# Economic Miracle (1950)

URL: https://germany-history.com/timeline/1950-economic-miracle
Location: West Germany
Categories: main-event

In the 1950s West Germany experienced rapid growth under Ludwig Erhard's social market economy. Unemployment fell to near zero. Guest workers were recruited from 1955.

## Why it matters
It made West Germany Europe's leading economy.

Ruler at the time: [Konrad Adenauer](https://germany-history.com/rulers/konrad-adenauer)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia – Wirtschaftswunder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wirtschaftswunder)
- [Wikipedia – Ludwig Erhard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_Erhard)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica – Wirtschaftswunder](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Wirtschaftswunder)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica – Ludwig Erhard](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ludwig-Erhard)