Quickfacts: History

As a result of World War II, Germany was divided. In 1949, the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) developed out of the Soviet zone of occupation, and the Federal Republic of Germany out of the U.S., British and French zones. Divided Berlin became a special area under joint administration by the Four Powers. The German Democratic Republic claimed East Berlin as its capital, while the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany was located in Bonn. On August 13, 1961, the East German government built the Berlin Wall, sealing off Berlin East from Berlin West. Twenty-eight years later, on November 9, 1989, the exodus of thousands of East Germans via Hungary and Austria to West Germany, and mass demonstrations in a number of East German cities, led to the opening of the Berlin Wall. On October 3, 1990, East Germany acceded to the Federal Republic of Germany. Germany was united again. In June 1991, the German Parliament decided to move the seat of government and parliament to the capital Berlin. 
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