Deutsche Demokratische Republik (German Democratic Republic)

The Deutsche Demokratische Republik (German Democratic Republic, GDR) was East Germany, a socialist state established in 1949 after World War II, when Germany was divided into East and West. Governed by the Socialist Unity Party, it followed a communist system aligned with the Soviet Union. The GDR emphasized state control of the economy and society, with limited political freedoms and a strict border, notably the Berlin Wall. It aimed to create a socialist society based on equality and social welfare but faced economic challenges and political repression. The GDR existed until 1990, when Germany reunified after the fall of communist regimes in Eastern Europe.