FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2026-092

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (June 4, 2026) – This edition of Fun with Maps defines the agreed upon zones in post-WWII Germany.

FOUR POWERS

Just about one month after Germany’s formal surrender, the Four Powers established the Allied Occupational Zones of Germany on June 4, 1945.  The agreement was formally signed the next day. 

Overall governance of Germany was through the Allied Control Council (ACC) with representations from the Four Powers.   Similarly, Austria was divided up into four zones.  And so was Berlin.

The Four Powers’s Zones were:  American Zone in the south plus Bremen in the north to allow sea access, French Zone in the southwest, British Zone in the north and Soviet Zone in the east.

Separately a portion of former Prussia east of the Oder River went to Poland and a small sliver to the Soviet Union.

As we know, things got complicated quickly with the Soviet Union withdrawing from the ACC in 1948, resulting in the formation of two independent nations of West Germany and East Germany in 1949.  

Other notable post-WWII events include the Soviet blockade of land access to West Berlin in 1949, resulting in the Berlin Airlift to supply food, etc. to the West Berlin Population.  The Berlin Wall erected in 1961 lasted just 28 years.  On a side note, you can buy small chunks of the wall to this day.

This National Geographic map from 1945 shows the Allied Occupational Zones of Germany.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps. Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.