FREE ESSAY ON GERMANY

GERMANY

Germany stretches from the Alps to the Baltic Sea. It includes large mountains, hills,
rivers, forests, and planes. Elevations in Germany range from sea level to 9718 feet.
Temperatures average 48 degrees, and rainfall in some areas reaches 59 inches. About 81
million people who produce products from cars to chemicals to textiles, and even the
trolley witch run in San Diego populate Germany. Aside from its rich culture and
landscape, Germany also has an enormous history. 
World war one began on July 28, 1914 shortly after the assassination of Archduke Francis
Ferdinand in Serbia. Austria declared war on Serbia and so started one of the most fierce
and bloody battles in history. The war, which was estimated to last only a few months,
dragged on for over 4 years. World War I also ushered in a new era of navel and air
technology. Airplanes were used for the first time for reconnaissance work over the
trenches, but their role as reconnaissance aircraft quickly changed when airplane crews
were given small bombs and had machine guns mounted on their planes. Aircraft technology
rapidly advanced with people like Henry Fokker spearheading the development of the
synchronized machine gun and increasingly faster and more maneuverable airplanes.
Naval technology also flourished. Larger and more powerful battleships were being
developed, and the use of submarines increased. German U-boats played a great role in
destroying allied shipping that was supplying troops in the trenches. 
Finally on November 11, 1918, 4 year, three months, and 14 days, $186 billion, and 47
million lives after Austria declared war on Serbia the war was over and European
battlefields fell silent for a while.
After the end of World War I things in Europe calmed down. Germany even hosted the
Olympic games. People all over the world never thought that they would see a war as harsh
and deadly as World War I. Unfortunately during the 30's economic stability in Europe and
the United States began to degrade. Germany too was beginning to slip into economic
depression, until the rise of an Austrian named Adolph Hitler. Hitler, a WWI veteran
himself quickly rose to power and was able to pull Germany out of depression. His only
flaw was the he and many others blamed the Jewish people for the German defeat in World
War I. Hitler began to raise a large army, and also began rounding up Jews into
concentration camps. Then, at the end of the 1930's, Hitler invaded Poland. Thus began
the second Great War. World War II lasted for more than 4 years, and during this period
over 11 million innocent people, 9 million of them being Jews, died at the hands of the
Germans. 2 out of 3 Jews living in occupied territory, many of them being World War I
veterans themselves, were starved, overworked, shot, gassed, burned alive, tortured, and
beaten during the war.
After the war was over, Germany was divided up amongst the allies, and things seemed as
though they would go back to normal, but about two years after the war, another war, The
Cold War began. Germany was under partial control of the Soviets, and East German
citizens felt the burden of being part of the USSR.
On August 13, 1961, Soviet Germany began construction on what was to be known as the
Berlin Wall. Originally just a barbed wire fence patrolled by German guards, the wall
grew taller, larger, and stronger as the years progressed. East Germany was locked behind
the Iron Curtain, and most links with the west were broken. As relations with the USSR
and Europe degraded, security around the wall was increased. Anyone caught trying to
cross the border was shot. Even though many people made it across the border, many more
were killed trying to escape East Germany. Finally after many deaths, broken families,
and turmoil between the east and west, East Germany and West Germany united once again.
The Berlin wall was no longer a barrier between family and friends, but a symbol of
Communism, pain, and suffering. In 1989 one of the largest parties since the end of World
War II was held as the Berlin Wall fell, and 25 years of separation was finally over. 
Current date, Germany has evolved into a country that is come a long way. Germany has a
government system that follows federal republic, which is almost like the United States.
This country shows a good sense of technology they have the third most power in
technology in the world. Germany is up to date in the way there country looks and
advances. The way this country is and how it is advancing is a good thing, and they have
broken out of the way from communism. 
In conclusion I would like to visit this country to see how different it is and how it
runs different from the United States. I enjoyed learning about this country and
exploring what other parts of the world have to offer.