Brandenburg is a state in east-central Germany. It covers 11,383 square miles (29,483 square kilometers) and has a population of 2,455,780. The present-day state of Brandenburg was formerly part of a historical region also called Brandenburg. In 1945, after Germany’s defeat in World War II, agreements among the Allies placed the part of Brandenburg east of the Oder and Neisse rivers under Polish control. The remaining part of Brandenburg became part of the Soviet-controlled zone of Germany. The Soviet zone became East Germany in 1949, and the German part of Brandenburg became one of East Germany’s five states. In 1952, the state of Brandenburg was abolished and divided into administrative districts. When East Germany and West Germany united in 1990, these districts were rejoined into the state of Brandenburg.
