Poverty-stricken Germany returned to slump (5)
I believe the answer is:
droop
'slump' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'poverty-stricken germany returned' is the wordplay.
'poverty-stricken' becomes 'poor' (similar in meaning).
'germany' becomes 'd' (vehicle registration code for Deutschland).
'returned' is a reversal indicator.
'poor'+'d'='poord'
'poord' back-to-front is 'DROOP'.
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for droop that I've seen before include "Go limp" , "Hang down loosely" , "Sag, hang down" , "sink" , "Sag wearily" .)