How was Germany divided following World War II?

Following World War II, Germany was divided into West and East Germany as a result of political tensions and differing ideologies between the Allied powers. After the war, Germany was occupied by the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union, which had different aims for the country’s future.

In 1949, these differences became pronounced, leading to the establishment of two separate states: the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), formed from the zones controlled by the United States, Great Britain, and France, and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany), established in the Soviet-controlled zone. This division was emblematic of the broader Cold War confrontation between the Western powers and the Soviet bloc, reflecting the ideological divide between capitalism and communism.

The creation of East and West Germany lasted until 1990, when the reunification process began following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Therefore, the answer indicating that Germany was divided into West and East Germany accurately captures the historical context and the geopolitical implications of post-war events.