5. East Germany (GDR)
East Germany, or the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was established in 1949 amidst the tensions of the Cold War. Separated from its western neighbor by the infamous Berlin Wall, East Germany became a symbol of ideological division in Europe. Its existence ended in 1990 with German reunification, but echoes of its socialist past remain in culture, architecture, and politics. Explore East Germany’s lasting impact at DW.
