Eastern Germany, 25 Years Since Reunification

COTTBUS, GERMANY - MARCH 30: Solar panels built on new apartment complexes are pictured on March 30, 2015 in Cottbus, Germany. The ground around Cottbus was bought by Swedish owned energy company Vattenfall and is the main employer in the region. Cottbus, just kilometers away from the polish border, is one of the richest ground located in eastern Germany, where coal remains a major energy resource and source of jobs, though the reduction of renewable energy production costs are making coal less viable. Until 1989 eastern Germany was an independent country, called the German Democratic Republic (DDR) and was under communist rule. This year will mark the 25th anniversary of reunification with West Germany, and though eastern Germany has succeeded in many ways, including modernizing its infrastructure, attracting outside investment and creating urban centers that draw international talent, in others it still struggles, particularly due to demographics and large-scale migration away from rural communities. (Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images)