| a former republic in central Europe: created in 1949 by the coalescing of the British, French, and U.S. zones of occupied Germany established in 1945. 62,080,000; 96,025 sq. mi. (248,706 sq. km). Capital: Bonn. |
| West Germany Officially Federal Republic of Germany A former country of central Europe bordering on the North Sea. It was part of Germany until 1945, when the country was divided into U.S., French, British, and Soviet zones of occupation. In 1949 the three western zones were reconstituted as West Germany; the Soviet zone became East Germany. West Germany was reunified with East Germany in 1990. West German adj. & n. |
Popular name for the Federal Republic of Germany before the reunification of Germany in 1990. Bonn was the seat of its government.
Note: West Germany was a member of NATO.
Note: Established in 1949, after dissension between the United States and the Soviet Union led to the division of Germany into East Germany and West Germany, it was formed out of the states included in the American, French, and British occupation zones.
Note: The Bonn Convention in 1952 essentially granted West Germany national sovereignty. In 1955, West Germany was recognized as an independent country.
Note: It made a swift recovery, called the “economic miracle” from the devastation of World War II.
Note: With the collapse of communism, West Germany absorbed East Germany. Berlin became the capital of the united Germany.