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An economical powerhouse of a nation and one of the most popular and interesting nations in Europe, if not the world, Germany is home to a sometimes rich and sometimes dark history – all of which has been embraced or overcome, leading the nation on to its current standing on the world stage. Located between the Netherlands in the Northwest, Belgium and Luxembourg in the West, France in the Southwest, Switzerland and Austria in the South, the Czech Republic and Poland to the East and Denmark in the North, Germany is a land of great variation, from the coastal Northern towns to the Bavarian Alps of the South – there is certainly enough in the way of interesting variation for any person wanting a holiday or permanent move to the country. German history stretches back to the days of Neanderthal man, who left their remains in the Neander Valley near Düsseldorf – from the very beginning the country was set to make an impact on the world around it. Every major power through history has had their hands on Germany at one point or another, from the Romans through the Franks and every other empire that sprang up in Europe through the years. Split up into states, the country saw no real unification until 1815 when the German Confederation was established, and by the end of the 19th century the country had been annexed and a new leader had been put in place. The beginning of the 20th century introduced the world to the united Germany, as political tensions and assassination saw the outbreak of the First World War. In 1989 the Berlin wall fell – one of histories greatest celebrated moments – that Germany was finally reunified and could truly rebuild as a whole nation. The Eastern side saw massive amounts of cash innvestment for rebuilding and getting the region up to the levels of its Western brother. Recent history has seen Germany become the fifth biggest economy in the world, though unemployment is considerably high and challenges from other world markets are threatening to damage the countries prosperity. Regardless, Germany is successful, modern and beautiful, as well as being one of the centrepieces of modern Europe. Germany has long been a popular holiday spot for people from all walks of life, with tourist attractions proving incredibly diverse and all just as good as the other. A strong economic backbone along with some stunning natural beauties – and some great beers – keep Germany a country that should be high on the list for off plan investors who aren’t looking for a bargain, but are looking for somewhere simply stunning and with a value that is near guaranteed to hold. The standards of healthcare in Germany are very good and a reciprocal agreement with the UK means British nationals are entitled to free treatment for accidents or illnesses on production of an E111 form – other charges may still apply, however. Health insurance is still recommended in case emergency evacuation is necessary and to cover the cost of prohibitively expensive treatment, if necessary.
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