East Berlin exists since 1949. It comprises the eastern regions of Berlin and consists of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. Since 1990 it has been reunified, though it is still very much a separate region.

Back in 1945 when it was established, the American, British, and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany. East Berlin was the de facto capital of East Germany. From 13 August 1961 until 9 November 1989, East Berlin was separated from West Berlin by the Berlin Wall. The East German government referred to East Berlin simply as “Berlin” or often “Berlin, Hauptstadt der DDR” (Berlin, capital of the GDR). The term “Democratic Sector” was also used until the 1960s.