Germany, a nation of north-central Europe which from 1871 to 1945 was, successfully, an empire, a republic and a totalitarian state, attained its territorial peak as an empire when it comprised a 208,780 sq. mi. (540,740 sq. km.) homeland and an overseas colonial empire. ,As the power of the Roman Empire waned, several warlike tribes residing in northern Germany moved south and west, invading France, Belgium, England, Italy and Spain. In 800 AD the Frankish King Charlemagne, who ruled most of present-day France and Germany, was crowned Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Under the successors, this empire was divided into France in the west and Germany (including the Emperor?s title) in the east. Over the centuries the German part developed into a loose federation of as estimated 1,800 German States that lasted until 1806. Modern Germany was formed from the eastern part of Charlemagne?s empire.,, ,In 1815, the German States were reduced to a federation of 32, which Prussia was the strongest. In 1871, Prussian Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck united the German States into an empire ruled by Wilhelm I, the Prussian king. The empire initiated a colonial endeavor and became one of the world?s greatest powers Germany disintegrated as a result of World War I, and was reestablished as the Weimar Republic. The humiliation of defeat, economic depression, poverty and discontent gave rise to Adolf Hitler in 1933, who reconstituted Germany as the Third Reich and after initial diplomatic and military triumphs, led it to disaster in World War II. During the postwar war, the western provinces were occupied by the Allied forces while the eastern provinces were occupied and administered by the Soviet Union. East Germany and West Germany were established in 1949.,, ,The post-WWII division of Germany ended on Oct 3, 1990, when the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) ceased to exist and its five constituent provinces were formally admitted to the Federal Republic of Germany. An election held on Dec. 2, 1990 chose representatives to the united federal parliament (Bundestag), which then conducted its opening session in Berlin in the old Reichstag building. The Capital remained in Bonn until 1999.,, Rulers:,,, ,Wilhelm I, 1871-1888,, ,Friedrich III, 1888,, ,Wilhelm II, 1888-1918,, Monetary System:,,, ,1 Marl = 100 Pfennig to 1923,, ,1000 Milliarden Mark = 1 Billion Mark = 1 Rentenmark = 100 Rentenpfennig,,, ,,1923-1924, ,1 Rentenmark = 1 Reichmark = 100 Reichspfennig, 1924-1948,, ,1 AMC Mark = 1,000,000,, ,10 Millionen = 10,000,000,, ,1 Milliarde = 1,000,000,000 (English 1 Billion),, ,1 Billion = 1,000,000,000,000 (English 1 Trillion),, ,10 Billionen = 10,000,000,000,000,