Germany, like much of the rest of the world, is a soccer-crazy country. Each year, hundreds of thousands of fans flock to see Bundesliga games. During international competitions, the entire nation comes to a seeming standstill, as Germans focus their attention on the national team's success. At a cursory glance, it is easy to see that football plays a large role in Germany's culture. But an in-depth view reveals more: football serves as an accurate metaphor for much of what Germany has endured since the end of World War II. This essay seeks to place the German soccer story after World War II in the wider context of Germany's economic transition and political reunion. (Gregg Gethard)