Changes

==DDR created 1949==

==DDR created 1949==

The ruling Communist party, known as the "Socialist Unity Party" (SED), was formed in April 1946 out of the forced merger between the German Communist Party (KPD) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). As Walter Ulbricht noted, everything was made to look democratic while in realty Communists retained control in the background. They were totally loyal to Stalin, and realized their regime would collapse if it lost the backing of the Soviet army--as indeed happened in 1989.  Historians debate whether the decision to form a separate country was initiated by Stalin or by the SED.<ref> See Spilker (2006) </ref>   

The ruling Communist party, known as the "[[Socialist Unity Party of Germany|Socialist Unity Party]]" (SED), was formed in April 1946 out of the forced merger between the German Communist Party (KPD) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). As [[Walter Ulbricht]] noted, everything was made to look democratic while in realty Communists retained control in the background. They were totally loyal to Stalin, and realized their regime would collapse if it lost the backing of the Soviet army--as indeed happened in 1989.  Historians debate whether the decision to form a separate country was initiated by Stalin or by the SED.<ref> See Spilker (2006) </ref>   

As West Germany was reorganized and gained independence from the occupation, Stalin established the German Democratic Republic in 1949. The creation of the two states made permanent the 1945 division of Germany.<ref>http://web.ku.edu/~eceurope/hist557/lect17.htm</ref>  

As West Germany was reorganized and gained independence from the occupation, Stalin established the German Democratic Republic in 1949. The creation of the two states made permanent the 1945 division of Germany.<ref>http://web.ku.edu/~eceurope/hist557/lect17.htm</ref>