SED (Socialist Unity Party of Germany)

The Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) was the ruling communist party in East Germany from 1946 to 1989. It was formed through the merger of the Communist and Social Democratic parties under Soviet influence after World War II. The SED held centralized control over East Germany's government, economy, and society, advocating for socialist principles aligned with Soviet policies. It maintained authority through a state security apparatus and censorship, suppressing political dissent. The SED's dominance ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany in 1990, leading to the party's dissolution and the country's shift toward democracy.