And now, Germany has grown to become a powerful force in Europe, but this time, not through the brute force that has plagued its past. It was not America or Russia which reunified Germany, but the Germans themselves - in the name of democracy and the rights denied to so many for so long. This would continue for over 40 years, until the turbulent years of 1989 to 1991. After six years, the Allied nations were able to free Europe - and Germany itself - from the iron grip of the Nazis, and yet the western and eastern Allies would begin to distrust each other, dividing Germany and the world in two in the Cold War. And through their militarism, and expansionism, the deadliest conflict in human history began, on a scale unimaginable. Feelings of humiliation among other factors contibuted towards the rise to power of the Nazi Party. The 'victorious' Allies forced Germany to repay the costs of the war, a cost it could not afford. One that ended not in a victory, but essentially a universal defeat for all sides a lost generation. But half a century later, the complex web of alliances in place in Europe pulled Germany into war - the First World War. Under Otto von Bismarck, Prussia ousted Austria and hence unified the rest of Germany under their rule. Centuries later, the Germanic states formed the German Confederation, a weak grouping dominated by the powers of Austria and Prussia. But this fragmented, leaving Germany as a large number of states of varying sizes. The Germanic peoples would fight among themselves until the 7th to 8th centuries of the common era, where the Carolingian faction would unify a good chunk of western Europe. The peoples inhabiting what is now Germany two thousand years ago faced the full force of the Roman Empire, and yet they won, inspiring others to break free of the collapsing Western Empire.

Note: This guide assumes you have all game-altering DLC and expansion packs (all Civ packs, Wonders of the Ancient World, Gods & Kings and Brave New World)

L 3 civilization v images