Border history · 1886–2023

Germany borders over time

CShapes records 6 changes to the borders of Germany (also recorded as German Empire, Prussia, West Germany) between 1886 and 2023. It has been independent since September 21, 1949. Its territory covers 356,917 km², less than the 540,112 km² it covered in 1886. The largest single change came on May 8, 1945, when it lost about 248,989 km².

Open full mapAll countries
Border changes
6
Area today
356,917 km²
Largest change
−248,989 km² (1945)
Status
Independent since 1949
October 3, 1990 – presentChoose a period to see its borders. The dashed line is the period before.

Timeline of Germany's borders

Each period is one border version in CShapes, with its area and the change from the period before.

  1. January 1, 1886 – June 27, 1919

    540,112 km²First recorded versionIndependentWorld map in 1886

  2. June 28, 1919 – February 9, 1920

    474,783 km²−65,329 km²IndependentWorld map in 1919

  3. February 10, 1920 – September 29, 1938

    470,833 km²−3,950 km²IndependentWorld map in 1920

  4. September 30, 1938 – May 7, 1945

    496,652 km²+25,819 km²IndependentWorld map in 1939

  5. May 8, 1945 – September 20, 1949

    247,663 km²−248,989 km²Ruled by United StatesWorld map in 1945

  6. September 21, 1949 – October 2, 1990

    247,663 km²±0 km²IndependentWorld map in 1950

  7. October 3, 1990 – present

    356,917 km²+109,254 km²IndependentWorld map in 1991

What changed

Independence, transfers between rulers, and border changes recorded for this country.

  1. Germany loses about 65,329 km² of territory.
  2. Germany loses about 3,950 km² of territory.
  3. Germany gains about 25,819 km² of territory.
  4. Germany ceases to exist as a separate entity; its capital passes to Russia.
  5. Germany appears as a territory of United States.
  6. Germany becomes independent from United States.
  7. Germany gains about 109,255 km² of territory.