<P> The eight member countries of the Warsaw Pact pledged the mutual defence of any member who would be attacked . Relations among the treaty signatories were based upon mutual non-intervention in the internal affairs of the member countries, respect for national sovereignty, and political independence . However, almost all governments of those member states were indirectly controlled by the Soviet Union . </P> <P> The founding signatories to the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance consisted of the following communist governments: </P> <Ul> <Li> People's Republic of Albania (withheld support in 1961 because of the Soviet - Albanian split, formally withdrew in 1968) </Li> <Li> People's Republic of Bulgaria </Li> <Li> Czechoslovak Republic (Czechoslovak Socialist Republic from 1960) </Li> <Li> German Democratic Republic (withdrew on 2 October 1990 after dissolution of state) </Li> <Li> Hungarian People's Republic </Li> <Li> Polish People's Republic </Li> <Li> Romanian People's Republic (from 1965 the Socialist Republic of Romania) </Li> <Li> Union of Soviet Socialist Republics </Li> </Ul> <Li> People's Republic of Albania (withheld support in 1961 because of the Soviet - Albanian split, formally withdrew in 1968) </Li>

When did east germany join the warsaw pact