Photo Gallery Germany Finds Itself
Germany's victory at the 2014 World Cup earlier this week was the culmination of a slow shift that has been taking place in the country since reunification. It first manifested itself when Germany hosted the 2006 World Cup. Germans are emerging from the dark shadow of their past as a confident nation that is increasingly finding good reasons to like itself. Here, female fans cheer on the German team at a fan viewing area in Hamburg.
As the German team went from one win to the next at this year's World Cup, people around the globe watched the country, wanting to know more about Germany and its people.
People look to postwar Germany and they like what they see. Here, tens of thousands of World Cup spectators gather at the Fan Mile in Berlin in preparation for last Sunday's final, which Germany won over Argentina, 1-0.
After decades, the Germans are slowly shedding the collective depression that came as they acknowledge the crimes of World War II. It's a new lightness of being and self-confidence that goes beyond the Fan Mile in Berlin.
It also has to do with Germany's growing importance in the world. During the Ukraine crisis, many looked to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has growing clout and equal political footing with the presidents of Russia, China and the United States, to see if she could talk sense into Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Growth and success economically and as an exporter has also contributed to this new sense of lightness in Germany. Here, Volkswagen cars destined for export can be seen in Emden, Germany.
The composition of Germany's population is also changing, making it a more diverse country. This is also reflected in the national football team. Pictured here are players Lukas Podolski, born in Poland, Jerome Boateng, whose father is from Ghana, and Mesut Özil, a Turkish-German. In 2012, Germany ranked No. 2 in the world in terms of attracting permanent immigrants, trailing only the United States.
Immigration and integration nevertheless remain difficult issues. The nation could be a lot more generous in its handling of refugees. Here, asylum seekers from Aghanistan, Ethiopia and Iran conduct a hunger strike over their treatment in Nuremberg. The banner reads, "No One Is Illegal."
Still, things are changing in Germany and this is most apparent in Berlin, which has transformed into a cosmopolitan city in the nearly 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Many came here because they wanted to party, and Berlin became the party capital of the world. Nothing has symbolized this better than Berghain, pictured here, which many consider to be the world's best nightclub.
There is no doubt that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also played a role in the country's newfound self-confidence and lightness. Merkel is the first German leader to come from the East and she has proven extremely popular both at home and abroad. Here, she is pictured celebrating the first German goal in Sunday's World Cup final in Rio together with German President Joachim Gauck (right) and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.
