Final answer:
More authority was given to German officials in West Germany compared to East Germany during the Cold War, where West Germany was a democratic state with multiple political parties, and East Germany was a one-party communist state under substantial Soviet control.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Cold War, West Germany (the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG) was granted more autonomy and authority by the allied western powers, namely the United States, Great Britain, and France. West Germany was established as a federal republic in October 1949, featuring democratic elections and multiple political parties. On the contrary, East Germany (the German Democratic Republic or GDR) was a one-party communist state under the significant influence and control of the Soviet Union, limiting the autonomy of German officials in the east.
Due to the ideological differences between the Soviet Union and the western allies, there was a clear distinction in governance between East and West Germany. In the west, democracy and capitalism flourished, while in the east, the Soviets enforced strict communist doctrines and reparation payments, suppressed political dissent, and suffered from economic malaise. This ultimately led to the construction of the Berlin Wall to prevent the exodus of East Berliners to the more prosperous West Berlin. Even in terms of foreign policy, East Germany was heavily controlled by the USSR, while West Germany was allowed to join NATO and integrate into the western capitalist bloc.