On [[April 12]], [[1945]], during [[World War II]], Erfurt was taken by units of the [[Third United States Army|U.S. Third Army]] under General [[George Patton]]. On [[July 3]], American troops left the city and it was occupied by the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Red Army]]. In contrast to most other major German cities, Erfurt suffered only limited damage from Allied air raids during the war. Erfurt fell in the [[Soviet Zone]] of occupation, which would later become [[German Democratic Republic|East Germany]]. | On [[April 12]], [[1945]], during [[World War II]], Erfurt was taken by units of the [[Third United States Army|U.S. Third Army]] under General [[George Patton]]. On [[July 3]], American troops left the city and it was occupied by the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Red Army]]. In contrast to most other major German cities, Erfurt suffered only limited damage from Allied air raids during the war. Erfurt fell in the [[Soviet Zone]] of occupation, which would later become [[German Democratic Republic|East Germany]]. |