occupying power
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occupying power
A state whose military has occupied a foreign country or territory and exercises control there.
Nach dem Krieg wurde das Land von den alliierten Besatzungsmächten verwaltet.
After the war, the country was administered by the Allied occupying powers.
The word is made up of 'Besatzung' (occupation) and 'Macht' (power). 'Besatzung' comes from the verb 'besetzen' (to occupy). A 'Besatzungsmacht' (occupying power) is therefore the 'power' that keeps a country under military occupation.
Die Besatzungsmacht kontrollierte alle wichtigen Verkehrswege.
The occupying power controlled all important transport routes.
This word is used very often in a historical context, especially when talking about the period after a war. A typical example is the administration of Germany by the Allies after 1945.
Berlin wurde nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg in Sektoren der vier Besatzungsmächte aufgeteilt.
After the Second World War, Berlin was divided into sectors of the four occupying powers.
The word is often used in the plural ('die Besatzungsmächte' — the occupying powers), since a territory was often controlled jointly by several states. A very fixed collocation is 'die alliierten Besatzungsmächte' (the Allied occupying powers).
Die Gesetze wurden von den Besatzungsmächten erlassen.
The laws were issued by the occupying powers.
crew / occupation / trim
'die Besatzung' and 'die Besatzungsmacht' can both have to do with military control over a foreign territory. Here, 'Besatzung' refers more to the state or situation: a territory is under foreign military control. 'Besatzungsmacht', on the other hand, refers to the state that exercises this control. Learners may confuse the words because both are related to 'besetzen' (to occupy). In practice: if you are talking about the control itself, 'Besatzung' fits. If you are talking about the country or state that is doing the controlling, 'Besatzungsmacht' fits.
Die Besatzungsmacht bestimmte damals, welche Gesetze in dem Gebiet galten.
At that time, the occupying power decided which laws applied in the territory.
Viele Menschen litten während der Besatzung unter strengen Regeln.
Many people suffered under strict rules during the occupation.