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[[Image:Ddr.jpg‎|thumb|200px| 40 years of the '''German Democratic Republic'''.]]

[[Image:Ddr.jpg‎|thumb|200px| 40 years of the '''German Democratic Republic'''.]]

The '''German Democratic Republic''' (GDR, or in [[German]], ''Deutsche Demokratische Republik'', or DDR), also commonly referred to as East [[Germany]], was one of the two states that emerged from the division of Germany at the end of the [[Second World War]]. During the war (in 1943-1944), the [[Allies]] had agreed on dividing a defeated Germany into occupation zones<ref>http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWyalta.htm</ref>, and on dividing [[Berlin]], the German capital, among the Allied Powers as well. Initially this meant the construction of three zones of occupation ([[American]], [[British]], [[Soviet]]). Later, the British and Americans sought to include the [[French]] as one of the occupying powers. The Soviet leadership agreed, but on the condition that the French occupation zone be carved out of the British and American zones.

The '''German Democratic Republic''' (GDR), also called '''East Germany''', was one of the two states that emerged from the division of Germany at the end of the [[Second World War]]. During the war (in 1943-1944), the [[Allies]] had agreed on dividing a defeated Germany into occupation zones<ref>http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWyalta.htm</ref>, and on dividing [[Berlin]], the German capital, among the Allied Powers as well. Initially this meant the construction of three zones of occupation ([[American]], [[British]], [[Soviet]]). Later, the British and Americans sought to include the [[French]] as one of the occupying powers. The Soviet leadership agreed, but on the condition that the French occupation zone be carved out of the British and American zones.