Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR)

The Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR), or East Germany, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the eastern part of Germany after World War II. It was aligned with the Soviet Union and operated under a single-party system, with the Socialist Unity Party controlling government and society. The DDR was characterized by state ownership of industry, collectivized agriculture, and restrictions on political freedoms, including limited travel rights. It existed until 1990, when political changes and the fall of communist regimes in Eastern Europe led to its reunification with West Germany, forming a unified, democratic Germany.