occupation zone
Loading your saved state.
occupation zone
An area that is militarily controlled by foreign troops after a war. In Germany, the term is mainly used for the zones of the Allies after the Second World War.
Berlin war in vier Sektoren aufgeteilt, die den Besatzungszonen der Siegermächte entsprachen.
Berlin was divided into four sectors that corresponded to the occupation zones of the victorious powers.
The word consists of 'die Besatzung' (occupation) and 'die Zone' (zone). 'Besatzung' is derived from the verb 'besetzen' (to occupy). So it is literally an 'occupation zone.'
Nach dem Krieg wurde das Land in mehrere Besatzungszonen aufgeteilt.
After the war, the country was divided into several occupation zones.
This term is very strongly connected with the history of Germany directly after the Second World War (1945-1949). In current usage, it is hardly used for present-day conflicts.
Mein Großvater lebte in der amerikanischen Besatzungszone.
My grandfather lived in the American occupation zone.
The word is almost always mentioned in connection with the four victorious powers of the Second World War: the American, British, French, and Soviet occupation zones.
Die sowjetische Besatzungszone wurde später zur DDR.
The Soviet occupation zone later became the GDR.
