Eastern Bloc
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Eastern Bloc
A historical term for the group of socialist states in Central and Eastern Europe that were under the political and military influence of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, roughly from 1947 to 1991.
Nach dem Fall der Berliner Mauer zerfiel der Ostblock innerhalb kurzer Zeit.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Eastern Bloc collapsed within a short time.
The word consists of 'Ost' (east) and 'Block' (bloc). It referred to a group of states in Eastern Europe during the Cold War that was perceived as a unit, or 'Block' (bloc).
Die Länder des Ostblocks bildeten das Gegenstück zu den westlichen Allianzen.
The countries of the Eastern Bloc formed the counterpart to the Western alliances.
This word is used exclusively for the period of the Cold War, roughly 1947 to 1991. It is not a geographical or current political term for the countries of Eastern Europe.
Heute spricht man von den Staaten Mittel- und Osteuropas, nicht mehr vom Ostblock.
Today people speak of the states of Central and Eastern Europe, not of the Eastern Bloc anymore.
Common phrases are 'die Staaten des Ostblocks' (the states of the Eastern Bloc), 'der ehemalige Ostblock' (the former Eastern Bloc), and 'der Zerfall/Zusammenbruch des Ostblocks' (the disintegration/collapse of the Eastern Bloc), which refers to the political upheavals around 1989/90.
Viele Staaten des ehemaligen Ostblocks sind heute Mitglieder der Europäischen Union.
Many states of the former Eastern Bloc are now members of the European Union.
east
'der Osten' and 'der Ostblock' can both appear in historical and political texts about Europe. In this context, 'der Osten' is broader and can generally mean the socialist states during the Cold War. 'der Ostblock' is more specific: it means the group of states that were strongly under the influence of the Soviet Union at that time. Learners may confuse the words because both sound not only geographical, but are also used politically. For the cardinal direction, you say 'der Osten'. For this historical group of states, 'der Ostblock' is more precise.
Der Ostblock spielte im Kalten Krieg eine wichtige politische Rolle.
The Eastern Bloc played an important political role in the Cold War.
Im Geschichtsunterricht sprechen wir heute über den Osten während des Kalten Krieges.
In history class today, we are talking about the East during the Cold War.