The capital of East Germany was East Berlin.

East Berlin served as the political and administrative capital of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), also known as East Germany, from 1949 to 1990. Situated in the eastern part of Berlin, it functioned as a symbol of the division between East and West during the Cold War.

During the post-World War II period, Germany was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the Allied powers - the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain, and France. The Soviet Union took control of the eastern part of Germany, which eventually became the German Democratic Republic in 1949. East Berlin emerged as the capital of this newly established socialist state.

East Berlin was not only the political center but also the cultural and economic hub of East Germany. It housed numerous government institutions, including the Council of Ministers, the State Council, and the headquarters of the ruling Socialist Unity Party. The city was also home to a variety of cultural landmarks, such as the Berlin State Opera, the Friedrichstraße shopping district, and the famous Alexanderplatz square.

However, East Berlin's position as the capital was overshadowed by the Berlin Wall, a physical barrier constructed by the East German government in 1961. The wall, intended to prevent mass emigration to West Germany, further divided the city and symbolized the ideological divide between communism and capitalism.

In 1990, with the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany, East Berlin lost its status as the capital. The unified city of Berlin became the capital of the newly reunified Federal Republic of Germany.

Today, remnants of East Berlin's history can still be seen in the cityscape. The Berlin Wall Memorial, the Brandenburg Gate, and the East Side Gallery, which features a portion of the original Berlin Wall covered in colorful graffiti, serve as reminders of the city's divided past.

In conclusion, East Berlin was the capital of East Germany from 1949 to 1990. It played a significant role in the political, cultural, and economic development of the German Democratic Republic and witnessed the construction and eventual fall of the Berlin Wall.

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