First occupation zones, then two German states.
The occupation zones were established after World War II. There was no GDR in 1945. Only four years later did the Soviet-controlled territory become the second German state alongside the Federal Republic.
On 7 October 1949, the German People’s Council declared itself the provisional People’s Chamber. The GDR constitution followed the preceding political preparations. In the actual state system, the SED determined the political leadership.
The other three answers
The three incorrect options name Western occupation zones.
American occupation zone.
The American zone was one of the Western occupation zones. It was not where the GDR was founded.
French occupation zone.
The French zone also belongs to the West German rather than the Soviet path of development.
British occupation zone.
The British zone was the third Western occupation zone. The GDR emerged from the Soviet zone in the east.
Berlin and the political system need additional precision.
Berlin had a special position as a city divided into four sectors. The GDR used and designated East Berlin as its capital. It is therefore inaccurate to treat the entire city simply as an ordinary part of the Soviet occupation zone.
The name “German Democratic Republic” does not prove democratic political practice. Despite constitutional provisions that sounded democratic, actual power lay with the SED. The territorial founding question and assessment of the political system are different learning steps.
Founding of the GDR · House of History ↗GDR founding: Soviet zone, 1949.
Connect the state with the occupation power and year. This links the question about location with the question about the date.
Three words for this question
- die Besatzungszoneoccupation zone
- An area administered by an occupation power after the war.
- sowjetischSoviet
- Here: belonging to or controlled by the former Soviet Union.
- provisorischprovisional
- Temporary and not yet intended as the final form.