# German Democratic Republic (1949)

URL: https://germany-history.com/timeline/1949-german-democratic-republic
Location: East Berlin
Categories: main-event

On 7 October 1949 the German Democratic Republic was founded in the Soviet zone. The Socialist Unity Party (SED) held power. Germany was divided for forty years.

## Why it matters
It formalised the division of Germany.

Ruler at the time: [Konrad Adenauer](https://germany-history.com/rulers/konrad-adenauer)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia – East Germany](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Germany)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica – East Germany](https://www.britannica.com/place/German-Democratic-Republic)