在独ソ連軍政府
DEFA was first talked about during a meeting held after World War II within the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) in January 1945. This meeting was to discuss the creation of a new anti-fascist culture while integrating the ideas of the KPD. After this meeting, the Soviet Military Administration in Germany (SMAD), the highest authority in the Soviet zone, wanted to establish a new film production company connected to the government and DEFA was founded on this basis.