East Germany | Vibepedia

East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe that existed from 1949 to 1990. The country's territory was administered and occupied by Soviet forces following the Berlin Declaration abolishing German sovereignty in World War II. The Potsdam Agreement established the Soviet-occupied zone, bounded on the east by the Oder–Neiße line. The SED dominated political life in the GDR following the country's establishment, before being democratized and liberalized amid the revolutions of 1989; this paved the way for the country's reunification with West Germany. The country's capital, East Berlin, was a major cultural and economic center, with a population of over 1.2 million people. The country's economy was largely based on heavy industry, with a strong focus on manufacturing and agriculture. The country's official language was German, and the East German mark was the official currency. The country was a member of the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War, and its trade was largely with other Eastern Bloc countries. The country was also a major producer of textiles and chemicals.