West Germany

The Federal Republic of Germany or FRG or West Germany (in German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland or BRD) was proclaimed May 23, 1949 and included the post-World War II UK, US, and French occupation zones. West Germany joined NATO on May 9, 1955 and thus became a focus of the Cold War with its juxtaposition to Warsaw Pact member East Germany (the capital, Berlin, was also divided but was completely within East Germany).

After the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, the unification of West Germany and East Germany took place October 3, 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights March 15, 1991.

• Capital: Berlin

Related articles

• History of Germany (for details about post-1945 history)
• Politics of Germany (for details about the political system)
• Flag of West Germany