post-war Germany

After World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain, and France. The country faced devastation, economic collapse, and political instability. West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) developed into a democratic, prosperous nation with significant aid through the Marshall Plan. East Germany (German Democratic Republic) became a communist state aligned with the Soviet Union. In 1949, two separate countries emerged, and the division persisted until reunification in 1990. This period saw recovery, Cold War tensions, and the eventual integration of East and West Germany into a unified nation.