"West German" refers to the Federal Republic of Germany, which existed from 1949 until reunification in 1990. It was established after World War II, during the Cold War, and was aligned with the Western Bloc. Its capital was Bonn, and it was known for its strong economy and democratic government. The term is often used to distinguish this region from East Germany, or the German Democratic Republic, which was under Soviet influence. West Germany played a significant role in European integration and was a founding member of the European Economic Community and NATO.