Why was Germany divided into East and West Germany?

In the period from 1949 till 1990, Germany was split in east and west. Why was there a West and East Germany created? In this video I will explain how and why it came to that split.

Link to the Cecilienhof Palace in Potsdam:

Credits:
• 100 DM: Alliierte Militärbehörde in Deutschland, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

[KomradZX]

I’m so thankful you are doing this channel in English. I would imagine it would be a lot easier to do it in your native German… really appreciate your hard work, love all your videos ❤

[jean]

I visited the DDR a couple of times and I returned to Saxony after reunification. It actually smelled different because the smoke from the busy factories in the Erzgebirge valleys had disappeared. The factories were idle.

[Hongaars]

I have extensively watched and learned as much as I can re Germany/ third reich/ FDR GDR but through this edit I learned a new fact- that west Germany didn’t ever fully recognise the east, nor did it ever have an embassy there. Thank you for your continuing series of informative presentations.

[rodrigovelasquez]

Great material, great channel, excelent host. Such a wonderful channel. Vielen Dank für Ihre Recherche und Ihre historische Objektivität.

[MichaelAMartin]

Thank you for making these videos. I’m enjoying watching them.

[EttoreMolteni]

Just one clarification: on the 8th May 1945 the war ended in Europe, it did not end as a whole. The war continued until September 1945 between Japan and the Allies.

[mxshaal]

Enjoying those. Thanks a lot for making this channel. Keep going

[citykangaroosrlfc]

Great videos. I love learning about East Germany, glad I didn't live there though. My particular interest is the Inner-German Border. Hope you're doing a video on this soon. Here are a few interesting primary sources I've found that may be of interest.

[mahdi]

I love your channel. Please continue the great job

[jimjenkins]

I enjoy your channel. Thank you for your effort.

[RPe-jkdv]

germany was not splet in west and east but in west and middle germany.
east germany is occupied by poland and russia.

[alanrobinson]

great work!! from your description, i take it you're not from the DDR?

[ahoj]

J’aime tellement l’Allemagne que je suis ravi qu’il y en ait deux (I love Germany so much that I am delighted there are two) François Mauriac (1885-1970)

[Ketis]

Both Germanys (East&West) recognised each others in Basic treaty as a state signed 21 of december in 1972.

[comrademakno]

I noticed that you forgot about the stalin note, i was wondering how serious that was.

[ЕвгенийВаликов-ъж]

Вообще конечно ещё было бы неплохо сказать о том, что предлагались и альтернативы: единая Германия по образцу Австрии: нейтральная, единая, внеблоковая, социальная. Но этот шанс объединения был упущен. И в 40-х, и в 90-х. Кстати, было бы интересно узнать, статья Конституции ФРГ, по которой ГДР вошла в состав ФРГ, распространяется на Австрию?) Что вы думаете?

[paulmattt]

2:40. Let’s us not to forget that Stalin and Hitler started that war together as allies.

[TheRichardSpearman]

A most interesting study. Of course, Germany was just one of three countries divided after 1945; Germany was joined by Vietnam and Korea. Germany was divided for 40 years, Vietnam for 30 years, and Korea remains divided.

[dontbeasadsoulja]

Great channel and very nice intro audio and video-wise! But the advocating for the USSR at the end wasn't needed and I absolutely disagree.

[GrahamJonesJr]

Had lunch at Cecilienhof when it was still “DDR” as well as a tour of Potsdam and Schloss Sanssouci. A real trip. Meanwhile my “Westie” German friends hung out at the KaDeWe and got wasted.