How was Germany divided after World War II?

Following the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945, the country was divided into four occupation zones administered by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union. The western two-thirds of the country were controlled by the U.S., U.K., and France, while the eastern third was administered by the Soviet Union.12

Although Berlin was located deep within the Soviet zone, the city was also partitioned into four sectors, each governed by one of the Allied powers.12

Rising ideological and political tensions between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union prevented a unified peace settlement, leading to the formation of two separate states in 1949:12
* Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany): Formed from the Western occupation zones and aligned with capitalism.1
* German Democratic Republic (East Germany): Established in the Soviet zone and aligned with socialism.1

This division persisted until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and Germany’s reunification in 1990.13