::::::::::::::R-41, See for example Socialist economies and the transition to the market, p. 292:  "The German Democratic Republic (GDR) had the highest standard of living among the socialist countries...."  If you don't know such a basic fact about the GDR, then I question your competence to contribute to the article.  And no, I am not making arguments about whether the GDR was independent, merely rebutting your statement that it was not recognized as independent.  We do not write articles based on our own reasoning but on reliable sources.