After World War I, Germany was forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty had harsh consequences for Germany, including:
* Germany lost territory to the Allied powers.
* Germany was forced to pay reparations to the Allies.
* The German military was limited in size and armament.
* Germany was forbidden from having an air force or submarines.
The treaty was very unpopular in Germany and many Germans felt that it was too harsh. This contributed to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in the 1930s.
World War II
After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones: one for each of the Allied powers (the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and France). The city of Berlin was also divided into four sectors.
The occupation of Germany lasted for over 40 years. During this time, the country was rebuilt and a new constitution was adopted. In 1949, the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was established in the three western zones, and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was established in the Soviet zone.
The two German states were very different from each other. West Germany was a democratic and capitalist country, while East Germany was a communist state. The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union also played out in Germany.
In 1990, the German Democratic Republic collapsed and the two German states were reunified. The reunification of Germany was a major event in European history and marked the end of the Cold War.