Germany Reunites: One Country, Different Experiences
On the night of October 3, 1990, crowds gathered near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. People cheered as Germany became one country again. For many families and friends, the celebration marked the end of a separation that had lasted for decades. Yet the date was not the end of the story. Joining two countries with different governments and economies would take far longer than one night.
How Germany was divided
After Germany lost World War II in 1945, the victorious Allied powers—the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain, and France—occupied different parts of the country. Disagreements soon grew between the Soviet Union and the Western powers. These tensions were part of the Cold War, a long struggle for influence that divided much of the world into opposing groups.
In 1949, two German states were established. The Federal Republic of Germany, commonly called West Germany, developed a democratic government and a market economy, in which private businesses played a major role. The German Democratic Republic, commonly called East Germany, was ruled by a communist party. Its government controlled much of the economy and severely limited political freedom.
- occupied:
- Taken control of a place by military force.
- restrictions:
- Rules or limits on what people can do.
- scarce:
- Available in amounts too small to meet people's needs.
- opposition:
- People or actions that resist those in power.
- reforms:
- Changes intended to improve a system.
- negotiated:
- Discussed something in order to reach an agreement.
- institutions:
- Established organizations that serve important roles in society.
- representation:
- The inclusion of people or their interests in decisions and leadership.
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Main Idea
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Context Clues
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Purpose
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why does the author say October 3, 1990, was not the end of Germany's reunification story?
- 2How did Berlin's location and division make it a meeting point between opposing Cold War systems?
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About this explanatory article passage for Middle School
“Germany Reunites: One Country, Different Experiences” is a explanatory article reading passage about German reunification, written for Middle School. It takes about 6 minutes to read (909 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.