German

Proper noun

Ostdeutschland n

1. (historical) Eastern Germany; Germany east of the Elbe or Oder.
2. (historical) East Germany, the German Democratic Republic. [post-1949]

Usage notes

• While geographically not completely accurate (some parts of West Germany were located further east than parts of East Germany), this term is frequently used in German, as "East Germany" in English, to distinguish the German Democratic Republic (Deutsche Demokratische Republik) from Westdeutschland ("West Germany", the Federal Republic of Germany / Bundesrepublik Deutschland).

Related terms

• Ostdeutscher
• Osten
• Ossi
• Deutschland

See also

• DDR
• Zone