How did the Soviet Union respond to the merging of the western zones In Germany?

The Soviet Union responded to the merging of the western zones in Germany, which led to the formation of West Germany in 1949, by establishing the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) as a separate state in October of the same year. Additionally, the Soviets intensified their control over East Germany and implemented policies to solidify their influence in Eastern Europe. This escalation contributed to the growing tensions of the Cold War, exemplified by the Berlin Blockade in 1948-1949, where the USSR attempted to cut off West Berlin in response to the Western unification efforts.