Germany History
This is going to be a bit long because of how much history Germany really has its not all world war one and two.
Germany went through the classic European path first there were tribes that migrated there and they built there little civilizations like most Nordic and Scandinavians. Than as the Roman Empire was expanding under Augustus Germany was just like nope we don't want that which lead to plenty of bloodshed and the Germans successfully kept the Romans out than in about 260 CE the Germans invaded the nearby Roman provinces. Then in the tenth century the Holy Roman Empire crowned Otto1 the emperor of the Germanic regions, also Pope Gregory V was the first German pope. As with all of Europe the black death (bubonic plague) and the great famine in the fourteenth century. Then there is more religious reform after the 30 years war.
Revolution!!! no in all seriousness after the fall of napoleon the German people wanted to do their own thing and become a liberal state but the Prussians said no after the war on Denmark Otto von Bismarck formed the North German confederation in 1866; this included Austria after a bit of politics in Versailles, France and it was renamed to the German empire with its capital being Berlin. Then soon after in 1914 World War I started and since Germany had alliances with the central powers they fought, lost, then surrendered so guess what happened, another revolution but this one was real quick after Wilhelm II abdicated. Then the real spark for the Second World War; the Treaty of Versailles in June on 1919. More than likely you know about WW2 so yeah quick summery an Angry Austrian took over Germany then tried to take the world but in the end he killed himself after the Russians destroyed Berlin. Then Germany was cut up and given to the allies like cake, about 50 years later Germany joined the EU and NATO. And now has one of the strongest economies in the world.
Germany went through the classic European path first there were tribes that migrated there and they built there little civilizations like most Nordic and Scandinavians. Than as the Roman Empire was expanding under Augustus Germany was just like nope we don't want that which lead to plenty of bloodshed and the Germans successfully kept the Romans out than in about 260 CE the Germans invaded the nearby Roman provinces. Then in the tenth century the Holy Roman Empire crowned Otto1 the emperor of the Germanic regions, also Pope Gregory V was the first German pope. As with all of Europe the black death (bubonic plague) and the great famine in the fourteenth century. Then there is more religious reform after the 30 years war.
Revolution!!! no in all seriousness after the fall of napoleon the German people wanted to do their own thing and become a liberal state but the Prussians said no after the war on Denmark Otto von Bismarck formed the North German confederation in 1866; this included Austria after a bit of politics in Versailles, France and it was renamed to the German empire with its capital being Berlin. Then soon after in 1914 World War I started and since Germany had alliances with the central powers they fought, lost, then surrendered so guess what happened, another revolution but this one was real quick after Wilhelm II abdicated. Then the real spark for the Second World War; the Treaty of Versailles in June on 1919. More than likely you know about WW2 so yeah quick summery an Angry Austrian took over Germany then tried to take the world but in the end he killed himself after the Russians destroyed Berlin. Then Germany was cut up and given to the allies like cake, about 50 years later Germany joined the EU and NATO. And now has one of the strongest economies in the world.
Currency
Germany is part of the E.U. so they use the Euro. As of January 15, 2015 the exchange rate for from Euro to USD is $1.16.
Government
Germany is a federal, parliamentary, representative democratic republic. Wow that's a mouthful.
Germany has a social market economy with a highly skilled labor force, a large capital stock, a low level of corruption, and a high level of innovation. It has the largest and most powerful national economy in Europe, the fourth largest by nominal GDP in the world, and the fifth largest by PPP. The service sector contributes approximately 71% of the total GDP (including information technology), industry 28%, and agriculture 1%. The official average national unemployment rate in April 2014 was 6.8%. Germany has one of the highest labor productivity levels in the world, according to OECD
The president, currently Joachim Gauck, is the head of state and invested primarily with representative responsibilities and powers. He is elected by the Bundesversammlung (federal convention), an institution consisting of the members of the Bundestag and an equal number of state delegates. The second-highest official in the German order of precedence is the Bundestagspräsident (President of the Bundestag), who is elected by the Bundestag and responsible for overseeing the daily sessions of the body. The third-highest official and the head of government is the Chancellor, who is appointed by the Bundespräsident after being elected by the Bundestag.
The chancellor, currently Angela Merkel, is the head of government and exercises executive power, similar to the role of a Prime Minister in other parliamentary democracies. Federal legislative power is vested in the parliament consisting of the Bundestag (Federal Diet) and Bundesrat (Federal Council), which together form the legislative body. The Bundestagis elected through direct elections, by proportional representation (mixed-member). The members of the Bundesrat represent the governments of the sixteen federated states and are members of the state cabinets.
Germany has a social market economy with a highly skilled labor force, a large capital stock, a low level of corruption, and a high level of innovation. It has the largest and most powerful national economy in Europe, the fourth largest by nominal GDP in the world, and the fifth largest by PPP. The service sector contributes approximately 71% of the total GDP (including information technology), industry 28%, and agriculture 1%. The official average national unemployment rate in April 2014 was 6.8%. Germany has one of the highest labor productivity levels in the world, according to OECD
The president, currently Joachim Gauck, is the head of state and invested primarily with representative responsibilities and powers. He is elected by the Bundesversammlung (federal convention), an institution consisting of the members of the Bundestag and an equal number of state delegates. The second-highest official in the German order of precedence is the Bundestagspräsident (President of the Bundestag), who is elected by the Bundestag and responsible for overseeing the daily sessions of the body. The third-highest official and the head of government is the Chancellor, who is appointed by the Bundespräsident after being elected by the Bundestag.
The chancellor, currently Angela Merkel, is the head of government and exercises executive power, similar to the role of a Prime Minister in other parliamentary democracies. Federal legislative power is vested in the parliament consisting of the Bundestag (Federal Diet) and Bundesrat (Federal Council), which together form the legislative body. The Bundestagis elected through direct elections, by proportional representation (mixed-member). The members of the Bundesrat represent the governments of the sixteen federated states and are members of the state cabinets.