Growing up in the DDR
Growing up in the DDR, what we consider to be East Germany, was not easy following the second world war. DDR, which stands for the “Deutsche Demokratische Republik” or the German Democratic Republic. However, according to Ina Sammler, the country itself often didn’t reflect its name. The Soviet Union and dictator Josef Stalin sought to control as much territory in Europe as possible, with the country getting the East side of Germany while the US, UK, and France took the West. There was no freedom of press or expression in school.
In her conversation with Professor Jason Wong, Ina explained that as a child, she lived with her immediate and extended family in East Germany where they ran a cheese factory. She attended school where they were taught about famous Communist leaders and thinkers. Grocery stores were often limited, due to food rations, and the amount of cheese her family was able to produce was also affected. In turn, her family made deals with grocers, sending children in under the guise of “picking up a package” which would often contain goods like coffee or extra amounts of food.
Ina also shared that there was a constant state of surveillance in the country, with some friends and family members belonging to the “secret police,” tasked with watching people in their community and reporting any anti-DDR sentiments. Ina said it was a scary time where people had to be careful of what they said and who they trusted. The state police, the Stasi, were terrifying and Ina said they were a harsh presence, especially following the Nazi regime.
The “Iron Curtain,” or the Berlin Wall came down in 1989 and allowed the two states to reunify. Post-reunification, it appears that many fractures remain between the former East and West states. For example, Ina shared that some members of her extended family support the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, a common sentiment among those in the East, although contrary to the initial purported ideas held by the DDR. A recent poll from The Post showed that 27 percent of people in East Germany supported the AfD compared to 12 percent in former West Germany. This increased support can be credited, in part, to the energy crisis and concerns over being able to afford heat. Overall, the economy in the West is still acknowledged as stronger than the East.
The idea of “Ostalgie” is prevalent in modern-day Germany, post-reunification, as it represents the nostalgia people have for life in Communist East Germany. Many tourists engage in purchasing merchandise and interacting with songs from that period, while others feel frustrated in their remembrance of the regime and the harm it caused.
