There are many stories like this,like petrol - 1lt -1.50DM, now above EUR1.50 etc. The Euro is a expensive currency.
Generally Germany done the re-unification on its own without anyone asking for financial help. To take over 18mill. in east germany and put the DM out. Nobody knows or has a idea in rest of the world. Many countries are jealous, they never could do anything like this. Today the cost are still there i Germany for the re-unification.
That shows how strong Germany is with its industry and without Germany in Europa would be no wealth creation at all.