Following their victory in World War II, the Allied powers (U.S., UK, France, and the Soviet Union) divided defeated Germany into four zones of occupation.

The capital city, Berlin, located deep within the Soviet zone, was also divided into four sectors.

The Western powers and the Soviet Union had conflicting visions for Germany's future.

Tensions grew, leading to the breakdown of cooperation between the former allies.

In 1949, two separate German states were formally established.

The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) was created from the American, British, and French zones and became a democratic state aligned with the West.

The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) was established in the Soviet zone and became a communist satellite state controlled by Moscow.

This division of Germany became a central symbol of the Cold War in Europe.

West Berlin became an isolated outpost of Western democracy and capitalism surrounded by East Germany.

The division of Germany would last for over 40 years until its reunification in 1990.