Dillon Rayner Ms. Raymond ENGL 1103 10 Oct 13 Germany My country of origin is Germany.

Its flag is rectangular with three horizontal stripes: black on top, red in the middle, and gold on the bottom (infoplease.com). It was adopted in 1919 and the color combination relates to the coat of arms of the Holy Roman Empire and Austrias Habsburg Dynasty (germanculture.com.ua). The national anthem of Germany is as follows: Unity and right and freedom for the German fatherland! Let us all pursue this purpose fraternally with heart and hand! Unity and right and freedom are the pledge of happiness; Flourish in this blessings glory, flourish, German fatherland! (bundestag.de). August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben wrote it on 26 August 1841 while on the island Helgoland (bundestag.de). To become a citizen of Germany, you need a valid Aufenthaltserlaubnis or Aufenthaltsberechtigung residency permit, to be a legal resident in Germany for at least 8 years, a livelihood-guarantee of you and your dependents without recourse to social welfare or unemployment benefits (exceptions are made for people under of 23 years), have adequate knowledge of the German language, take an oath on the German constitution, and you have to give up your former citizenship (although there are exceptions to this) (justlanded.com). One of the most influential people from Germany, if not the world, is Adolf Hitler. Even though he was not influential in a positive way, he was the head of the Nazi Party and chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945 (biography.com).

Works Cited "Adolf Hitler Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. "Citizenship." Just Landed. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. "Geography." Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. "German Flag." And Its Origin. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. "Service-Navigation." German Bundestag: The German National Anthem. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2013.