The Soviet Occupation Zone ( German : Sowjetische Besatzungszone ( SBZ ) or Ostzone , Sovetskaya zona Germanii , `` Soviet Zone of Germany '' ) was the area of eastern Germany occupied by the Soviet Union from 1945 on , at the end of World War II . The Soviet Occupation Zone ( ; , Sovetskaya okkupatsionnaya zona Germanii , `` Soviet Occupation Zone of Germany '' ) was the area of central Germany occupied by the Soviet Union from 1945 on , at the end of World War II .