Germany

Capital City - Berlin
Currency - Euro
Population - 81,757,600 (as of January 2010
National Language - German
Religion - 63% are reportedly Christian - of that, Protestants and Catholics seem to be equally divided.  Muslims make up about 5% of the populous; and, other religions such as Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Sikhism only together equal about 1%.  About 30% of all Germans are reportedly non-religious.
Type of Government - Federal Parliamentary Republic
Leaders - Horst Kohler (President); Angela Merkel (Chancellor)
Country's Motto - While Germany doesn't have an official motto, the words "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit," taken from the national anthem, are words which mean "unity and justice and freedom."

Geographical Highlights - The Federal Republic of Germany is a country in central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands.  Germany is divided into three geographical regions: the north German plain, the central highlands and the south Central Alps.  The notable Black Forest resides in the southwest, overlooking the Rhine Valley.

History - The formation of the Germanic tribes, and hence settlement of Germany as a country, began sometime during the Nordic Bronze Age or the Pre-Roman Iron Age (roughly 3,000 years ago).  Originally from Scandinavia and Northern Germany, the early Germanic people spread to the south, west and east around the first centry B.C.  During the time of the Roman Empire, the land from the Rhine River to the Ural Mountains was given the name Germania.  It was so named after the Germani, a name of one of the tribes that inhabited the land.  In the 5th century, the Germanic tribes attacked and plundered the Roman Empire.  As a result, the western part of the Roman Empire was split up into several kingdoms.  The Kingdom of the Franks was the largest of these kingdoms and was ruled by Clovis - and, later, by Charlemagne.  From 962, much of the German Empire became what was known as the Holy Roman Empire.

In 1512, the country was challenged by the ideas of a monk, Martin Luther.  His criticism of the Catholic church and subsequent Protestant movement (called the Reformation) lead to a religious division that was the partial cause of the Thirty Years' War.  Following the war, Germany lost territory to France and Sweden, and also became a country that was subdivided into hundreds of states and free cities.  It took about two hundred years for the country to recover fully from this aftermath.

In the centuries that followed, Germany faced conflicts which lead to the possession and loss of many territories, most notably including Prussia, Austria-Hungary and Alsace-Lorraine.  During World War I, Germany entered into the Triple Alliance with Italy and Austria-Hungary.  After their defeat, Germany lost its colonies and the Empire fell asunder.  The Versailles Treaty added insult to injury when it named Germany entirely responsible for the war, demanded a payment of reparations be made to the rest of the world, and called for the dismantling of the German military.  This, as well as the economic collapse of the country in the 1920's, lead to the perfect breeding ground for the Nazi Party and Adolf Hitler's rise to power.

Following the German defeat in World War II, the country was again left in ruins.  The Soviets seized East Berlin and, in 1961, a wall was constructed to separate the "free" West from the Communist East.  The reunification of Germany took place in 1990; and, since that time, Germany has become revitalized as one of the major players in what has become the European Union.

Landmarks -

• Neuschwanstein Castle- The most photographed building in Germany, this Bavaria castle was built in 1869 by King Ludwig II.  It inspired Walt Disney in his creation of the famous tale "Sleeping Beauty." 
• Brandenburg Gate - More than any other landmark, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin is the national symbol for Germany. Built in 1791, the gate was a symbol of peace - it has also, more recently, come to symbolize the reunification of West and East Berlin.
• Hofbräuhaus - Home of the Oktoberfest in Munich, Hofbräuhaus is the most famous beer hall in the world since 1589.
• The Black Forest - The vast expanse of hills, valleys, and forests stretches from the posh Spa-town Baden Baden to the Swiss border, covering an area of 4,600 square miles.
• The City of Trier - On the banks of the Moselle River lies Trier, Germany's oldest city. It was founded as a Roman colony in 16 B.C. and became the favored residence of several Roman emperors.
• The Christmas Market - Starting in November, the old center of Nuremberg becomes transformed into a Christmas market which houses over 180 wooden huts.  A magical winter wonderland, it is a sight full of red and white cloth, lights and fresh garlands. 

Interesting Trivia -

• Germany is the most populous European nation, aside from Russia.
• Germans are the second biggest consumers of beer (first being the Irish).
• About one quarter of all Americans claim at least some German heritage.
• Germany has the third highest recycling rate in the world (48% of waste recycled), beaten only by its Swiss and Austrian neighbors.
• The German Autobahn is the oldest motorway network in the world - the first section was completed in 1932.  It is also the only one in Europe to have no general speed limit in place.