East Berlin

Quick Facts: Who was East Berlin?

Subject:

East Berlin

Known for:

The capital of East Germany (GDR) from 1949 until German reunification in 1990.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

East Berlin (German: Ost-Berlin; pronounced [ˈɔstbɛʁˌliːn] ) was the capital of East Germany (GDR) from 1949 to 1990. From 1945, it was the Soviet occupation sector of Berlin. The American, British, and French sectors were known as West Berlin. From 13 August 1961 until 9 November 1989, East Berlin was separated from West Berlin by the Berlin Wall. The Western Allied powers did not recognize East Berlin as the GDR's capital, nor the GDR's authority to govern East Berlin.

Career & Major Achievements

For most of its administrative existence, East Berlin was officially known as Berlin, capital of the GDR (German: Berlin, Hauptstadt der DDR) by the GDR government. On 3 October 1990, the day Germany was officially reunified, East and West Berlin formally reunited as the city of Berlin. With the London Protocol of 1944 and subsequent Potsdam Conference in 1945, the Allied powers of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union decided to divide Germany into three occupation zones and to establish a special area of Berlin, which was occupied by the three Allied Forces together. In May 1945, the Soviet Union installed a city government for the whole city that was called "Magistrate of Greater Berlin", which existed until 1947. After the war, the Allied Forces initially administered the city together within the Allied Kommandatura, which served as the governing body of the city.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

However, in 1948 the Soviet representative left the Kommandatura and the common administration broke apart during the following months. In the Soviet sector, a separate city government was established, which continued to call itself the "Magistrate of Greater Berlin". When the German Democratic Republic was established in 1949, it immediately claimed Berlin as its capital—a claim that was recognized by all communist countries. Nevertheless, East Berlin representation in the Volkskammer initially only consisted of non-voting delegates, indirectly elected by the Magistrate, until an amendment to the electoral law providing for direct elections was passed on June 28, 1979, taking effect on June 14, 1981. In June 1948, all railways and roads leading to West Berlin were blocked, and East Berliners were not allowed to emigrate.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1944: 1944 Milestone — With the London Protocol of 1944 and subsequent Potsdam Conference in 1945, the Allied powers of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union decided to divide Germany into three occupation zones and to establish a special area of Berlin, which was occupied by the three Allied Forces together.
2. 1945: 1945 Milestone — From 1945, it was the Soviet occupation sector of Berlin.
3. 1948: 1948 Milestone — However, in 1948 the Soviet representative left the Kommandatura and the common administration broke apart during the following months.
4. 1949: 1949 Milestone — East Berlin (German: Ost-Berlin; pronounced [ˈɔstbɛʁˌliːn] ) was the capital of East Germany (GDR) from 1949 to 1990.
5. 1961: 1961 Milestone — From 13 August 1961 until 9 November 1989, East Berlin was separated from West Berlin by the Berlin Wall.
6. 1979: 1979 Milestone — Nevertheless, East Berlin representation in the Volkskammer initially only consisted of non-voting delegates, indirectly elected by the Magistrate, until an amendment to the electoral law providing for direct elections was passed on June 28, 1979, taking effect on June 14, 1981.
7. 1990: 1990 Milestone — On 3 October 1990, the day Germany was officially reunified, East and West Berlin formally reunited as the city of Berlin.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: East Berlin

True or False: “East Berlin was universally recognized by all major world powers as the legitimate capital of Germany throughout its existence.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The Western Allies (US, UK, France) never formally acknowledged the authority of the East German government to govern East Berlin.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Historical peer (Born in 1949) (1949): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances and masterful impersonation.
• Alan García — Historical peer (Born in 1949) (1949): Controversial Peruvian politician who served two non-consecutive terms as President of Peru.
• A. J. P. Taylor — Historical peer (Died in 1990) (1990): Influential English historian specializing in 19th and 20th-century European diplomacy.
• Aaron Copland — Historical peer (Died in 1990) (1990): Pioneering American composer, conductor, and critic, known as the "Dean of American Music".
• Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi — Historical peer (Born in 1945) (1945): Yemeni politician who served as the second President of Yemen from 2012 to 2022.
• Adolf Hitler — Historical peer (Died in 1945) (1945): Austrian-born German politician who became dictator of Germany during the Nazi era.
• Aaron Sorkin — Historical peer (Born in 1961) (1961): Master of fast-paced dialogue, known for 'walk and talk' storytelling.
• Abderrahmane Sissako — Historical peer (Born in 1961) (1961): Mauritanian-born Malian film director known for themes of globalization and exile.
• A. J. Ayer — Historical peer (Died in 1989) (1989): Influential English philosopher known for logical positivism and emotivism.
• Abbie Hoffman — Historical peer (Died in 1989) (1989): Iconic American activist, co-founder of the Yippies, and counterculture figure.

Frequently Asked Questions about East Berlin