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# East Germany

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Full name: German Democratic Republic (GDR) (Deutsche Demokratische Republik - DDR) -- although it is sometimes argued that the only democratic aspect of the country was the word in its name.

History

After World War II, in 1949 at the [Potsdam Conference]?, the winning countries France, Great Britain, United States and the Soviet Union decided to divide Germany in 4 parts. Each country controlled a part former Germany.

While in 1949 the three sectors controlled by the United States, England and France reunited and formed the "[Federal Republic Of Germany]?", the Soviet part was made its own country, the "German Democratic Republic" - common name, East Germany. East Germany was under heavy influence of the Soviet Union and became a totalitarian communist country.

East Germany soon started to seperate itself from West Germany (which became more and more democratic and capitalist, with help from England, France and most of all, the United States) by closing the open borders by fences, turrets, dogs and most of all huge walls. A very interesting thing about the whole situation: just like Germany was divided after the war, also Berlin, former capital of Germany was divided. Since Berlin was inside the Soviet part of Germany, the areas of Berlin being held under the control of the three western countries soon became known as West Berlin.

So when East Germany closed the western borders, it also literally enclosed West Berlin within a huge wall, the Berlin Wall.

In 1989, many people fled East Germany by crossing the "green" border from Hungary to Austria. Many other peacefully demonstrated against the ruling party. On November 9th 1989 the Berlin Wall fell and with it the whole communist system of East Germany. Both parts of Germany re-united on October 3 1990 and became "Germany" again.

But still there are lot of differences between the formerly "eastern" and "western" parts of Germany (both in lifestyle, wealth, political beliefs and such) and so we still talk about eastern and western Germany.

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Last edited July 26, 2001 9:52 am (diff)
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