occupation zone
Quick Summary
Following World War II, Germany was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the Allied powers: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union. Berlin, the capital, was also divided into four sectors. This division quickly became ideological, leading to the formation of two separate German states in 1949: the capitalist Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the socialist German Democratic Republic (East Germany). The division of Germany and Berlin, symbolized by the Berlin Wall, became a focal point of the Cold War until Germany's reunification in 1990. The term "occupation zone" refers to territory under military control by an invading nation.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.




