The chemical industry has indeed, been a key factor to the region, in good times and bad.

The state of Saxony-Anhalt is right in the middle of Germany. It has only existed briefly in its current form - since 1947 to be exact. A mere five years later, during East German reforms, the state was divided into two districts, Halle and Magdeburg.

East Germany's "Chemical Triangle"

Only after reunification in 1990 was it returned to its current status and became one of the five new German states.

In the East German era, the region around the cities of Leuna, Schkopau and Bitterfeld became known as the Chemical Triangle. Some 120,000 people worked there at the time.

Many of the companies were closed after reunification, however, and Saxony-Anhalt is still trying to recover economically.

New industries on the rise

State unemployment figures can run double the national figures. But new chemical companies, as well as machinery and food science, are taking off here. The service sector and new technologies like solar power are also on the rise. And foreign investment has been strong.

Saxony-Anhalt is also known as the stomping grounds of religious reformer Martin Luther, who nailed his 95 theses to the main door of the Castle church in Wittenberg. The city of Halle an der Salle is the biggest in the state, with 235,000 residents. The capital is Magdeburg.