The Federal Republic of Germany is made up of 16 federal states, the Länder.
Most of the federal states are fairly large in terms of surface area. However, Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen are classified as city-states, being cities that simultaneously hold federal state status.
Some states call themselves a “free state” (Freistaat). It is merely a historic synonym for “republic” and was a description used by most German states after the abolishment of monarchy after World War I. Today, Freistaat is associated emotionally with a more independent status, especially in Bavaria. However, it has no legal significance.
Baden-Württemberg
Bavaria free state
Berlin city-state
Brandenburg
Bremen city-state
Hamburg city-state
Hesse
Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania
Lower Saxony
North Rhine-Westphalia
Rhineland-Palatinate
Saarland
Saxony free state
Saxony-Anhalt
Schleswig-Holstein
Thuringia free state
simultaneously ταυτόχρονα
merely απλώς, μονάχα
emotionally συναισθηματικά
especially ειδικά
