Changes

During [[World War II]], the Allies (U.S., Britain, and the Soviet Union) 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, and Soviet. Later, a French zone was carved out of the American and British zones.  

During [[World War II]], the Allies (U.S., Britain, and the Soviet Union) 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, and Soviet. Later, a French zone was carved out of the American and British zones.  

In 1945 the Soviet armies swept into the eastern parts of Germany, and destroyed both the Nazi government and the local political, religious, business, landowning and cultural leadership.  All land was taken over and turned into collective farms; all businesses, banks and factories were nationalized.  The economy  declined as the new bosses did not understand production.  Most of the leadership that escaped execution fled to the west. A ruthless Communist dictatorship, backed by Soviet armies took control.  No forms of popular democracy was allowed, and all media were tightly controlled by the state.   

In 1945 the Soviet armies swept into the eastern parts of Germany, and destroyed both the Nazi government and the local political, religious, business, landowning and cultural leadership.  All land was taken over and turned into collective farms; all large businesses, banks and factories were nationalized.  Many small-scale shops remained in the private sector. The economy  declined as the new bosses were chosen for party loyalty not expertise.  Most of the old leadership that escaped execution fled to the west. A ruthless Communist dictatorship, backed by Soviet armies took control.  No forms of popular democracy was allowed, and all media were tightly controlled by the state.   

The people had been brutalized by the Russian army, with many women raped in 1945. Nevertheless the official promise was that a socialist utopia was at hand.  The horrors perpetrated by the Russians were a state secret and could never be published or even mentioned without severe punishment from the Stasi.

The people had been brutalized by the Russian army, with many women raped in 1945. Nevertheless the official promise was that a socialist utopia was at hand.  The horrors perpetrated by the Russians were a state secret and could never be published or even mentioned without severe punishment from the Stasi.