Since the German reunification German prosperity has declined compared to pre-unification West German levels .
The West German unemployment rate reached record levels : 12.6 % ( according to national definition ) as of March 2 , 2005 , the highest rate since World War II .
Since the German reunification German prosperity has declined compared to pre-unification West German levels , and the German unemployment rate reached record levels : 12.6 % ( according to national definition ) as of March 2 , 2005 , the highest rate since World War II .