Editing German Democratic Republic (section)

== '''Formation''' ==
The GDR was founded on October 7, 1949 as a reaction to the division of Germany after the Second World War. Under the leadership of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) and under Soviet occupation, the GDR developed into an independent state with a socialist orientation. The members of parliament elected by the people drew up a draft constitution and presented it to the population for discussion. After a long and broad public debate, hundreds of suggestions from businesses, farms, towns and villages etc. were incorporated into the draft constitution. When the three western zones were transformed into a federal republic, the German People's Council proclaimed itself the provisional People's Chamber and the members of parliament elected by the people enacted the constitution approved by the people. This is how the German Democratic Republic came into being.