of reestablished länder in 1946–47. Some of these corresponded to the former states and some were new creations, largely due to the dissolution of Prussia, formerly the largest German state. By 1947 the länder in the Western zones had freely elected parliamentary assemblies, thus effectively repealing the provisions of the "Law on the Reconstruction of the Reich." Institutional developments followed a superficially similar pattern in the Soviet zone, but there the electoral process was less than fully free. When the West Germany was formed on 23 May 1949, eleven länder were formally recognized as component entities in the new Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany and they retained their state parliaments. When East Germany was established on 7 October 1949, five länder were components of the new nation. In 1952, however, the länder were realigned into 14 districts (bezirke). In preparation for German reunification, the five länder were reestablished on 23 August 1990, together with a newly re-united Berlin, became federal components of the newly united Germany on 3 October and held free state parliamentary elections on 14 October. See also Federalism in Germany Gleichschaltung States of the Weimar Republic References Sources 1934 in Germany 1934 in law January 1934 events Federalism in Germany Government of Nazi Germany Law in Nazi Germany Repealed German legislation