Allied-occupied Germany

Allied-occupied Germany

a. Joined the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) on January 1, 1957. b. Reunited Germany by joining the Federal Republic of Germany on October 3, 1990. c. The reunification of Germany took place on October 3, 1990. d. The Allied zones of Germany and the western sectors of Berlin. e. The Soviet zone of Germany and sector of Berlin.

The Allied powers who defeated Nazi Germany in World War II divided the country west of the Oder-Neisse line into four occupation zones for administrative purposes during 1945–49. In the closing weeks of fighting in Europe, United States forces had pushed beyond the previously agreed boundaries for the future zones of occupation, in some places by as much as 200 miles. The line of contact between Soviet and US forces at the end of hostilities was temporary. After two months in which they had held areas that had been assigned to the Soviet zone, US forces withdrew in the first days of July 1945. Some have concluded that this was a crucial move that persuaded the Soviet Union to allow US, British, and French forces into their predesignated zones in Berlin, which occurred at roughly the same time (July 1945), although the need for intelligence gathering (see Operation Paperclip) may also have been a factor.