Most East Berliners who were trying to escape were shot or imprisoned; only the lucky ones survived the treacherous and, mostly, deadly dash to freedom.
By 1948 (at the latest) the Soviet Zone of Germany was Communist. The German Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany) was a Communist state when it was established in October 1949.
No. East Germany ceased to exist on 3rd October, 1990 when Germany was re-unified.East Germany was under communist rule until 18th March, 1990 when the first and last free elections were held and the...