I don't mean to snip your post, I just want to quickly comment on your border comment as you are correct and highlight some very significant differences. The reality is that it is very different from what people tend to associate with the notion of borders being fences, barbed wire, patrols.
For the posters not aware of the reality of the situation.
The border between Germany, left, and Poland, right
Three country border where Germany, Netherlands and Belgium meet
This is border post 576 between France and Spain. (One step either way and you can be in either France or Spain.)
Italy left, Austria right.
Germany is in the foreground and Austria in the background