Officially Known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR)

The German Democratic Republic (GDR), commonly called East Germany, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the eastern part of Germany, following World War II. It was aligned with the Soviet Union and had a government controlled by a single-party system. The GDR was known for its socialist economy, extensive state control, and the Berlin Wall, which divided East and West Berlin until 1989. It existed until 1990, when Germany reunited. The GDR aimed to create a socialist society based on collective ownership, but it also faced challenges like political repression and economic difficulties.