Division of Germany

After World War II, Germany was divided into four zones controlled by the United States, Soviet Union, Britain, and France. The western zones combined to form West Germany, a democratic and capitalist state. The eastern zone became East Germany, a socialist state under Soviet influence. This division reflected Cold War tensions, symbolized by the Berlin Wall built in 1961 to stop East Germans from fleeing to the West. The division lasted until 1990, when Germany reunified peacefully. This separation influenced global politics and shaped German and European history throughout the Cold War era.