Which country was divided after World War II into East and West?

The correct answer is Germany. After World War II, Germany was divided into two distinct political entities: East Germany (officially the German Democratic Republic) and West Germany (officially the Federal Republic of Germany). This division was a result of the Allied powers' decisions during the post-war period, primarily influenced by tensions between the Soviet Union and the Western Allies, which eventually solidified into the Cold War. East Germany was aligned with the Eastern Bloc under Soviet influence, while West Germany became a part of the Western political and economic systems.

The division of Germany was marked by significant cultural, economic, and political differences, which culminated in the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 to physically separate East and West Berlin. This division lasted until the peaceful reunification of Germany in 1990, symbolizing the broader end of the Cold War tensions in Europe. Other countries listed did not experience a similar division after World War II; France, Japan, and the United Kingdom remained unified post-war and did not see the same territorial or ideological splits as Germany.