Chapter 15: Germany: One United Country Where Can You Find
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- New Words
- Why Were There Two Germanys
- How Did Germany Become a United Country
- Germanys Landforms, Resources, and Economy
- Germanys People, Cities, and Future
- Journal Writing
- Read and Remember Write the Answer
- Think and Apply Sequencing
- SKILL BUILDER Reading a Political Map
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CHAPTER 15: Germany: One United Country Where Can You Find: Where can you find the largest department store in Europe? Think About As You Read 1. Why was Germany divided into two countries after World War 11? 2. How did Germany become a united country again? 3. What problems does Germany have today? New Words defeated unification national anthems currency Berlin Wall Holocaust chancellor People and Places Adolf Hitler Poland East Germany West Germany Berlin
East Berlin West Berlin Helmut Kohl Hamburg Munich Dachau
Katarina Witt Imagine what it would be like if you were not allowed to visit family or friends who lived nearby. How would you feel if it were not possible to call them on the telephone? This is what it was like in Germany before 1989. At that time Germany was divided into two countries. It had been divided soon after World War II ended. Today Germany is one country again. In this chapter you will learn why Germany was divided. You will learn how a united Germany is now an industrial leader.
In 1933 Adolf Hitler became dictator of Germany. Hitler made all laws for the country. There was little freedom in Hitler's Germany. Hitler made Germanys army larger and stronger. In 1939 Germany attacked its neighbor, Poland. This was the start of World War II. Millions of soldiers from many nations fought in World War II. During the war large areas of Europe 120 were destroyed. Finally in 1945, Germany was defeated. The war ended. << << << < The United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union had defeated Germany in 1945. After the war those four nations controlled different parts of Germany. The Soviet Union controlled the eastern part. It became East Germany. It had a Communist government. There was little freedom in East Germany. The rest of Germany became the country called West Germany. The people in both countries spoke German. But the two Germanys had their own laws, national anthems, flags, and money. Look at the map on this page of the two Germanys. The United States helped rebuild West Germany after the war. It became a strong industrial country. It also became a democracy. People in West Germany had a much higher standard of living than the people of East Germany. They also enjoyed more freedom. Berlin had been the capital of Germany before 1945. Berlin was in East Germany. After the war, Berlin was divided into two cities. East Berlin was a Communist city. It was East Germany's capital. West Berlin was a 121 free city inside East Germany. The people of West Berlin enjoyed freedom and a high standard of living. Millions of East Germans wanted more freedom and a higher standard of living. So they ran away to West Berlin. From West Berlin they could go to West Germany. The Communist leaders decided to stop people from leaving East Berlin. In 1961, they built the Berlin Wall. The Berlin Wall separated East and West Berlin. It was 99 miles long. The Berlin Wall made it very hard for East Germans to escape to West Berlin. For many years the Communists kept the East Germans and the West Germans apart. Families could not visit each other. Friends could not make telephone calls to each other. But Germans dreamed about a time when their country would be united again. << << How Did Germany Become a United Country? In 1989 the East Germans tore down the Berlin Wall. People in the two Berlins could visit each other again. Berlin became one city again. On October 3, 1990, East Germany and West Germany became one united nation. People throughout Germany danced with joy. October 3 is now celebrated as a holiday each year. This holiday is called the Day of German Unity. In December 1990, all Germans voted in national elections. Helmut Kohl became the chancellor, or leader, of Germany. He had been West Germany's chancellor for many years. 123
Most Germans are happy about unification, or uniting into one country. But unification has been difficult. West Germany's money became the currency, or money, for all of Germany. So East German money had to be changed. Products in the united Germany cost more than products had cost in East Germany. The people of East Germany have found it hard to buy these more expensive products. Many East Germans lost their jobs and could not find work in the united country. The people of West Germany have had to pay higher taxes in order to pay for unification. These taxes have paid for new roads, railroads, and factories in East Germany. Even though unification has not been easy, Germans are very proud of their united country. They are happy that Berlin is a united city. In the year 2000, Berlin will be the nation's capital again. Germany's Landforms, Resources, and Economy The North Sea and the Baltic Sea are north of Germany. Germany has ports on these seas. The seas are important for trading and fishing. The seas also give most parts of the country a mild climate. The North European Plain covers northern Germany. The central part of the country has hills and low mountains. The south has many mountains. The tall Alps cover part of southern Germany. Germany has many rivers. The Rhine River and its many canals are the country's busiest waterways. 124 Large ships on the Rhine carry oil, coal, iron, steel, and other products to different parts of Germany. Germany is not rich in natural resources. But it has many forests. It has some coal and a lot of iron. Germany uses its coal to make about one third of its electricity. It imports large amounts of oil. It also imports many kinds of raw materials for its factories. Today Germany is the industrial leader of Europe. There are factories in many parts of the country. German factories make steel, cars, and planes. They make machines, computers, tools, and many other products. Germans sell products to many countries. Only a small part of Germany's population works at farming. The climate is too cool for farmers to grow enough food. Germany imports one third of its food. << << Germany's People, Cities, and Future Germany has more than 83 million people. It has more people than any other country in Western Europe. The Germans are hard workers who feel proud when they do good work. But they also try to enjoy life. They enjoy good food. They also like to sing and dance with friends. Education is important to Germans. All children spend at least nine years in school. Most Germans live in cities. Most cities have excellent subways and other transportation. Germans are very proud of Berlin. It has the largest department store in all of Europe. Berlin also has a special museum about the Berlin Wall. Hamburg is a large northern port. Munich, in the south, has many theaters and museums. Dachau is a city near Munich. Many Jews were killed there during World War II. During the war the Germans tried to kill all the Jews of Europe. The killing of Jews and other groups of people during the war is called the Holocaust. By the end of the war, six million Jews had been killed. Dachau has a museum that teaches about the Holocaust. Germany is a rich country but it must solve some big problems. Many immigrants have moved to Germany. There are not enough jobs for them. 125
Unemployment is a problem in Germany today. The country does not have enough houses for all of its people. Pollution is another big problem. Factories have caused air pollution. River water has also become very dirty from all the factories. Germans are working to solve these problems. They want Germany to continue to be a great industrial country. Chapter Main Ideas 1. Germany was divided into two countries after World War II. In 1990 unification made Germany one country again. 2. Germany is an industrial leader. But it must import food and raw materials. 3. Pollution and unemployment are problems in Germany today. A highway in Germany BIOGRAPHY Katarina Witt (Born 1965) Katarina Witt grew up in East Germany. She started ice-skating when she was five years old. The East Germans believed young Katarina could be an Olympic winner. So Communist leaders paid the country's best coach to train her. In 1984 Witt skated in the Olympic Games. She won a gold medal for East Germany. Four years later she won a second gold medal at the Olympics. The Communists rewarded her with cars and apartments. Witt made many Germans angry when she spoke out against unification. Yet her life changed after unification. Witt could now decide for herself when or where she would skate. She was able to earn much more money. In 1992 Witt skated in the Olympics again. She skated for a united Germany, but she did not win a medal. Witt continues to skate in ice shows in Germany, the United States, and in other countries. Journal Writing Write a paragraph in your journal about Katarina Witt. Tell how Katarina's life changed after the unification of Germany. 126
1. When Germany was defeated in 1945, Germany had won the war lost the war built new cities 2. A national anthem is a for your country. song of praise special food dance 3. The unification of Germany means the country became divided more developed united 4. The chancellor is the of Germany. money national anthem leader 5. Currency is the used by a country. language money
culture Read and Remember Write the Answer Write one or more sentences to answer each question. 1. How was Germany divided after World War II? 2. How was the city of Berlin divided? 3. Why did many East Germans want to go to West Berlin? 4. Why did Communists in East Germany build the Berlin Wall? 127
5. When did Germany become a united country again? 6. Why was unification hard for the German people? 7. What is the main landform in southern Germany? 8. What are some products that are made in German factories? 9. What must Germany import? 10. What are two problems in Germany today? Think and Apply Sequencing Write the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 next to these sentences to show the correct order. Germans voted for Helmut Kohl to lead a united Germany. Germany attacked Poland and World War II began. The Berlin Wall was torn down. After Germany was defeated in World War II, the Soviet Union started a Communist government in East Germany. Communists built the Berlin Wall in 1961.
Imagine that you were a German who lived in East Berlin in 1989. Write a paragraph that tells what you would have done after the Berlin Wall was torn down. 128
A political map helps you learn about countries. The map key on a political map uses symbols to show borders, cities, rivers, and other places. Study the political map and its map key. Then answer each question. 1. What three countries are to the east of Germany? 2. What seas are north of Germany? 3. What city in Germany is in the east? 4. What city in Germany is in the south? 5. What two countries are to the south of Germany? 6. What city is in northern Germany? 7. What countries are west of Germany? 8. Name three rivers in Germany. Directory: books -> 0-00-BRITE -> 0-8172-6827-8 0-00-BRITE -> Chapter 9 The Glory of Ancient Rome Chapter Preview 0-00-BRITE -> Theme Connections Nature's Fury 0-8172-6827-8 -> 39 unit 2 Latin America 0-8172-6827-8 -> The Caribbean: Hundreds of Beautiful Islands Where Can You Find? Share with your friends:
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