The Division of Germany occurred after World War II, when the country was split into four zones of occupation controlled by the United States, United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union. This division aimed to prevent the resurgence of militarism and to manage post-war recovery. Each occupying power administered its zone, leading to differing political and economic systems. In 1949, the zones became two separate countries: West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany) and East Germany (German Democratic Republic). This division symbolized the broader ideological conflict of the Cold War, with West Germany aligning with the West and East Germany with the Soviet bloc.