ABSTRACT
The resurgence of West Germany represents one of the most remarkable aspects of Europe since the Second World War. In 1945 the Third Reich was in ruins, but only thirty years later the western third of the nation has risen to become indisputably the leading industrial country in Western Europe. Indeed, after the United States, West Germany is the second most important trading nation in the world. Its population enjoys one of the highest standards of living and it is likely that the position will continue to improve.
