The "Sowjetische Zone" refers to the area of Germany that was occupied by the Soviet Union after World War II. This zone was established in 1945 and included parts of eastern Germany. It was one of the four occupation zones created by the Allied powers, which also included the American, British, and French zones. The Soviet Zone later became the foundation for the establishment of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in 1949. In the Sowjetische Zone, the Soviet government implemented a socialist system, nationalizing industries and collectivizing agriculture. This led to significant political and economic changes, including the suppression of dissent and the establishment of a one-party state under the Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands (SED). The zone remained under Soviet influence until the reunification of Germany in 1990.