Political Map of Germany | Germany States Map Disclaimer Close Disclaimer : All efforts have been made to make this image accurate. However Compare Infobase Limited,its directors and employees do not own any responsibility for the correctness or authenticity of the same. Germany (German : Deutschlandkarte ) is a country in central Europe, bordered by Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, France and Luxembourg to the southwest, and Belgium and the Netherlands to the northwest.German or the National Republic of Germany consists of 16States. In Germany these states are called Lander, which means singular Land. Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen are three prime states of the country; the other 13 states are called Flachenlander or area states. Germany has a population of about 82 million, An important economic force in Europe, Germany has the largest economy in Europe and the fourth largest economy in the world. Thirty-seven Fortune Global 500 companies are headquartered in Germany, including many major car brands, like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen. Germany is separated into sixteen states, or Lander, which are governed at the state level and subdivided into districts.

Each state in Germany is headquartered in its capital city. Berlin is the capital of Germany. Bavaria is the largest state in Germany, making up the southeastern quadrant of the country. The most populous state in Germany is North Rhine-Westphalia, headquartered in Dusseldorf. Like any other international federations, states of Germany also got the liability of representing themselves in the global platform. Among the five German states many disputed lands fall. These places are generally barren forests and hill areas; neither the Bavarian lakes are not the part of any municipality. According to the research made on 2005, January, still around 246 states andregionswere left unclaimed by the Government of Germany. Must Explore German States How To Germany - Home VIEW CATALOG Residing and Working In Germany You're not truly living in Germany until the paperwork's done. Here's a quick primer on exactly what you'll need. All persons remaining in Germany for longer than three months must have a residence permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis), of which there are now two types. You can apply for one of them at the local Ausländerbehörde. German Taxes Know your status, both here and in your homeland.

Expatriates living in Germany can be subject to German taxes, especially if they have German source income. The German tax system is similar to the structures in other western countries. You pay income taxes throughout the year, usually with an employer deducting tax from each paycheck. Adjustments are then made at the end of the year for possible under or overpayments. The full article... Rental Furniture in Germany - the Smart Alternative for Expats With growing success in the USA, the concept of renting furniture is starting to take root here in Germany. More and more foreigners who have moved here are renting furniture instead of buying it or looking for fully furnished apartments. Furniture rental/leasing services have been a big help to many in the US. Now, they are helping expats here in Germany. The full article... Search Our Business and Services Directory Check out the How To Germany Business and Services Directory . There are dozens of categorized listings that include companies, churches, schools and other organizations that offer products and services to Expats in Germany. It's fast and easy. Children's Allowance - Kindergeld Taxpaying expatriate residents of Germany are, like Germans, entitled to Kindergeld if they have children.

This is an allowance from the German government to help defray some of the cost of raising children. It can run from €164 to €195 per child per month, and is usually made by a fund transfer into a German bank account. Find out what the expat community in Germany thinks about living in Germany. Get advice and make the most of your time in Germany. The Social Expat It is hard to think back to an age before the Internet. Keeping in touch with friends and family in faraway lands is rarely a problem, as most of the world’s countries have Internet access. The Internet has introduced an age of fast and cheap communications and has made it possible even for people to connect with each other who have perhaps met only once or twice, if at all. Websites such as Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter have enabled people to share information, ideas and events. Others facilitate dating, business contacts, the exchange of political discourse, hobbies, etc. Bumps and Jolts on the Cultural Road Large areas of similarity between Germans and Americans make it easy to underestimate the dangers of misunderstanding. One of the unpleasant things about traveling are bad places in the road that cause bumps and jolts, upsetting you and knocking over your coffee.

These are particularly bad when you're not expecting them. It's the same way when you're in what I call "the Transatlantic Zone" - that's any place and any time Americans and Germans are doing business together. In the Transatlantic Zone there can also be bumps and jolts when you're not expecting them. Let me give you an example. 19.11.16 • 10.12.16 • 28.01.17 • 11.02.17 • 04.03.17 Open House 29.10.16 Join us on the next Info Day on November 19th, 2016 at 2:00pm. Our presentation is followed by a student guided tour. No registration is necessary. We look forward to meeting you! Open House ISR invites all interested families to our Open House on October 29th, from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. Take advantage of this opportunity to get to know ISR, including our teaching environment, international teaching staff, students and families. You can also experience demo classes in different grades.

We look forward to seeing you there! For more information, please contact us at 02131 40388 -0, -11, -15. International Schools There are compelling reasons why you might choose to send your children to one of Germany's many fine international schools Many English-speaking expatriates are educating their children at Germany's international schools, and an education at such a school has numerous advantages. There is, of course, instruction in the native language. And, since the student body is usually quite international, they expose the young people to a variety of cultures. They also do a better job than most German schools of introducing the students to computers, and the program of sports and extracurricular activities is more like what they are accustomed to at home. The full article... German School System German public education makes it possible for qualified kids to study up to university level, regardless of their families' financial status. The German education system is different in many ways from the ones in Anglo-Saxon countries, but it produces high- performing students. Although education is a function of the federal states, and there are differences from state to state, some generalizations are possible. The full article...

Insurance in Germany In Germany, insurance is a good thing to have -- health insurance and liability insurance for motor vehicles is mandatory. If you are planning to spend more than six months in Germany, or have moved here in a job-related capacity, here's a primer on other insurances you may want. The full article... Paying Medical Expenses/Health Insurance Claims in Germany The system of payment for medical bills has undergone some minor changes in the past few years. And it is dramatically different for those covered under the government regulated public health insurance system (often referred to as the statutory system) as opposed to those with private health insurance. The full article... Supplemental Medical/Health Insurances (Zusatzversicherung) in Germany German health insurance, depending on the type of policy you may have and depending on whether you are covered by a government run program (Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung or GKV) or through a private health insurance (Privatkrankenversicherung or PKV), normally provides adequate to good coverage for a wide range of health care. However, again depending on the type of policy you have, not everything may be completely covered. The full article...

Driving in Germany It's true: there are no speed limits on the German autobahns. But there are plenty of other regulations you should be aware of. Driving in Germany can be a delight: the scenery is beautiful and the roads are well maintained. But there are many rules and regulations to observe. The full article... Hostels in Germany - and Other Budget Accommodations Hostels Provide A Youthful Take on Good, Clean, Affordable Accommodations. But they aren't the only budget accommodations available for travellers. If you want a holiday in Germany, but can't quite stretch to a luxury hotel, there are plenty of clean, comfortable, affordable accommodations available all over the country. And, we are not just talking about places for young travellers only! The full article... Expatriate Coaching - Meeting the needs of Today's Expatriate Assignment Expatriate assignments are not what they used to be. Surprised? Globalization has changed the dynamics of such an adventure for the expatriate employee as well as for the accompanying family.

While these dynamics may have changed and will continue to change and the budgets to support the employee and family may have decreased, the fact still remains that these families require assistance to successfully transition, professionally and personally, into the host culture. That being said, the question remains: Has the support provided to the expatriate and family changed and developed in line and with the same speed with the changing dynamics of today's expatriate assignment? The answer is somewhat gray but becoming clearer. The full article... The German Retirement and Pension System - Basic Facts Ever since Germany established its first Social Security system in 1889, the public retirement insurance has been "pay-as-you-go", with the current pensions of the retired paid from the current premiums of the not yet retired. Currently about 85% of the work force is enrolled in the Public Retirement Insurance (gesetzliche Rentenversicherung GRV).

Civil Servants, who make up about 9% of the work force, have their own pension system and the self-employed, who make up about 9% of the work force, are mostly self-insured (but are allowed to participate in the GRV.) The system is now under strain because of an aging population, reunification, unemployment, economic conditions, early retirement and other factors. The full article... Maternity Leave and Job Protection (Mutterschutz) Adjusting to motherhood is made a little easier if you happen to be an employed woman working for a German company. You will actually be provided mandatory time-off from work, before and after childbirth. This is revelatory news for many English speaking expats. Basically the Mutterschutzgesetz, Maternity Protection Act of 1968 was instituted to ensure that expecting mothers are not discriminated against when applying for jobs and to provide them with added protection from being dismissed from work as a result of their pregnancy or arrival of their newborn child. This law actually goes well beyond that fundamental claim and provides much more.

In order for the Maternity Protection's measures to be activated, the expectant mother, who is employed, must inform their employer of their pregnancy and the expected date of delivery. If a verbal notification isn't good enough, then a doctor's Certificate of Expected Date of Delivery is to be provided to the employer. Keep your receipt, because employers must reimburse their employees for this certificate when they request it. The full article... Bridal Registries in Germany More and more as the world continues on its path to globalization, traditions are crossing borders. And so it is with Bridal Registries. The on-line Bridal Registry is gaining in popularity in Germany and throughout continental Europe. This is welcome news for the many expatriates that are living in Germany and planning a wedding here that would probably include a large number of international invitees. There are even multilingual on-line Registries to serve the international community in Germany. Traditionally, gifts for most weddings in Germany are provided through a Hochzeitstisch (Wedding Table). A couple has their Hochzeitstisch at a particular German store and they literally set up a table with the chosen gifts placed on it.

Friends and family visit the store in person and buy something from the table as a gift. Germany Population (2016) - World Population Review World Population Review Germany Population 2016 [[getCurrentPopulation()]] Germany is a western-central European country bordered by Poland, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Austria, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Germany is the most populous country in the European Union with an estimated 2016 population of almost 82 million, which ranks 17th in the world. Despite a drop in the country's growth rate, its 2016 population is now estimated at 81.197 million, which makes Germany the 17th most populous country in the world. It's also the largest country in the European Union. Germany has a population density of about 227/square kilometer (583/square mile), which ranks 58th in the world. East versus West When East Germany and West Germany were reunited in 1990, the population of East Germany was around 16.1 million people.

Although living standards have improved dramatically in the East over the past 20 years, it still lags behind in economic development, and as a result, many people head west in search of better job opportunties. Pollution is also a massive legacy of the East German era, where industrial output was prioritized more highly than the environment, and many seek to move simply for a better quality of life. The New York Times reports that around 1.7 million people have left East Germany since 1990 -- that's a decrease in population of just over 10%. Immigration into Germany Of all the 27 European Union states, Germany has the highest percentage of immigrants in its population. Over 10 million people living in Germany today were born outside of Germany -- that's about 12% of the German population. Most immigrants come from other European countries, particularly from Turkey, Russia, Poland and Italy. Germany is the second most popular destination for immigrants in the world after the United States. The German Government has been keen to encourage immigration over the past fifty years -- partly to address longer term demographic problems in Germany, such as its low birth rate, and partly to address shorter term labor shortages.

Germany Demographics There are four groups considered "national minorities," which means their ancestors lived in their regions for many centuries. These groups are the Sorbs, Danes, Frisians, and the Roma and Sinti. There are about 50,000 Danes in the northernmost region of Germany. The Sorbs, who are a Slavic people, live in the Lustia region. There are large populations of Frisians in Lower Saxony and the western coast of Schleswig-Holstein. About 3.4 million Germans are living abroad. The majority of Germans are Christian, either Roman Catholic (29.9%) or Protestant (29.8%), although 1.3% of the population are also Orthodox Christians. Islam is the second largest religion in Germany – about 2.6% of Germans are adherents. The largest single group, however, is non-believers, who make up 34% of the population. The number of atheists and agnostics is far higher in Eastern Germany than in Western Germany, largely because of the Communist East German state's policy of discouraging religous belief.

Largest Cities in Germany Germany is divided into 16 states, referred to collectively as Länder, and each state has its own constitution and remains fairly autonomous. Each state also has its own capital. Despite its large population, Germany has relatively few large cities, and only four have a population over 1 million: Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne. Still, these cities are much larger when the metropolitan area is taken into account. Hamburg, for example, has a city population of 1.8 million as of 2012, but its metropolitan area is home to more than 5 million. Düsseldorf, the 7th largest city in Germany, has a population of close to 600,000, but its metropolitan area is home to over 11.3 million. Here's a full list of the ten largest cities in Germany. Rank Bremen 547,685 Germany is home to a large number of smaller cities and towns, however, and in total there are currently 82 cities with a population of more than 100,000 people.

German Census Censuses have only been intermittently conducted in Germany , and the last one took place in 1987. Instead, the German Government relies on extrapolations from sample data collected from a small percentage (around 1%) of the population. Still, Germany did participate in the EU-wide census in 2011, which gave much-needed insight into the country's population. Germany Population Growth The country is now spending about $265 million every year on family subsidies in an attempt to reverse a declining population, with little success. Germany has many issues to overcome, including attitudes in the country where working women with children are dubbed "raven mothers" with an implication of neglectfulness and immigrants are not always welcomed with open arms. Some experts worry that the country has waited too long to try to address its population problem, and raising fertility rates has proven difficult. Giving money to families and tax breaks for stay-at-home mothers and married couples has done little, and demographers believe expanding after-school and day care programs would be a better investment for the country. The country will also need to start bringing in more immigrants to fill hundreds of thousands of vacant skilled jobs.

Germany is a representation of the declining fertility rates Europe has seen over the past few decades, and Germany found that it had lost 1.5 million people in its most recent census. This news was a bit of a surprise to the country, which had not conducted a single census since its reunification, even after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. It seems Germany missed this population loss because its people value privacy, and the last census in 1987 was very strongly opposed, and the one in 2011 was only done because it was required by the European Union. Most of the 1.5 million who disappeared were migrants , who apparently did not deregister when they left the country, and thus lived on in records. Germany was found to have 1.1 million fewer foreigners than it thought, and 428,000 fewer Germans. German States - Basic facts, photos & map of the states of Germany German States Recent History - The States of Germany post WWII The modern German states were built after World War II during the allied occupation. The states in West Germany joined and formed the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) in 1949.

Only 7 of the 16 new states existed before: Bavaria, Bremen, Hamburg, Baden and Saarland in the west, Saxony and Thuringia in Eastern Germany. All other states were amalgamations of formerly much smaller states and Prussian provinces. In 1952 three south-western states (Baden, Württemberg-Hohenzollern and Württemberg-Baden) merged to form Baden-Württemberg. Five years later, France returned the Saarland to Germany. Berlin was not a state until the German reunification on 3rd October 1990. Berlin was under the sovereignty of the allies, USA, Great Britain, France and the Soviet-Union. There are 13 area states in Germany (Flächenländer), and 3 city states (Stadtstaaten), Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen. The latter actually consists of Bremen and Bremerhaven. Head of a state is the Ministerpräsident in the area states, and the Bürgermeister in the city states.

Overview of the 16 States This is a long page, so click on a link below for a quick jump to the state you are interested in. You can always come back here using the orange arrow . Enjoy the information about the states in Germany. Size: 70,551 km² - Population: 12,494,781 - Capital: Munich Bavaria is the largest state in Germany, and one of the oldest as well. After WW II Bavaria rehabilitated from an agrarian to an industrial state. Audi, BMW, Siemens and some major insurance companies are based in Bavaria. Alpine scenery on the way to Berchtesgaden The culture of Bavaria is distinct, and Bavarians love to be different. They are proud of their traditions, wear their Tracht (Lederhosen and Dirndl) and perform their folk music (Volksmusik) on special occasions. The most famous Volksfest in Germany, you know it, is the Octoberfest in Munich . The Catholic religion is also an important part of Bavarian culture. Bavarians are extremely proud that the former pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Alois Ratzinger) was born in their state.

There are a lot of jokes about the German-Bavarian relations, some are even rather nasty. Nevertheless, Bavaria is another favourite holiday destination for Germans and international travellers around the year. After all, Bavaria has a small portion of the Alps within its territory, most enjoyed among ski enthusiasts, hikers and mountaineers. Apart from the alpine region, other favourite Bavarian tourist attractions include Munich, of course, the capital of Bavaria attracts thousands of visitors every year. Picturesque towns along the romantic road like Würzburg, Dinkelsbühl and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Franconia - the region covers most of the northern & central parts of Bavaria. Bamberg, Nuremberg & Bayreuth are well-loved destinations, along with the above mentioned towns on the northern section of the Romantic Road. The most famous castle in Bavaria is definitely Neuschwanstein, but there are many more!

Baden-Württemberg Size: 35,751 km² - Population: 10,744,383 - Capital: Stuttgart Winter in the black forest Baden-Württemberg is one of the most prosperous German states and considered one of the Four Motors of Europe. Despite world concerns like Daimler AG, SAP and Robert Bosch AG, mid-sized companies are the backbone of the economy. Citizens of Baden-Württemberg are known for being inventive and industrious. "Wir können alles, ausser Hochdeutsch" is a famous slogan to describe their unique dialect. It means we can do everything except (speaking) Standard German (of course they can). This reflects the hard-working people and their distinctive language. Swabian is my favourite dialect in Germany, although sometimes hard to understand.

Baden-Württemberg is also a popular holiday destination, attractions are Freiburg, Baden-Baden and the black forest Lake Constance The Swabian Alb Heidelberg, with the oldest university in Germany, and the famous castle is well worth a visit Tübingen and Schwäbisch Hall are beautiful old towns Hessen - Hesse Size: 21,114 km² - Population: 6,060,841 - Capital: Wiesbaden Hessen is one of the smaller German states, but a fine one. What else can I say, Hessen is where I was born and have been living all my life. It is home of the Grimm Brothers, and Hanau is the start of the German fairy tale road that goes north to Bremen. Obermarkt in Gelnhausen The Rhine-Main-area is the second-largest metropolitan region in Germany. Frankfurt is the largest city in Hesse, and the only German city with a "world city" status. Germany's busiest airport, railway station and motorway intersections are also located in Frankfurt.

Economy in Hessen is healthy, the main fields are chemical & pharmaceutical industries, and the financial centre in Frankfurt is the most important in Germany. Want to get away from the hustle and bustle? You don't have to go far. Hesse is the most wooded state in Germany. It has placid spa towns, lovely rivers & lakes, and romantic villages. Frankfurt has a picturesque old town around the Römerberg, although it is reconstructed because most parts of the city centre were destroyed during WW II Taunus, Odenwald and Spessart are beautiful mountainous areas in central Hesse, and easy to reach from Frankfurt Kassel is the major centre in north Hessen, famous for the "Documenta", an exhibition of modern art. The Documenta takes place every 5 years. North Hessen is the fairy-tale country. It was in Kassel where the Brothers Grimm collected many of their tales. Visit the Sababurg in the Reinhardswald forest, it is the home of Sleeping Beauty. If you've got some time, you can discover the country following the Grimm Trail in the Kasseler land. Gelnhausen, Büdingen, Seligenstadt are beautiful villages, to name only a few.

Here is more info to discover the best holiday regions in the southern German states. Sachsen - Saxony Size: 18,418 km² - Population: 4,183,404 - Capital: Dresden Saxony is the economical leader of the five "new" states of Germany. Silicon Saxony is not just a nickname, it is an association of nearly 300 companies in the electronics and microsystems industry, including science and consulting organisations. Bertholdsburg palace in Schleusingen, Thuringia Dresden has been known as Elb-Florenz (Florence on the river Elbe) because of its baroque architecture and art collections The Erzgebirge (Ore mountains) is famous for its wooden Christmas ornaments Saxony Switzerland is known for its rugged mountains and rock formations Thüringen - Thuringia Size: 16,172 km² - Population: 2,261,236 - Capital: Erfurt Thuringia is a state where you can delve into German culture and history. Discover towns where famous German people were born, or lived for many years.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (Erfurt, Jena, Weimar), Friedrich Schiller (Weimar, Meiningen, Jena), Johann Sebastian Bach (Eisenach) and Martin Luther (Wartburg, Erfurt, Eisenach) have left their traces in Thuringia. The Rennsteig is a famous ridge walk in the Thuringian forest. At the end of the day a hearty Thuringian Bratwurst is waiting for you. Nordrhein-Westfalen - North-Rhine Westphalia Monschau in the northern Eifel region Size: 34,086 km² - Population: 17,904,653 - Capital: Düsseldorf Germany's westernmost and most populous state also includes the largest metropolitan area, the Rhine-Ruhr region. The subdivision Ruhr (Ruhrgebiet) is also known as the Ruhrpott and the Revier. Since the 19th century, coal mining and the steel industry have been the major industries for more than a century. Coal mining declined in the 1960s. Many of the industrial sites are now home to museums and event locations.

Actually, Ruhr was the European Capital of Culture 2010. Apart from industrial cities, which also have their flair and lovely surrounding, North-Rhine Wesphalia has beautiful regions to spend a holiday at. Cologne invites with its famous cathedral and unique hospitality Düsseldorf is the place if you want to go shopping Nordrhein-Westfalen shares the stunning Eifel mountains with Rhineland-Palatinate Aachen was the place of coronation of German kings during the middle ages Monschau is a picturesque village in the Eifel The Münsterland is a cycling paradise, and the Sauerland is a favourite holiday region all around the year. Rheinland-Pfalz - Rhineland-Palatinate The Mosel near Piesport Size: 19,853 km² - Population: 4,020,917 - Capital: Mainz Rhineland-Palatinate is Germany's wine state. 80 to 90 % of Germany's wine exports are grown along the rivers Rhine, Mosel and Ahr.

In the industry sector Rhineland-Palatinate is home of the largest chemical company in the world (BASF), one of the largest breweries, and car manufacturers. The most beautiful part of the middle Rhine valley is situated in Rheinland-Pfalz. Explore medieval castles overlooking the river, enjoy a wine sample tour in small villages with beautiful half-timbered houses. There is a lot to see... The Rhine Gorge between Bingen and Koblenz is an UNESCO World Heritage site since 2002 Famous castles like the Marksburg and Ehrenbreitstein Cochem, Beilstein, Bernkastel-Kues and many other villages along the Mosel Valley Eltz Castle and the Eifel mountains with the unique Maare Trier, Germany's oldest city, has fantastic buildings dating back to Roman era, more UNESCO listed site to visit Saarland Size: 2,568 km² - Population: 1,027,700 - Capital: Saarbrücken The Saarland is the smallest German state, both in area and population. The area consisted of several territories, ruled by different sovreigns for centuries.

The region became part of France during the French revolution, but only until Napoleon's defeat. 1870 the French invaded the Saar region again, this was the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War 1870/71. The back and forth continued until Saarland joined the Federal Republik of Germany in 1957. With its history, and the fact of being close to France, many people in Saarland speak French fairly good. Back to overview Holsten Tor in Lübeck Size: 15,799 km² - Population: 2,830,889 - Capital: Kiel Schleswig-Holstein is the land between the seas and the northernmost state in Germany. Bordered by the North Sea in the west, and the Baltic Sea in the east, it is the ideal holiday destination for everyone who loves to sail and surf. Agriculture, wind energy & tourismn are the main sections of the economy. Even if the weather is not perfect for a day on the beach, you can explore beautiful towns and cities like Kiel, Flensburg, Schleswig and Lübeck.

The Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park is a highlight on the west coast and a delight for bird watchers. The North Frisian Islands (Sylt, Amrum, Pellworm and Föhr) are favourite holiday destinations Büsum, St. Peter-Ording and Husum are lovely villages on the west coast Helgoland is a small island in the Northern Sea, about 46km off the mainland The Kiel Canal, in German known as the Nord-Ostsee-Kanal, links the Northern Sea and the Baltic Sea. Here you can see really big ships floating through the landscape Mecklenburg-Vorpommern - Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Brick gothic facade of the city hall in Stralsund Size: 23,185 km² - Population: 1,659,023 - Capital: Schwerin Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is the sixth-largest state with the least population density. Economy suffered a lot after the breakdown of the former German Democratic Republic. In the past 15 years economy recovered. Biotechnology, life science, maritime industry and tourism are growing sectors.

The "land of thousand lakes" offers great holiday resorts and unspoiled nature. Favourite destinations are The old Hanseatic cities of Rostock, Schwerin, Greifswald & Stralsund with fantastic buildings in the brick gothic style. In German this is called Backsteingotik Rügen and Usedom are both beautiful islands in the Baltic Sea Kühlungsborn, Heiligendamm and Warnemünde are seaside resorts where visitors can relax and enjoy health & beauty treatment The Mecklenburg lake district with the Müritz national park is wonderful for nature enthusiasts, as well as the biosphere reserve Spree Forest. Sachsen-Anhalt - Saxony-Anhalt Castle hill & collegiate church in Quedlinburg Size: 20,447 km² - Population: 2,373,485 - Capital: Magdeburg The chemical industry plays a major role in the industrial sector, the area around Halle, Merseburg and Bitterfeld is known as the chemical triangle. The food industry counts on the best soil in Germany around Magdeburg. The oldest German chocolate factory is in Halle. The state is also famous for its Baumkuchen.

Sachsen-Anhalt shares the Harz mountains with Niedersachsen. The Harz is Germany's northernmost Mittelgebirge (low mountain range), which comprises lots of sagas and legends. Must see places include Pretty cities and towns like Wernigerode, Halberstadt and Quedlinburg Discover Dessau, the Bauhaus style & the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm Martin Luther memorial places in Wittenberg and Eisleben The Brocken, with 1141 m it is the highest mountain in the Harz Naumburg with its famous cathedral Niedersachsen - Lower Saxony Frisian coast and the islands offshore Bremen Size: 404 km² - Population: 661,166 - Capital: Bremen Although Bremen is considered a city state, it actually consists of two enclaves, Bremen and Bremerhaven. Both cities are surrounded by the state of Lower Saxony, both are located on the river Weser. Bremerhaven is an important container port and home of the German Maritime Museum. The Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (Freie Hansestadt Bremen) is a very old city with a long history in trading.

The Old Town (Altstadt) is the main attraction for visitors with the impressive Town Hall and the Cathedral St. Petri lining the market place. The statues of "Roland" and the "Bremer Stadtmusikanten" (from Grimm's fairy-tales) can be seen on the market square. Hamburg Hamburg Harbour Size: 755 km² - Population: 1,775,333 Hamburg's official name, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg) refers to Hamburg's status in history. The city was a member of the Hanse, and a free imperial city during the Holy Roman Empire. The port of Hamburg is the second-largest port in Europe and a major tourist attraction. The harbour area with the old warehouse district (Speicherstadt) is fascinating, the church St. Michaelis (Michel) is a famous landmark, and sure everyone knows the red-light district Reeperbahn. Berlin Size: 891 km² - Population: 3,429,525 Berlin is the capital city of Germany, and one of the 3 city states in Germany as well.

Located in the north-east, only 70 km from the Polish border, it is also Germany's largest city. Politics, culture, sports, recreation and a vibrant nightlife - you can get all that in our thriving capital. Don't miss... Political Map of Germany | Germany States Map Disclaimer Close Disclaimer : All efforts have been made to make this image accurate. However Compare Infobase Limited,its directors and employees do not own any responsibility for the correctness or authenticity of the same. Germany (German : Deutschlandkarte ) is a country in central Europe, bordered by Denmark to the north, Poland and the Czech Republic to the east, Austria and Switzerland to the south, France and Luxembourg to the southwest, and Belgium and the Netherlands to the northwest.German or the National Republic of Germany consists of 16States. In Germany these states are called Lander, which means singular Land. Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen are three prime states of the country; the other 13 states are called Flachenlander or area states. Germany has a population of about 82 million, An important economic force in Europe, Germany has the largest economy in Europe and the fourth largest economy in the world.

Thirty-seven Fortune Global 500 companies are headquartered in Germany, including many major car brands, like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volkswagen. Germany is separated into sixteen states, or Lander, which are governed at the state level and subdivided into districts. Each state in Germany is headquartered in its capital city. Berlin is the capital of Germany. Bavaria is the largest state in Germany, making up the southeastern quadrant of the country. The most populous state in Germany is North Rhine-Westphalia, headquartered in Dusseldorf. Like any other international federations, states of Germany also got the liability of representing themselves in the global platform. Among the five German states many disputed lands fall. These places are generally barren forests and hill areas; neither the Bavarian lakes are not the part of any municipality. According to the research made on 2005, January, still around 246 states andregionswere left unclaimed by the Government of Germany. Must Explore German States The National Archives Learning Curve | The Great War | Making peace | Reaction to the Treaty of Versailles | Background Back to top The terms of the Treaty of Versailles were announced in June 1919.

The German politicians were not consulted about the terms of the Treaty. They were shown the draft terms in May 1919. They complained bitterly, but the Allies did not take any notice of their complaints. Germany had very little choice but to sign the Treaty. The main terms were: Germany had to accept the guilt for starting the war. 2. Germany's armed forces The German army was limited to 100,000 men. Conscription (forced army service) was banned; soldiers had to be volunteers. Germany was not allowed armoured vehicles, submarines or aircraft. The navy could build only six battleships. The Rhineland became a demilitarised zone. This meant that no German troops were allowed into that area. 3. Reparations Germany had to pay for the damage caused by the war. The exact figure was not agreed until 1921 when it was set at £6,600 million, an enormous amount. 4.

German territories and colonies Alsace-Lorraine went to France Eupen, Moresnet and Malmedy went to Belgium North Schleswig went to Denmark (after a vote by the population) West Prussia and Posen went to Poland Danzig became a free city controlled by the League of Nations (giving Poland a seaport) Memel went to Lithuania Saar was controlled by the League of Nations (with a vote by the population to be held on the matter after 15 years) German colonies became mandates under the control of the League of Nations (in practice this usually meant Britain and France) Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania became independent states (Germany had taken these states from Russia in 1918) 5. League of Nations The League of Nations was set up as an international 'police force'. The League was based on a Covenant (or agreement). The Covenant and the constitution of the League of Nations were part of the terms of the Treaty. Germany was not invited to join the League until it had shown that it could be a peace-loving country. Back to top When the Treaty terms were announced in June 1919, there was a mixed reaction.

The general opinion in Britain was that the terms were fair and should probably have been more severe. British newspapers suggested that Germany would no longer threaten world peace. Any complaints by the Germans were dismissed as trickery and play-acting. When Prime Minister David Lloyd George returned from Paris in June 1919, he received a hero's welcome. The king came out to meet him at the railway station, which was completely unheard of in British history. Back to top Reactions in France were mixed. There were celebrations that the war was definitely over. People approved of the reparations that Germany had to pay. They also liked the fact that Germany's borders with France (the Rhineland) would be demilitarised. This meant Germany could not station any troops in this area. They appreciated that the coalmines of the Saar would bring prosperity to France instead of Germany. They also believed that the League of Nations would be a powerful force for peace. It would protect France if Germany recovered and tried to act aggressively again. However, there was a strong sense that Germany still threatened France. Many French people looked at the terrible cost of the war and believed that France had suffered far more than Germany.

Soon after the Treaty, Clemenceau stood for election as President of France. He was outraged when other candidates stood against him. It was then that he realised how bitter many people were about the Treaty. Back to top In the USA reactions to the Treaty were generally negative. Many Americans felt that the Treaty was unfair on Germany. More importantly, they felt that Britain and France were making themselves rich at Germany's expense and that the USA should not be helping them to do this. This was not really the case, but many Americans believed it. This was partly because American politics were deeply divided at the time. President Wilson led the Democratic Party. However, his rivals in the Republican Party dominated the US Congress. They used the Treaty as an opportunity to criticise Wilson. Wilson has to take some of the blame for this as he made little effort to consult the Republicans about the Treaty. Americans were also uneasy about Wilson's scheme for a League of Nations. They were concerned that belonging to the League would drag the USA into international disputes that were not their concern. In the end, the Congress rejected the Treaty of Versailles and the League of Nations. Back to top Reactions to the Treaty in Germany were very negative.

There were protests in the German Reichstag (Parliament) and out on the streets. It is not hard to see why Germans were outraged. Germany lost 10% of its land, all its overseas colonies, 12.5% of its population, 16% of its coal and 48% of its iron industry. There were also the humiliating terms, which made Germany accept blame for the war, limit their armed forces and pay reparations. Much criticism has been made of the Treaty because it was too harsh on Germany. On the other hand, historians have pointed out that Germany could have been treated a lot more harshly for several reasons: Germany only accepted the Fourteen Points when it was clear they were losing the war. In the harsh Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, the Germans took away 34% of Russia's population and 50% of its industry and made them pay 300 million gold roubles in reparations. Clemenceau wanted the Treaty to be much harsher, with Germany broken up into smaller states, but Wilson stopped this happening. The reparations payments cost Germany only 2% of its annual production.

Germany's main economic problem was not reparations but war debt, which it had planned to pay by winning the war and making other countries pay reparations. In 1924, Germany received huge loans from the USA to help its economy recover. The years 1924-29 were fairly prosperous for Germany. For example, Germany produced twice as much steel as Britain in 1925. Some historians believe that the peacemakers did the best job they could, given the difficult circumstances they were in. Other historians believe the Treaty was a disastrous half measure. It damaged Germany enough to cause resentment. However, it left Germany strong enough to seek revenge.

Question: How many states make up Germany?
Answer: 16