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This is a Cold War-era map depicting the division of Germany into East and West following World War II. It highlights the economic and geopolitical realities of the partition, using both geographic and statistical visualizations to contrast the two regions.

This map serves as a tool to explain the significant economic and demographic consequences of Germany's post-war division. It illustrates the contrast between the Soviet-controlled East and the Western-aligned West, underscoring the Cold War narrative of ideological and economic competition. Such visualizations were often used to emphasize the economic disparities and the strategic importance of Germany in the European theater of the Cold War.

The map divides Germany into West Germany (aligned with the Western Bloc) and East Germany (aligned with the Eastern Bloc), emphasizing their separate spheres of influence within the Cold War context.  It includes neighboring countries such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, France, and others, situating Germany within the broader European landscape.

The map details key industrial regions, such as the Ruhr Valley in West Germany, renowned for coal and metal industries, and Saxony in East Germany, associated with electrical engineering and other industries. Symbols indicate coal fields, iron ore deposits, and railway networks, showing the economic infrastructure of both East and West Germany.

At the left, the Insets on the left break down important economic factors:

• Bread grain surplus and deficit areas.
• Meat supply zones.
• Iron and steel production and market areas.
• Hinterlands of major ports.

 A statistical comparison at the bottom right highlights disparities between East and West Germany:

• Population (1950): 45 million in West Germany versus 17 million in East Germany.
• Arable Land: West Germany holds 64%, East Germany 36%.
• Exports of Manufactured Products: 71% for West Germany, 22% for East Germany.
• National Income: 65% for West Germany, 23% for East Germany (based on pre-war estimates).

 The map uses a bold visual style, with contrasting colors to distinguish between East and West Germany. The Western Bloc is shaded in white, while the Eastern Bloc is in a light orange. The use of red for demarcating the pre-war borders and black for industrial and transport networks further emphasizes the economic divisions.