GDR history

The German Democratic Republic (GDR), also known as East Germany, was a communist state established in 1949 after Germany was divided following World War II. It was aligned with the Soviet Union, featuring a centrally planned economy, state control, and limited political freedoms. The GDR existed until 1990, when political reforms and the fall of the Berlin Wall led to reunification with West Germany. Its history reflects Cold War tensions, efforts at socialist development, and the eventual shift toward democracy and capitalism in Eastern Europe.