.
By 1913 Germany replaced Britain as the main manufacturing European .
power. This fact reinforced by the aggressive nature shown in German .
foreign policy obviously was not in the interest of maintaining any sort .
of status quo. .
The situation was far from being solved. Though Germany was .
defeated was placed at the mercies of the other victorious world .
powers, which were determined not have the scenario of 1914 happen .
again. Unfortunately, a similar situation did develop once again with .
Germany in the center. By 1938 Germany had rearmed and was aggressively .
expanding both its physical and economic boarders. Adolf Hitler saw the .
opportunities which a weak Europe armed with the ideas of appeasement as .
a deterrent for military aggression presented to Germany. .
These two historical occasions promoted a general distrust of a .
strong united Germany. Both times in history after the conclusions of .
the wars Germany was used for its large production capabilities and .
natural resources. The first time was to pay back large war debt .
acquired by Britain and France. The second was during the cold war and .
Germany was split between the two super powers. Thus, the development .
of the German question or problem. .
Reunification was possible because of a few factors. The .
largest was the collapse of the Soviet Union which is also the most .
obvious. This is true due to the fact that the occupied eastern region .
of Germany by the Soviet army was relinquished. The second was that .
West Germany had been so economically successful that the massive .
investments needed for updating East German industry, infrastructure and .
economy was available. The third was the existence and strength of the .
European Community. .
The collapse of the Soviet empire freed of East Germany and gave .
it its independence. The Soviets also hold vivid memories of the two .
times Germany rose to the status of a world power. Both times the .
Germans invaded and pushed deep into Russian territory, the last thing .