The term 'Former Capital of West Germany' can be answered with the four letter word 'Bonn'. Bonn is a city located in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, on the banks of the Rhine River. It served as the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and was the official seat of government until 1999. During this time, Bonn was the center of political activity in West Germany and was home to many important government buildings and institutions.