The German Democratic Republic (GDR), or simply East
Germany as it was commonly known, was a
communist state that existed from 1949 to 1990 in the eastern regions of
Germany. It was formed following World War II in the Soviet occupation zone.
Although the richest country in the former Eastern bloc, many East Germans tried to escape to
West Germany, which enjoyed far greater freedoms and economic conditions. The GDR was known for its effective intelligence service, the Stasi. The Stasi monitored every aspect of life in the GDR with one in fifty East Germans being an informer.
Following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of all border restrictions, the GDR was officially abolished in 1990.