and Baltic seas. Germany is separated from Sweden by a strait in the Baltic Sea.
The northern part of Germany is a low-lying plain formed during the Ice Age (North German Lowland, the lowest point is Neuendorf-Saxenbande in Wilstermarsch, 3.54 m below sea level). In the central part of the country, forested foothills adjoin the lowland from the south, and to the south the Alps begin (the highest point in Germany is Mount Zugspitze, 2,968 m).
Rivers of Germany - A large number of rivers flow through Germany, the largest of which are the Rhine, Danube, Elbe, Weser and Oder.
Administrative-territorial division of Germany: Germany is a state with a federal structure; Germany has 16 equal subjects - states (Bundeslander; see federal states of the Republic of Germany), three of them are cities (Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg).
Government structure of Germany: Form of government - parliamentary republic, form of government - symmetrical federation. Germany is a democratic, social, legal state. The German government is regulated by the German Basic Law. The form of government of the Federal Republic of Germany is a parliamentary democracy.
The head of state is the federal president, who performs rather representative functions and appoints the federal chancellor. The Federal Chancellor is the head of the German Government. He directs the activities of the Federal Government. Therefore, the form of government in Germany is often also called chancellor democracy.
Germany has a federal structure. Thus, the political system of the state is divided into two levels: federal, at which national decisions of international importance are made, and regional, at which the tasks of the federal states are solved. Each level has its own executive, legislative and judicial authorities.
The Bundestag (parliament) and the Bundesrat (the body representing the states) exercise legislative and advisory functions at the federal level and are authorized by a two-thirds majority vote in each body to make changes to the constitution. At the regional level, lawmaking is carried out by the state parliaments - Landtags and Burgerschafts (parliaments of the city states of Hamburg and Bremen). They make laws that apply within the lands.
Executive power at the federal level is represented by the Federal Government, headed by the Bundeschancellor. The head of executive authorities at the level of federal subjects is the prime minister (or burgomaster of the city-land). The federal and state administrations are led by ministers, who are at the head of administrative bodies.
The German Federal Constitutional Court oversees compliance with the constitution. Other supreme judicial authorities include the Federal Court in Karlsruhe, the Federal Administrative Court in Leipzig, the Federal Labor Court, the Federal Public Court and the Federal Financial Court in Munich. Most of the litigation is the responsibility of the Länder. Federal courts are primarily concerned with reviewing cases and reviewing decisions of state courts for formal legality.
Federal Republic of Germany(German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland), Germany (BRD) was proclaimed on May 23, 1949 in the territories located in the American, British and French zones of occupation of Nazi Germany (Trisonia). It was assumed that subsequently the remaining German territories would also become part of the Federal Republic of Germany, which was provided for and ensured by special article 23 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany. Due to the occupation of Berlin and giving it a special status, the capital of the state was temporarily moved to the provincial city of Bonn. In the same year, on October 7, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) was proclaimed in the Soviet occupation zone with its capital in Berlin (de facto, only in the eastern part of the city under GDR control). For the next forty years, both German states existed in parallel; Moreover, until the beginning of the 1970s, the German authorities categorically did not recognize the existence of the GDR, and since the 1970s they have taken the path of its partial recognition. October 3, 1990 after peaceful revolution in the GDR?! its territory was integrated into the Federal Republic of Germany in accordance with Article 23 of the German Constitution. At the same time, the capital was returned to Berlin.
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✪ Review of coin 2 Mark, Germany, 1978 / 2 Deutsche Mark, The Federal Republic of Germany, 1978
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I welcome everyone to my channel! Today I want to tell you about a 2 mark coin from the Federal Republic of Germany (or as West Germany is also called), 1978. This coin is a commemorative coin. It is dedicated to the twentieth anniversary of the Federal Republic of Germany. Let me remind you that after the end of the Second World War, the territory of Germany was divided into 4 occupation zones: American, French, British and USSR. Subsequently, the 3 western zones merged into the Federal Republic of Germany and West Berlin, and the USSR zone turned into the GDR. But in 1989, after the dismantling of the Berlin Wall that separated the two republics, Germany united into one republic. This coin was minted from 1969 to 1987 at four mints in Munich, Stuttgart, Karlsruhe and Hamburg. I welcome everyone to my channel! I welcome everyone. The coin from my collection was minted in Stuttgart in 1978 and its circulation is 3,743,636 copies. Let's look at the appearance of the coin. The designer of the obverse and reverse of the coin is Reingart Heinsdorff. The obverse of the coin depicts the coat of arms of the Federal Republic of Germany in the center - the Federal eagle without a shield. It has the same shape as the Federal Coat of Arms, but with feathers spread out. Under the right paw there is a letter (mint mark), in this case it is the letter F - the letter of the Stuttgart mint. Under the coat of arms is the denomination of the coin, with a large number 2 and further along the circumference you can read the denomination of the coin in words - German mark. On the opposite side is the name of the issuing country in the state language of the Federal Republic of Germany. Above the coat of arms you can read the year of issue of the coin, 1978. On the reverse of the coin in the center there is a profile looking to the left of Conrad Hermann Joseph Adenauer. (life 1876-1967) He ruled from 1949 and retired in 1963 due to his advanced age of eighty-seven years, and is one of the oldest heads of government in modern history. Under the portrait is the date 1949-1969 - the twentieth anniversary of the Federal Republic of Germany. The name of the country is repeated around the circumference of the reverse - the Federal Republic of Germany in large letters. The inscription is enclosed between two hemispheres. The country's motto is embossed on the edge of the coin: Unity and Law and Freedom. The beginning and end of the motto is enclosed by two oak leaves. Also, each word is separated by one oak leaf. Coin characteristics: Coin material: copper-nickel alloy; Coin diameter: 26.5 mm; Coin weight: 7 grams; Edge thickness: 1.8 mm; Edge type: embossed; Mutual position of obverse and reverse: Medal (0 °) If you liked the video, put a like. If you don’t want to miss the next review of the coin, I recommend subscribing to the channel, also watch reviews of other coins! Thanks everyone for watching! See you!
Germany in the first years after the surrender
After the occupation of Germany by the Allied forces (“Four Powers” - USA, Great Britain, France and the USSR), its territory was divided into four zones of occupation - Soviet, French, British, American and the city of Berlin with a special status (also divided into four zones). By 1949, the Western powers consolidated the administration of their zones of occupation into Trizonia. The eastern part of Germany remained under Soviet control.
Proclamation of the Federal Republic of Germany
Political status and claims to all German territory
The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany from the very beginning considered itself as the only legitimate representative of the entire German people, and the Federal Republic of Germany as the only successor state of the German Empire, and therefore had claims to all territories belonging to the German Empire as of December 31, 1937 (before the start of the military expansion of the Third Reich), including the territory of the GDR, West Berlin and the “former eastern regions” ceded to Poland and the USSR. The preamble of the German Constitution emphasized the desire of the German people for reunification in a single state. In the early years, the government of the Federal Republic of Germany avoided in every possible way any direct contacts with the government of the GDR in order to avoid the possible interpretation of such contacts as recognition of the GDR as an independent state.
| The German state, which did not cease to exist after the collapse, persists even after 1945, even if the structure created on the basis of the Basic Law is temporarily limited in its action on part of the territories of this state. Thus, the Federal Republic of Germany is identical with the German Empire. Decision of the Constitutional Court, 1957 - BVerfGE 6, 309 (336 ff., Zit. Abs. 160, Abs. 166) |
The UK and US also held the view that the Federal Republic of Germany was the successor to the German Empire, but France supported the idea that the German Empire had completely disappeared as a state in 1945. US President Harry Truman opposed signing a peace treaty with Germany, since, in his opinion, this would mean recognizing the existence of two German states. At the New York conference of the foreign ministers of the three powers in 1950, the status of the Federal Republic of Germany was finally officially determined. The states recognized the West German government's claim to be the sole legitimate representative of the German people, but refused to recognize the West German government as the government of all Germany.
Due to the non-recognition of the GDR, German legislation recognized the continued existence single German citizenship, derived from citizenship of the German Empire, therefore called its citizens simply German citizens and did not consider the territory of the GDR to be foreign. For this reason, the German citizenship law of 1913 continued to operate in the country, and a new law on German citizenship was not adopted. It is interesting to note that the same German citizenship law of 1913 continued to apply in the GDR until 1967, and the GDR Constitution also recognized the existence of a single German citizenship. In practice, this situation meant that any “German citizen” from the GDR could officially obtain a foreign passport to Germany once on its territory. To prevent this, the GDR government legally prohibited its residents from receiving German passports. Only in 1967 in the GDR, instead German citizenship own GDR citizenship, which was given to all German citizens who lived on the territory of the GDR at the time of its creation and who did not lose the right to GDR citizenship for a number of reasons. In Germany, the existence of special citizenship of the GDR was officially recognized only in October 1987, when the Constitutional Court of the Federal Republic of Germany ruled that any person who received GDR citizenship by naturalization automatically receives German citizenship (essentially German citizenship).
Non-recognition of the existence of the GDR was also reflected in the designation of state borders in geographical atlases. Thus, in the maps published in Germany in 1951, there is still a unified Germany within the borders of 1937. At the same time, the border between Germany and the GDR, as well as the Oder/Neisse line (the new border with Poland) and the border between Poland and the USSR in East Prussia are indicated by barely visible dotted lines; the territories ceded to Poland and the USSR are still part of a unified Germany, although they are signed as “territories under Polish and Soviet control”, and the toponyms located on them still bear the old German names. There is also no question of the existence of the GDR. In the 1971 edition, these boundaries are already indicated by a clearer dashed line, but still differ from the line indicating state boundaries.
Economics and politics
Development within the country
Thanks to US assistance under the Marshall Plan, as well as as a result of the implementation of economic development plans for the country developed under the leadership of Ludwig Erhard, rapid economic growth was achieved in the 1950s (the German economic miracle), which lasted until 1965. To meet the need for cheap labor, Germany supported the influx of guest workers, mainly from Turkey.
Since 1954, on June 17, the country has celebrated “Day of German Unity” in honor of the performances of June 17, 1953 in East Berlin. With the abolition of the occupation regime on May 5, 1955, the Federal Republic of Germany officially became a sovereign state. At the same time, sovereignty extended only to the areas of validity of the “Basic Law” and did not include Berlin and other former territories of the German Empire.
Until 1969, the country was ruled by the CDU party (usually in a bloc with the CSU and less often with the FDP). In the 1950s, a number of emergency laws were developed, many organizations were banned, including the Communist Party, and bans on professions were introduced. The internal political course related to denazification, that is, eliminating the consequences of the Nazis being in power, and preventing the revival of Nazi ideology and organizations, was continued. In 1955, Germany joined NATO.
Foreign policy and relations with the GDR
The government of the Federal Republic of Germany not only did not recognize the existence of the GDR, but also for a long time (from September 1955 to October 1969) adhered to the doctrine, according to which all diplomatic relations were severed with any states (the only exception was the USSR due to its belonging to the Four Powers) that officially recognized GDR. In practice, the severance of diplomatic relations for this reason occurred twice: in 1957 with Yugoslavia and in 1963 with Cuba.
After the construction of the Berlin Wall by the GDR authorities in 1961, discussions about the possible recognition of the GDR as an independent state began to appear more and more often in Germany. With Willy Brandt taking office as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1969, a new stage began in relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and the GDR and between the Federal Republic of Germany and the socialist countries of Eastern Europe in general. The Moscow Treaty, signed in 1970, according to which Germany renounced its claims to the former eastern regions of the German Empire, which went to Poland and the USSR after the war, marked the beginning of the era of the “new Eastern policy”.
In 1969, the Social Democrats came to power. They recognized the inviolability of post-war borders, weakened emergency legislation, and carried out a number of social reforms. During the reign of federal chancellors Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt, there was a significant improvement in relations between Germany and the USSR, which was further developed in the policy of détente. The Moscow Treaty between the USSR and the Federal Republic of Germany in 1970 fixed the inviolability of borders, the renunciation of territorial claims (East Prussia) and declared the possibility of uniting the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic. On December 21, 1972, the Fundamental Treaty was concluded between the GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany. Subsequently, Social Democrats and Christian Democrats alternated in power.
In 1973, both German states were admitted to the UN after the Federal Republic of Germany recognized the state sovereignty of the GDR according to the rules of state law, although it did not recognize it
Seventy years ago, on August 13, 1948, a decision was made and announced in Germany on the location of the post-war Parliamentary Council (Parlamentarischer Rat), convened to adopt the Basic Law of the future Federal Republic of Germany. The choice fell on Bonn, which would later also become the capital of Germany. Or rather, to use the official wording, it is the temporary residence of the government and parliament of West Germany (Regierungssitz). West German politicians viewed the division of the country as a temporary situation - it became part of the political doctrine. Even the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany will therefore be called not a constitution (Verfassung), but a Basic Law (Grundgesetz).
Chronicle of the constitutional process
In the spring of 1948, the London meeting was held in Great Britain, which was attended by the victorious Western powers (Great Britain, USA, France), as well as three Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg) - the immediate neighbors of West Germany. It was there that the decision was made to create a separate German state in the three western occupation zones. Representatives of the USSR were not invited to London.
On July 1, 1948, the military commandants of the western occupation zones summoned to Frankfurt am Main the prime ministers of the then states under their control: Bavaria, Hesse, Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Württemberg-Baden , Württemberg-Hohenzollern and Baden, as well as two mayors of the Hanseatic cities of Hamburg and Bremen, which historically had a special state status in Germany.
History lessons
Those invited received the so-called Frankfurt Documents, which contained the conditions of the victorious Western powers for the adoption of a new constitution and other demands. Ten days before this meeting, the German mark was declared the only means of payment in the western zones of occupation, which also became an important step towards the creation of the Federal Republic of Germany and laid the foundations for the future West German economic miracle.
In mid-July, the prime ministers and mayors held a meeting in Koblenz, located in the French zone of occupation. The country's new constitution was supposed to exclude the possibility of a repetition of the situation that led to the creation of the "Third Reich", guarantee the integrity of the individual, freedom of opinion and compliance with other principles of a democratic state - separation of powers and so on, that is, learn from the mistakes of the Weimar Republic that made the seizure possible power by Hitler.
Photo gallery: "The Path of Democracy" in Bonn
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Through the historical places of Bonn
First steps
This photograph captures one of the first key moments in Germany's post-war political history. In September 1949, Konrad Adenauer was elected first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and soon began negotiations with the high commissioners of the victorious Western powers in order to achieve greater sovereignty for his government.
Through the historical places of Bonn
"The Path of Democracy"
Meetings between Adenauer and the commissioners took place in a hotel on Mount Petersberg near Bonn, where their headquarters were located. For the next 40 years, this small city on the Rhine was to become the temporary capital of Germany - until the official reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990. The government operated here even longer, before moving to Berlin in 1999.
Through the historical places of Bonn
Government Quarter
You can get a glimpse into Bonn's recent past by taking a walk along the "Way of Democracy" (Weg der Demokratie) route. Most of the historical sites are located in the former government quarter. Information boards are installed near each of them. The photo shows a monument to Konrad Adenauer (CDU) on an alley named after another German Chancellor - Willy Brandt (SPD).
Through the historical places of Bonn
Special status
Before going on a walk along the route, we note that Bonn is now a city of federal significance. This is enshrined in a special law. About 7,000 government officials continue to work here, the main offices of six of the fourteen ministries, some departments, and other official institutions and organizations are located.
Through the historical places of Bonn
Museum of History
The starting point of the "Way of Democracy" is the Museum of German History (Haus der Geschichte der Bundesrepublik), located opposite the former Office of the Federal Chancellor. It was opened in 1994 and is now one of the most visited museums in Germany - about 850 thousand people annually. Among the exhibits is this government Mercedes.
Through the historical places of Bonn
The first stop on the route is the Federation House (Bundeshaus). These buildings on the banks of the Rhine housed the parliament: the Bundesrat and the Bundestag. The oldest part of the complex is the former Pedagogical Academy, built in the 1930s in the style of new materiality. In the northern wing of the academy in 1948-1949, the Basic Law (Constitution) of the Federal Republic of Germany was developed.
Through the historical places of Bonn
First hall
The first Bundestag began working in the former Pedagogical Academy, rebuilt in just seven months, in September 1949. A few years later, a new eight-story office building for deputies was erected nearby. The Bundestag met in its first plenary hall until 1988. It was then demolished and a new hall was built on this site, which was used until the move to Berlin.
Through the historical places of Bonn
UN in Bonn
Now most of the former parliament buildings in Bonn have been transferred to the disposal of UN units located in the former capital of Germany, in particular, the Secretariat of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. In total, about a thousand employees of this international organization work in the city.
Through the historical places of Bonn
Made of glass and concrete
The next stop is near the new plenary hall of the Bundestag, the construction of which was completed in 1992. The last time MPs gathered here on the Rhine was in July 1999, on the eve of moving to the Berlin Reichstag and the new parliamentary complex on the banks of the Spree.
Through the historical places of Bonn
New hall
The plenary hall is not empty now. It regularly hosts various meetings and events. This photo was taken in the former Bundestag in June 2016 during the Global Media Forum conference. It is held annually by the media company Deutsche Welle, whose editorial complex is located nearby. The WCCB international convention center and a large five-star hotel were built opposite it.
Through the historical places of Bonn
From September 1986 to October 1992, plenary sessions of the Bundestag, while the new hall was being built, were temporarily held in a former water station on the banks of the Rhine - Altes Wasserwerk. This impressive neo-Gothic style building was erected in 1875. In 1958, the water pumping station was decommissioned. The building was purchased by the government and became part of the parliamentary complex.
Through the historical places of Bonn
From Bonn to Berlin
On October 3, 1990, on the day of the country's reunification, Berlin again became the capital of a united Germany, but the question of where the government would work remained open. The place where the historic decision to move from Bonn was made was the plenary hall in the old water pump. This happened on June 20, 1991, after a heated ten-hour debate. The margin was only 18 votes.
Through the historical places of Bonn
Parliament building
The next stop on the "Way of Democracy" is the high-rise building "Langer Eugen", that is, "Long Eugen". So he was nicknamed in honor of the Chairman of the Bundestag Eugen Gerstenmaier, who especially advocated for this project. Nearby are the white buildings of Deutsche Welle. These buildings were supposed to house the offices of the parliament, which expanded after the reunification of the country, but plans changed due to the move to Berlin.
Through the historical places of Bonn
"Tulip Field"
The Tulip Field office complex (Tulpenfeld) was built in the 1960s by order of the Allianz concern specifically to be leased to the government. The fact is that earlier the German authorities decided not to build new buildings in Bonn, since the city was considered as a temporary capital. The premises here were rented by the Bundestag, various departments and the Federal Press Conference.
Through the historical places of Bonn
Bonn editions
This photo was taken in the hall of the Federal press conference in 1979 during the visit of USSR Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko. Next to the "Tulip Field" on Dahlmannstraße, the Bonn editorial offices of leading German media and correspondent bureaus of foreign press and news agencies were located.
Through the historical places of Bonn
We have already talked about this residence of German chancellors in detail in a separate report, which can be viewed at the link at the end of the page. In 1964, the first owner of the chancellor bungalow, built in the classical modern style, became the father of the German economic miracle, Ludwig Erhard. Helmut Kohl, who headed the German government for 16 years, lived and worked here the longest.
Through the historical places of Bonn
New Chancellor's Office
From the chancellor's bungalow it is a stone's throw to the Federal Chancellor's Office. From 1976 to 1999, the offices of Helmut Schmidt, Helmut Kohl and Gerhard Schröder were located here. In 1979, the work of the British sculptor Henry Moore "Large Two Forms" was installed on the lawn in front of the main entrance. Now the central office of the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development is located here.
Through the historical places of Bonn
Previously, the offices of German chancellors were located in Schaumburg Palace. It was erected in 1860 by order of a textile manufacturer, later purchased by Prince Adolf zu Schaumburg-Lippe and rebuilt in the style of late classicism. Since 1939, the building was at the disposal of the Wehrmacht, and in 1945 it was transferred to the command of the Belgian units in occupied Germany.
Through the historical places of Bonn
From Adenauer to Schmidt
In 1949, Schaumburg Palace became the place of work of the first Federal Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer. This is what his office looked like. The palace was then used by chancellors Ludwig Erhard, Kurt Georg Kiesinger, Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt until 1976. In 1990, German-German agreements on the creation of monetary, economic and social unions were signed here.
Through the historical places of Bonn
The neighboring Villa Hammerschmidt, built in the mid-18th century, was occupied by German presidents until 1994, when Richard von Weizsäcker decided to move to Berlin's Bellevue Palace. At the same time, the Bonn villa retained its status as a presidential residence in a federal city on the Rhine.
Through the historical places of Bonn
König Museum
The first pages of the post-war history of Germany were written... in the König Zoological Museum. In 1948, the Parliamentary Council began to meet in it, whose tasks included the development of a new constitution. Also here, for two months after his election as chancellor, before moving to Schaumburg Palace, Konrad Adenauer worked. This photograph was taken during a visit to his former office by Angela Merkel.
Through the historical places of Bonn
Old Town Hall
During its decades as a capital, Bonn has seen many politicians and statesmen from all over the world. One of the points of their mandatory program was a visit to the city hall in order to leave an entry in the Golden Book of Honored Guests. This photograph was taken on the main staircase during Mikhail Gorbachev's visit to Germany in 1989.
Through the historical places of Bonn
Many heads of state visiting Bonn stayed at the Petersberg Hotel, where we began our reporting. It served as a government guest residence. Elizabeth II, Emperor Akihito, Boris Yeltsin, and Bill Clinton lived here. This photo was taken in 1973 during the visit of Leonid Brezhnev, who got behind the wheel of the Mercedes 450 SLC that had just been given to him. On the same day he crushed it on the Bonn road.
Through the historical places of Bonn
P.S.
Our report has come to an end, but “The Path of Democracy” does not end. The route then passes by ministries on the banks of the Rhine, the offices of parliamentary parties and the Hofgarten park. It was the site of rallies that attracted more than 300 thousand people. For example, in 1981 there were protests here against the deployment of American nuclear missiles in West Germany.
To accomplish this task, it was decided to split the work into two stages - expert and legislative. In the first stage, a Constitutional Convention (Verfassungskonvent) was organized to prepare proposals. It took place in the Old Palace on the island of Herrenchiemsee in Bavaria. The opening took place on August 10, 1948 in the former dining room of the Bavarian King Ludwig II. The secluded, quiet place in the middle of the picturesque Chiemsee Lake was not chosen by chance - away from everyday political disputes. The convention was attended by 30 people - lawyers, experts in the field of public administration and politicians. The latter were in the minority. In two weeks, the participants of the convention prepared a complete draft constitution, consisting of 149 articles.
While the experts were meeting on the Bavarian island, West German politicians were looking for a place to hold a constitutional meeting - the Parliamentary Council, in which delegates from the state parliaments were to participate. The process of adopting a constitution was supposed to take several months, which required suitable infrastructure, which significantly reduced the number of candidate cities in a country that lay in ruins after the war.
Frankfurt, Celle, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Bonn, Koblenz or Karlsruhe
The Americans at first were not averse to choosing Frankfurt am Main for these purposes, but still gave in to the British, who really wanted to organize a Parliamentary Council in their occupation zone. The initial candidates included the Lower Saxon city of Celle, the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia Düsseldorf, as well as Cologne and Bonn. Later also called Koblenz and Karlsruhe.
The choice of Bonn was largely influenced by the personal sympathies of one of the German politicians. This city was proposed by the then head of the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hermann Wandersleb, in the future - its honorary citizen. Not long before, he had held a seminar here and very warmly recalled the warm welcome given by the residents. In addition, enough buildings survived in Bonn to hold meetings and accommodate participants, and the resort of Bad Godesberg was nearby, and it was just a stone’s throw from here to the French occupation zone.
Cologne did not make the final list because it was almost completely destroyed, and Düsseldorf simply did not show enough interest in response to the request. The same could not be said about Bonn. The final decision was made during a telephone conference on August 13, 1948. The issue of the capital was not yet discussed, but holding the Parliamentary Council here significantly increased its chances.
This decision also could not but please the future first Federal Chancellor of West Germany, Konrad Adenauer, who was to preside over the Parliamentary Council. He could go to meetings directly from home. Adenauer had lived for more than ten years in the village of Röndorf, located nearby on the opposite bank of the Rhine. The politician moved here from neighboring Cologne after he was removed from his post as mayor in 1933 by the National Socialists who came to power in Germany. Adenauer was elected to this position in 1917, becoming then the youngest head of administration of a large German city. Röndorf was a kind of place of his political exile during the “Third Reich”. The Adenauer family house now houses a museum.
"Human dignity is inviolable"
The first meeting of the Parliamentary Council, which was attended by 65 delegates from the state parliaments and city councils of Hamburg and Bremen, took place on September 1, 1948, the last one on May 8, 1949. The solemn ceremony of signing and promulgation of the Basic Law took place in Bonn on May 23. Members of the Parliamentary Council are usually called “parents of the German constitution”, or rather “fathers” (Verfassungsväter). There were only four women among the delegates. Five representatives from West Berlin also attended the council meetings, but without voting rights.
Photo gallery: How chancellors lived on the Rhine
Former residence of the German chancellors in Bonn. It was erected in a park on the banks of the Rhine near the Federal Chancellery and the government area. The first owner of the Chancellor's Bungalow (Kanzlerbungalow) in 1964 was Ludwig Erhard, the father of the German economic miracle.
Sculpture in front of the entrance to the chancellor's bungalow.
Entrance to the chancellor's bungalow.
Visiting Helmut Kohl - Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, 1992.
Dining table in the living room of the Chancellor's bungalow.
Russian President Boris Yeltsin and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl in front of the bungalow, 1998.
Coalition negotiations between the SPD and FDP in the Chancellor's bungalow, 1980. Among the participants are Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt.
Silver service from the chancellor's bungalow.
Popular singer and composer Udo Jürgens visiting Federal Chancellor Kurt Georg Kiesinger, 1969.
Chancellor's kitchen.
List of internal telephone numbers of a service apartment.
Bedroom in the service apartment of the chancellor's residence.
Chancellor's Pool.
The Basic Law, like the draft Constitutional Convention, ultimately consisted of 149 articles. Many formulations were taken unchanged, some were rewritten. For example, the first article begins with the phrase “Human dignity is inviolable. It is the duty of all state authorities to respect and protect it” (“Die Würde des Menschen ist unantastbar. Sie zu achten und zu schützen ist Verpflichtung aller staatlichen Gewalt”). In the draft it sounded like this: “The state exists for man, not man for the state” (“Der Staat ist um des Menschen willen da, nicht der Mensch um des Staates willen”).
The car of the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, the passport of the first guest worker, documents and photos from the Nuremberg Trials... The post-war history of Germany comes to life in this museum.
The procedure for expressing no confidence in the current chancellor has also become significantly more complicated. A so-called constructive vote of no confidence was introduced - instead of a destructive vote. According to this procedure, the Bundestag can only remove the head of government if it simultaneously elects a successor. This is exactly what happened in 1982, when the Social Democrat Helmut Schmidt was replaced by the Christian Democrat Helmut Kohl.
The new provisional constitution of Germany significantly strengthened the role of the federal states and the upper house of parliament - the Bundesrat. Control over the police, financial departments, as well as in the spheres of education and culture passed into the competence of the lands.
Is there anything more permanent than temporary?
Frankfurt am Main claimed the right to become the capital of Germany in 1949. In any case, he was the favorite, but this caused concern among representatives of West Berlin. They believed that in this case, Berlin would never regain this status - given the important role that Frankfurt played in German history. For centuries, German emperors were elected and crowned in the local Old Town Hall. In the same city in 1848-1849, the Frankfurt National Assembly, the first all-German parliament, met. In turn, small and cozy Bonn was not noticed in such ambitions and has already shown its best side. On November 3, 1949, he received the votes of 176 of the 200 deputies of the first Bundestag.
Bonn coped with its tasks perfectly, and this period went down in German history under the name of the Bonn Republic. On October 3, 1990, the country was officially reunified. At this moment, Berlin again became the capital of Germany, but the parliament and government were in no hurry to move to the banks of the Spree from their temporary residence.
The final vote on this issue, after long and emotional discussions, took place on June 20, 1991. The idea of staying in Bonn was supported by 320 deputies. 338 voting participants voted in favor of moving to Berlin. However, Bonn received the status of a federal city, which still houses many ministries and thousands of government officials.
Reichstag - building of the state assembly
Germany (Deutschland), Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), a country with an amazing and tragic fate, the twentieth century shook it, it was divided, reunited again to become one of the strongest states in the world. Now the German states consist of 16 equal districts.
A little history
At the end of November 1989, the triumphant Germans of both Germanys dismantled this wall, but a small fragment of it still remained, it was deliberately not touched, as a reminder of past events. And on September 3, 1990, after all the formalities were resolved, the two Germanys finally united into one.
The capital of Germany now, as in past times, is Berlin. Although many ministries and administrative services still remain in Bonn.
Today Germany is a member of the European Union and NATO, one of the G7 members. The Federal Republic of Germany also aspires to permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
Lands of Germany
Today, Deutschland is a parliamentary republic; it includes 16 equal districts - states, each of which has its own capital. The largest of them is Bavaria, with its capital in Munich. The German states and their capitals are divided into districts and districts.
Berlin
The current capital itself is a separate land, although it is entirely located inside another state - Brandenburg, with its capital in Potsdam. This is the largest city in Germany, very ancient and beautiful. It stands on the Spree River, it is also unofficially called Athens on the Spree. It amazes with the beauty of its architecture.
In 1933, after the National Socialists came to power, Berlin became the capital of Nazi Germany. In 1941-1945. Berlin suffered serious damage from Anglo-American bombing, artillery shelling and street fighting.
Other lands
Land - Capital - Area (km²) - Population (persons)
By the beginning of 2017, the population of Germany was 81,314,569 people.
Despite the high standard of living, the number of ethnic Germans is declining; the country's population remains at approximately the same level only due to immigrants.
Geography
Germany is located in the very center of Western Europe, most of it is located in a low-lying plain, and the Alps adjoin it to the south. The highest point is Zugspitze 2,960 m.
There are many rivers here - the largest and most famous are the Rhine, Danube, Elbe, Weser and Oder, they are connected by canals. One of them is Kiel, through which the Baltic and North Seas are connected.
There are few lakes in the Federal Republic of Germany, the largest is Lake Constance, which is located in the foothills of the Alps, on the border of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The Rhine flows through this lake; it freezes only in the harshest winters. This lake is navigable and also has a ferry service. The Monastery Island of Reichenau is worth seeing on the lake.
Climate
The weather in Germany is unstable, this is due to the difference in the landscape and the proximity of the mountains. In summer there are periods of cold weather and rain, in winter the temperature rises to above zero. Truly extreme natural phenomena and temperatures practically never happen here. Briefly, the climate can be described as temperate. Average temperature in January: -5 - +2, in July about 20 - 25 degrees.
Protected architectural monuments and natural areas
Germany has many natural areas, parks, and biosphere reserves. These are picturesque landscapes that have been preserved in their original form.
14 national parks throughout the country, many other natural monuments, and protected natural areas make Germany one of the greenest countries in Europe.
Germany is a country with a rich history and unique architectural monuments. Many of them are under the protection of UNESCO.
Hotels
Radisson Blu Hotel in Berlin - 5-star hotel features a 25-meter aquarium
It is worth visiting Germany to see its beauty and originality. You can stay in hotels for every taste - from luxurious five-star hotels to simple and practical hotels. Everyone will find a hotel for themselves at an affordable price. The hotels offer a comfortable stay, free Wi-Fi, and breakfast is included in the price.
There are also many comfortable and practical hostels where you can have a good rest and cook your own food.
Public transport
The system is well organized. There are metro and city trains, buses and trams. The fare payment system is conveniently set up - a single ticket is valid with transfers. The price depends on the time and distance of travel, there is a system of benefits and discounts, and there are also many taxis.
There are few international buses - they are successfully replaced by electric trains.
A widely branched network of roads of all classes has been built.
Airports
Germany has several international airports that serve air flights from many countries around the world.
The largest of them is Frankfurt am Main. It receives most domestic and international flights. You can get to it by electric train, bus or car.
Dresden-Klosche has had international status since 2008.
A new international airport is being built in Berlin, Berlin-Brandenburg, but for now flights from Moscow are accepted at the old one, Tegel.
The 24-hour Cologne-Bonn airport is also international and hosts some Russian airlines.
Germany - the most detailed information about the country with photos. Sights, cities of Germany, climate, geography, population and culture.
Germany (Deutschland)
Germany is a state in Central Europe. One of the largest and richest countries in the European Union, it is washed by the North and Baltic seas and borders Denmark in the north, the Czech Republic and Poland in the east, Austria and Switzerland in the south, France, Belgium, Holland (the Netherlands) and Luxembourg in the west. Germany consists of 16 federal states and is a federal state with a parliamentary form of government. The official language is German. The majority of the population professes Christianity.
Germany is one of the most popular holiday and travel destinations. The country is extremely diverse: from the sandy beaches of the Baltic and North Seas to the mountain ranges of the Alps in the south, from the dark forests and picturesque nature of the Black Forest to the endless fields of the agricultural regions, from the vineyards of the Rhine Valley to the chalk cliffs of Rügen. Here you can find a place to your liking: the ancient cities of Bavaria - Nuremberg, Regensburg, Bamberg or the famous Hanseatic cities - Bremen, Rostock, Lubeck, modern metropolises - Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Frankfurt am Main or other popular tourist centers - Dresden , Hannover, Cologne.
Useful information about Germany
- The official language is German.
- Currency - euro.
- Visa - Schengen.
- The standard of living is high.
- Population - more than 82 million people.
- Area - more than 357 thousand square meters. m.
- The capital is Berlin.
- It is customary to leave a tip of 5-10% of the bill amount.
- Time zone +1. Relative to Moscow time -1 in summer and -2 in winter.
- The form of government is a federal parliamentary republic.
Geography and nature
Northern Germany is flat. The central part of the country is mainly hills and foothills covered with forest. The southern part of Germany is mountainous. The Alps begin here and the highest point is Mount Zugspitze (2,962 m).
A huge number of rivers flow through Germany. The largest of them are: Rhine, Danube, Elbe, Oder. The largest lake is Lake Constance, with an area of more than 500 square meters. km and a maximum depth of 250 meters.
The north of Germany is washed by the North and Baltic seas. The main seaports and seaside resorts are located here. There are a large number of islands in the coastal zone, the largest of which is the island of Rügen.
The nature of Germany is typical for a temperate climate. Most of the territory (32%) is covered with deciduous and mixed forests, dominated by spruce, pine, oak and beech. In arid places there are heather plains, a small part of the territory is covered with swamps, and in the mountains you can find alpine and subalpine meadows. Half of the country is agricultural land: fields and pastures. There are vineyards in the Rhine Valley. The fauna is typical for the forest zone, with the exception that there are no large mammals left in Germany: moose, brown bears, wolves, etc.
Climate
Germany is located in a temperate climate zone. In the north, the climate and weather are largely determined by the proximity of the sea. In the south, the climate is closer to temperate continental. The weather in Germany is often quite changeable. Warm days may alternate between cool and rainy. In general, the seasons of the year are clearly distinguished and some extreme weather events (heat, severe frosts and hurricanes) are quite rare and fleeting. The average summer temperature is 15-20 degrees. In winter the temperature is close to zero or slightly frosty. It is, of course, colder in the mountains. 600-800 mm of precipitation falls per year (it all depends on the region).
Best time to visit
Germany is a country that can be visited almost all year round. It all depends on the season you like. Germany is magical at Christmas and winter, covered in snow, blooming in spring, green in summer and beautiful in autumn. The ideal time to visit is considered to be from May to August. This is the time of the highest tourist season. The transition period with comfortable weather conditions is March-April and September-October. Late autumn and winter (except Christmas holidays) is the low tourist season, which is not bad for economical travel.
Story
The country's name in Russian comes from the Latin name of the tribes living beyond the Rhine Valley and dates back to the times of the Roman Empire. The Romans called these tribes "Germans". The official name of the country in German is Deutschland. Used since the 15th century.
The first mentions of Germanic tribes date back to the period of Ancient Greece. Further references to the Germans are found in ancient Roman documents. From Antiquity to the 10th century, most of Germany was inhabited by Slavic tribes. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, a Frankish kingdom was formed in Western Europe. In the 9th century, Charlemagne created a new empire, which did not last long. Charles's grandchildren divided the empire into three kingdoms. The Kingdom of the East Franks later became Germany.
The founding date of Germany as a state is considered to be 962, when the king of the eastern Franks, Otto I, became king of the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire was a confederation of lands with broad powers. They had their own coin and army. The emperor was chosen at a special council. The lands represented their interests in the Reichstag.
In the 12th-14th centuries, the lands on which the Slavs lived one way or another became part of the Empire. The Slavic population was forced out or assimilated.
The Holy Roman Empire ceased to exist in the early 19th century during the Napoleonic Wars. After the Congress of Vienna, the German Confederation was formed, which was ruled by the Kaiser. In 1866, the German Confederation collapsed. In 1877, the North German Confederation was formed, which later became the German Empire. At the end of the 19th century, Germany became one of the leading countries in Europe. The country is experiencing a flourishing of culture, science and philosophy.
In 1914, Germany entered the First World War. In 1918, as a result of the revolution, the King of Prussia abdicated the throne, and Germany became a Socialist Republic. In 1933, the National Socialist Party led by Adolf Hitler came to power. In 1939, World War II began. After the end of the war and defeat in it, the country was divided into two parts - the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic. In 1990, Germany became united. The GDR became part of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Administrative division
Germany consists of 16 federal states:
- Baden-Württemberg - Stuttgart city center
- Free State of Bavaria - center of Munich
- Berlin (capital)
- Brandenburg - Potsdam city center
- Free Hanseatic City of Bremen
- Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg
- Hesse - center of Wiesbaden
- Mecklenburg-Vorpommern - center of Schwerin
- Lower Saxony - center Hannover
- North Rhine-Westphalia - center of Düsseldorf
- Rhineland-Palatinate - Mainz center
- Saarland - center of Saarbrücken
- Free State of Saxony - center Dresden
- Saxony-Anhalt - Magdeburg center
- Schleswig-Holstein - center of Kiel
- Free State of Thuringia - center Erfurt
Population
The population of Germany is more than 82 million people. The country is one of the largest in terms of population in Europe. 92% of the population are Germans. The largest diasporas include: Turkish, from the countries of the former Yugoslavia and the post-Soviet space. The majority of the population professes Christianity. 90% of German residents live in cities. The official language is German. Many people (especially young people) speak English. Approximately 6 million people understand Russian.
The Germans are a neat, serious and disciplined nation. They try to adhere to the rules, love order, take all issues seriously and are sometimes even overly pedantic. Regarding openness, it all depends on the person. In general, Germans are quite open and friendly. It seemed that the population of West Germany was more open than that of East Germany.
Transport
Germany's transport infrastructure is one of the best in Europe and the world. One of the main advantages of the transport network is the famous autobahns. These are high-speed highways with excellent road surfaces. Some of them don't even have speed limits. Considering that the highways connecting Germany with neighboring countries are free, and the cost of fuel here is slightly cheaper than in France, Austria and Italy, moving around the country by car is very fast and comfortable. One of the downsides is that there are congestion near large cities and fairly dense traffic flows, which somewhat increases travel time.
There are quite a lot of international airports in Germany. They connect the country with almost all countries of Europe and the world. The largest airports in Germany are located in Frankfurt am Main, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Dresden, Nuremberg.
Germany also has a well-developed railway connection. The length of railways is more than 35 thousand km. High-speed trains are integrated into the European transport system.
Cities of Germany
The capital of Germany is the city of Berlin, located in the northeastern part of the country on the banks of the Spree River. This is one of the largest cities in Europe. Berlin became the capital during the German Empire. From 1961 to 1989 it was divided by a wall, which became one of its main attractions and symbols.
The economic center of Germany is the city of Frankfurt am Main. It is also probably the most modern city in the country with skyscrapers and many new buildings. The former capital of Germany, Bonn, also deserves attention.
Hamburg is one of the largest cities in Germany and its main seaport. The ancient Hanseatic cities of Northern Germany are very interesting - Bremen, Lübeck, Luneburg, the Black Forest, the island of Rügen and much more.
There are 34 sites in Germany that are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
There are a large number of castles in Germany. The most famous of them are Kaiserburg in Nuremberg, Neuschwanstein, Hohenzollern, Heidelberg, Wartburg, Hohenschwangau.
Very famous are the monuments of sacred architecture - ancient cathedrals and churches. Grandiose Gothic masterpieces have been preserved in Northern Germany and Bavaria.
Germany is an extremely interesting country for tourists. Despite two world wars, almost every ancient city can surprise you with interesting sights and old architecture.
Accommodation
There are a huge number of hotels, inns, and guesthouses in different price categories in Germany. The average cost of a room is significantly higher than the neighboring Czech Republic and Poland and is approximately on the same level as France and Austria. Although if you plan your trip in advance, you can find very economical and convenient options. Many places include breakfast in the price, which is usually very good. In principle, a good double room in almost any region of Germany can be found for 50-70 euros.
Kitchen
German cuisine is a synthesis of Eastern European and Western European dishes. However, there are differences in the cuisine of the north and south. Traditional regional cuisine can be found in Northern Germany and Bavaria.
The cost of food in Germany is not the cheapest. The average bill for two in an inexpensive restaurant is approximately 50 euros.
The main drink in Germany is beer. At the same time, the quality and production volumes of the foamy drink are in no way inferior to the Czech Republic. The historical region of Franconia is home to wine regions that produce very good wine.
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