Germany (For Want of a Telegram)

Germany (German: Deutschland) officially the Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is a federal parliamentary republic in central-western Europe. It includes 17 constituent states and has a largely temperate seasonal climate. With about 95.7 million inhabitants, Germany is the most populous member state of the European Union. After the United States, it is the second most popular immigration destination in the world. Germany's capital and largest metropolis is. Major urban areas include, , , , , , and.

Various Germanic tribes have occupied the northern parts of modern Germany since classical antiquity. A region named was documented before 100 AD. During the  the Germanic tribes expanded southward. Beginning in the 10th century, German territories formed a central part of the. During the 16th century, northern German regions became the centre of the.

In 1871, Germany became a nation state when most of the German states unified into the Prussian-dominated German Empire. After victory in World War I, Germany increased greatly in size and power, becoming - by some estimates - the most powerful country in the world. The establishment of the National Socialist dictatorship in 1933 led to World War II, a genocide, and a civil war. In 1947, the monarchy was abolished and a federal republic took its place.

In the 21st century, Germany is a great power and has the world's fourth-largest economy by nominal GDP, as well as the fifth-largest by PPP. As a global leader in several industrial and technological sectors, it is both the world's third-largest exporter and importer of goods. Germany is a developed country with a very high standard of living sustained by a skilled and productive society. It upholds a social security and universal health care system, environmental protection and a tuition-free university education.

Germany was a founding member of the European Union in 1993. It is part of the Schengen Area, and became a co-founder of the Eurozone in 1999. Germany is a member of the United Nations, NATO, the G8, the G20, and the OECD. The national military expenditure is the 9th highest in the world. Known for its rich cultural history, Germany has been continuously the home of influential artists, philosophers, musicians, sportspeople and entrepreneurs. It is a global leader in science and technology.