After World War II, Germany was divided into two separate countries: East Germany and West Germany. East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was established in 1949 and was aligned with the Soviet Union. It had a socialist government and was characterized by state control over the economy and limited personal freedoms. West Germany, or the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), was also formed in 1949 and aligned with Western nations, including the United States and NATO. It had a capitalist economy and a democratic political system. The division lasted until 1990, when Germany was reunified after the fall of the Berlin Wall.