East Germany (German Democratic Republic)

East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a socialist state established in 1949 in the eastern part of post-World War II Germany. Heavily influenced by the Soviet Union, it maintained a one-party government led by the Socialist Unity Party. The GDR was characterized by state control of the economy, limited political freedoms, and significant surveillance of its citizens. The Berlin Wall, built in 1961, symbolized the division between East and West Germany. East Germany struggled with economic issues and public discontent, leading to its reunification with West Germany in 1990 after the fall of the Berlin Wall.