In the aftermath of World War II, two states emerged in Germany in 1949: West Germany under the aegis of the Western Allies, and East Germany as part of the Soviet bloc. West Germany, officially known as the Federal Republic of Germany, adopted a constitution in 1949 which banned discrimination against people due to their faith or religious opinions, and stated that no state church exists in Germany; consequently, secularisation in West Germany proceeded slowly. East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic, had a communist system which actively tried to reduce the influence of religion in society; the government restricted Christian churches. In the 21st century, eastern German states, including the area of the former eastern capital, East Berlin, are less religious than western German states.