Ostdeutschland

German

Etymology

Ost (“east”) +‎ Deutschland (“Germany”).

Pronunciation

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Proper noun

Ostdeutschland n

1. (also historical) Eastern Germany, especially the territories east of the Elbe or (formerly) Oder.
2. (also historical) East Germany, the German Democratic Republic or its former territories. [post-1949]

Usage notes

• While geographically not completely accurate (great parts of West Germany were located further east than parts of East Germany), this term is frequently used in German, as is “East Germany” in English, to refer to the German Democratic Republic or its former territories. The equivalent is also true, but to a lesser degree, for the coordinate Westdeutschland; see there.

Related terms

• Mitteldeutschland
• Ostdeutscher
• Osten
• Ossi
• Deutschland

See also

• DDR
• Zone