Was the GDR still a federal based state: i.e. was there decentralisation and regional variations?

Answer 1

I think the first answer must be right. I know that one of the states that should have been in the GDR was Saxony which name I searched - wikipedia says that it was 'abolished' during Communist rule and reestablished after reunification in 1990. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxony). This also appears there on the section on Prussia:-

'In Law #46 of 25 February 1947 the Allied Control Council formally proclaimed the dissolution of the remains of the Prussian state. In the Soviet Zone of Occupation, which became East Germany in 1949, the former Prussian territories were reorganised into the states of Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt, with the remaining parts of the Province of Pomerania going to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. These states were abolished in 1952 in favour of districts, but were recreated after the fall of communism in 1990.' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prussia#The_end_of_Prussia)

Answer 2

I wouldn't have thought that the GDR (old East Germany) was a federal state. One of the central themes of communism is centralised control so devolving power to regions would have been a big no no. Does this help? .........Allan