Along with every other nation around the globe, Germany has its own unique past. After the ending of the Second World War, Germany was divided in two: a free western Germany, and the communist East Germany. West Germany flourished while East Germany struggled to breathe under the heavy shadow of the Soviet Union. With the implementation of the Marshall plan after World War II, West Germany quickly regained its strength that had been lost to the war. The Marshall plan provided in order for West Germany to be rebuilt. A strong West Germany was not only beneficial to West Germans, but to the United States. West German social reform and economic reform followed, and as the country’s strength grew. West German success can be attributed to their participation with integration ini the European Community. The European Community existed before the European Union was formed.
Keywords: Second World War, West Germany, European Union
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