Ina’s Experience Growing Up in East Germany
This week, I had the opportunity to hear from Ina, a (former) visiting assistant professor at Cyprus University teaching German. In the interview, Ina not only shared her experiences growing up in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) but also delved into the concept of Ostalgia. Ina provided a fascinating glimpse into the daily lives of a GDR citizen, shedding light on the unique challenges and experiences she faced in East Germany.
Ina first introduced her family background. She explained that she grew up in a comfortable house where her family ran a cheese factory. However, as a socialist state, the factors of production were fundamentally controlled by the government. For example, Ina’s family faced restrictions on the production and pricing of their cheese. Specifically, the state determined the output quantities and set prices, resulting in a constant shortage of food supplies throughout East Germany. Ina explains this concept by saying, “You can’t eat money,” emphasizing that even if an individual had the financial means to purchase a product, they were not guaranteed the product in a command economy as supply was limited.
Ina also talked about the school system under a socialist state. She recounted that she had to salute a portrait of the General Secretary of the Socialist Party every morning and drew parallels with the education system under Nazi Germany. She also highlighted the censorship prevalent in her education. Ina vividly recalls a particular instance from her school days when her curiosity almost got her expelled. Curious about the black-out areas outside East Germany on a map, the teacher reported Ina for “hostile behavior.” This incident not only highlights the dire consequences of curiosity within a tightly controlled education system but also the watchful eye of the secret police.
Finally, Ina recounts the reunification of Germany, recalling the warm embraces from the West. She commented, “It was just political reasons why we were divided.” Ina then described her life after the reunification. She spoke about the significant loss of the young labor force from East Germany who migrated to the West to pursue better job opportunities. This mass migration further exacerbated the economic disparity between the East and the West, and East Germany lagged behind the West in many aspects, such as production and investment. Not only that, but there is also a cultural divide and negative sentiment fostered by the separation of the two regions. Even now, Eastern Germany overwhelmingly leans toward the right-wing party and support more radical policies. This division raises questions into the long-term implications of sustainable development as cultural and political disparities may hinder collaboration.
Nevertheless, Ina expressed her feelings about Ostalgia for her life in the GDR. She clarifies that not everything was negative because she was privileged by having her family with her. Now, she pokes fun at the daily salute and reminisces about her life under the regime. I was captivated by Ina’s story, and it reminded me that the GDR was not a distant chapter in history, but rather a recent page in the past. Though I could not relate to any of her experiences, I felt sympathy for what she had to go through.
Ina’s story also prompted me to reflect upon the fragilities of personal rights. For example, recent events in the United States have underscored these fragilities. Instances such as abortion laws, the Black Lives Matter movement, the treatment of immigrants seeking asylum, as well as censorship attacks on journalists showcase the vulnerability of personal rights in our current socio-political climate. Overall, Ina’s story served as a looking glass that examined the past to gain a more comprehensive understanding of present-day Germany.
