Deutsche Demokratische Republik

The German Democratic Republic was a flawed nation. For one thing, it never really needed to exist. If it were not for the Cold War, Post-War Germany might have remained a single nation, and the hideousness of the Cold War may have been avoided altogether. Instead, the Iron Curtain cut the country in half; a division which kind of persists to this day, despite the Berlin Wall coming down. The reason I bring this up is because I've just watched "Good Bye, Lenin!" a German-language film set in 1989-1990, during the collapse of the GDR. It revolves around an East German family, Alex Kerner, his mother and sister. Alex's mother is a staunch Socialist, and falls into a coma shortly before the Wall came down. Upon awaking in 1990, the doctors tell Alex that any further stress may kill her. Therefore, he decides to pretend that the East Germany she has always known still exist, and goes to considerable lengths to keep up the facade. The film is very funny but also highly poignant, and asks many questions about how society and the individual interact. It presents a nostalgic half-longing for an East Germany that no longer exists, and actually, in real life, never existed. The GDR was extremely authoritarian towards it's citizens, as apparently "The Lives of Others" demonstrates (which I want to watch at some point). Still, the bureaucracy of the GDR and its mismanagement is what really has a lasting legacy.

Take this example: After the Second World War, the Berlin Stadtschloss (City Palace) was heavily damaged as a result of the allied bombardment, and was basically reduced to a burnt out shell from its former Prussian glory. It was still considered possible to save the palace, but unfortunately it was located inside the Soviet Zone. In 1950, the ruins of the Stadtschloss were torn down and in its place was built Palast der Republik (Palace of the Republic) a staggering modernist concrete structure very much triumphing the typical design philosophy of Communism. It was used as the seat of the East German Parliament, and also as an arts and cultural centre, housing restaurants, a theatre and even a bowling alley. However, shortly before reunification in 1990 it was discovered that the building was contaminated with asbestos, and it was closed to the public. Throughout the 90's it stood empty and unused, before in 2003 the German Parliament decided to demolish the building with the hopes of one day reconstructing the former Stadtschloss. And yet, despite this building being a symbol of much that was wrong with the GDR, many people protested against the demolition of the Palast de Republik. Kind of makes you reconsider how people can become attached to something they previously despised. Kind of like Stockholm Syndrome, in a way.