Read the state’s full name.
In this selection, Saxony appears alongside Lower Saxony. Despite the similarity of their names, the territories belonged to different German states: Saxony lay in the GDR and Lower Saxony in the Federal Republic. That specific historical classification determines the exam answer.
Saxony lost its state-level structure in 1952. Its territory subsequently contained mainly the GDR districts of Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz, later named Karl-Marx-Stadt. Saxony was re-established as a state in 1990. Today’s state boundaries must not simply be equated with all former district boundaries.
The other three answers
Each incorrect answer has a different West German state history.
Bavaria
Bavaria belonged to the Federal Republic from its founding in 1949. It is therefore not correctly classified as former GDR territory.
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a separate state and belonged to the Federal Republic. The word “Saxony” in its name should not lead you to equate it with present-day Saxony.
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg was formed in 1952 from Baden, Württemberg-Baden and Württemberg-Hohenzollern. That merger occurred within the Federal Republic and does not indicate former membership of the GDR.
Today’s map does not explain every earlier history of a name.
The question concerns German division after 1945, not medieval or early modern territories. Older meanings of the name Saxony are therefore not a reliable way to choose the answer.
Saxony-Anhalt would also count as former GDR territory in an appropriate selection. Here, however, only one of the four offered answers is correct. Learn the complete group of five, then check the names actually offered.
Saxon history · Free State of Saxony ↗Saxony: eastern side of division. Lower Saxony: Federal Republic.
The word “Lower” changes which present-day federal state is meant.
Three words for this question
- SachsenSaxony
- The present-day state on former GDR territory sought in this question.
- NiedersachsenLower Saxony
- A different German federal state that belonged to the West German Federal Republic.
- der Namensbestandteilpart of a name
- One component of a complete name, which may not be unambiguous on its own.