The foundation of the second German state, the German Democratic Republic
October 9, 1949[edit]
In reaction to the creation of the FDR, the German People's Council in the Soviet zone, the Volksrat, establishes the people's chamber, the Volkskammer, and a constitution is enacted. The constitution includes clauses of dictating the expropriation of land and property and provides the basis for the block principle forcing all parties to take part in government. William Pieck is elected as first president on October 11th and Otto Grotewohl is charged with forming a new government. The second German state, the DDR, is now established.
