East Germany's centrally planned economy had far lower living standards, stagnant productivity and poor consumer choice compared to the more advanced, capitalist West Germany.
West Germany was a capitalist democracy with a prosperous economy, while East Germany was a communist country with a very poor economy.
The American, British and French sectors formed West Germany in 1949, while the Soviet sector was East Germany.
The border between East and West Germany shut in 1952, with the divide in Berlin closing in 1961 - separating families and communities overnight.
Some of that support is fuelled by resentment that 35 years after Germany reunified, wages in the east are still lower than the west.
