Germany

In 1945, after the German surrender in the Second World War, the country was divided into four zones, each to be controlled by one of the victorious allies: The United States, Great Britain, France and the Soviet Union. In 1949, the three most western zones established the Federal Republic of Germany. In reaction, East Germany, or the Deutsche Demokratishe Republik was officially established with Soviet support on October 7, 1949. In insisted on international recognition as an independent communist state.

Walter Ulbricht was the leader of East Germany for over 25 years. He was a long time member of the German communist party. He helped found the Socialist Unity Party, or Socialistiche Einheitspartei Deutschlands, in 1946 and was leader of the communist organization from 1950 to 1971. He was first deputy premier of the republic from 1949 to 1950, and chairman of the council of State from 1960 to 1973.

Ulbricht wanted to transfrom the war ravaged counytry into a Cummunist power and set up policies to improve relation with other Cummunist nations. In 1950 East Germany and Poland ratified a treaty rocognizing the Oder-Neisse border. Along with Poland, East Germany joined the Council for Mutual Econvomic Assistance. In order to rebuild the economy, Ulbricht asserted an iron rule and the SAocialist Unity Party controlled all industry and agriculture. Food shortages and production quotas caused worker revolts in 1953. The revolts were swiftly crushed by Soviet troops.

In 1954, the USSR ended its demands for war reparations and officially recognized East Germany. In 1955, East Germany halped establish the Warsaw Pact in reaction to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In 1956 an army was created.

Even after Ulbricht set up a police quarded corridor to block immigration to the West, a steady flow of East Germany's skilled work force was still leaving through West Berlin. In 1961, Ulbricht blocked this final escape route by ordering the construction of the Berlin Wall. IN 1965, he imposed strict guidelines on the already restricted travel between West Berlin and West Germay.

In 1963 the New Economic System partially decentalized the economy. This relaxation led to economic recovery and gradual reconciliation between the workers and teh communist state. However, the next year Ulbricht made an agreement with the Soviet Union to help maintain communism in Eastern Europe. IN 1968, Ulbricht sent East German troops to help the Soviets put down a democratic uprising in Czechslovakia.

Later in 1968 a new constitution was adopted that declared East Germany a sovereign socialist state run by the working people. In reality, the government was still controlled by the Socialist Unity Party. Although the constitution allowed a unilateral parliament consisting of 500 seats, the People's Chamber, or Volkskammer, only met for brief sessions and was not very effective. In 1971, Ulbricht was succeeded by Erich Honecker as party leader. Honecker became East Germany's President from 1976 to 1989.

Communist Rule crumbled in 1989 when Hungary ended a 1969 accord, and permitted East German citizens to cross its border into Austria and then seek asylum in West Germany. In 1989, Honecker was forced out of the presidency and replaced by Egon Krenz. In November 1989, the Berlin Wall was opened and thousands of East Germans streamed into West Berlin. Discoveries of corruption among high officials under Honecker caused discontent among citizens and turmoil within the Socialist Unity Party. Krenz soon lost his state and party positions and the Socialist Unity Party, under demands from democratic oppostion groups, agreed to free elections for a new People's Chamber consisting of 400 deputies. The new Chamber, elected in March 1990, was a transitional body that worked out the constitutional arrangements in which East Germany would merge with West Germany. The two countries' economic systems were merged in July 1990 and East Germany was officially dissolved in October 1990.

A decisive victory by West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl made him the leader of the united country. The newly elected Bundestag, which represented East and West, decided on June 20, 1991 to officially make Berlin the capitol of Germany. The administration would have to be moved from Bonn, the old West German capitol, a process that would take several years.

A thriving economy in the West and high unemployment and failing business in the East, created resentment among West Germans who feel that the East is a economic burden. Still, Germany has slowly managed to absorb the losses from integrating the former communist eastern economy. Today, united Germany is considered a vital economic superpower.