The fall of Communism

Joys of the GDR

Culture

07.11.2009

by Dave Goodman

Dossier index

20 years since the collapse of the Eastern Bloc

The 9th of November 1989 not only marked the fall of the Berlin Wall, but also the beginning of the end for the GDR or German Democratic Republic. For 40 years - life for those living in East Germany was very different than for their neighbours in the West.

For those who cannot remember, or those who are just interested in a country wiped off the map of Europe, the DDR Museum in Berlin brings it all back to life – from what people wore to how they holidayed.

Some of the older East Germans visiting the museum are smiling as they flick through Mosaic – a children’s picture book that every child read at school in the GDR. Above the book are models of colourful clay characters used by the Young Pioneers movement. All children took part from ages 6 to 14. An anthropomorphic strawberry encouraged children to pick fruit in the woods and to have a healthy diet. 'Rumpelmannchen' – a dwarf-like character – taught children to look after the environment long before the phrase “climate change” was born.

Images

Naked freedom

Around the corner it is revealed that 4 in 5 East Germans had been skinny dipping at least once and 90 percent of them thought nude sunbathing should be encouraged. The population saw naturism as a way of subverting the eternal conformity of the GDR – nudity was a sign of true classlessness.

Holidays were relatively cheap and only taken in socialist countries. GDR holiday camp chalets were far from luxury though - they had neither toilets nor bathrooms. Those who were lucky would travel to the Baltic or Black Sea for a bit of variety. Back home mass housing constructed in the 60s and 70s meant everyone from the intellectuals to the factory workers lived in uniform concrete tower blocks.

Home comforts

A typical East German living room towards the back of the museum attracts visitors enjoying the squashy brown sofa. The must-have kitsch 'Karat' wall unit was bought by an interest free home improvement loan. The room is a mélange of 70s brown and orange with textured wallpaper appealing to those with tactile hands.

The adjoining kitchen was generally a woman’s domain but the GDR 'hausfrau' was rare. Women were encouraged to work – over half of all social welfare jobs were held by women who also had to bring up a family. The more children you had, the less of your government loan you paid back.

East Germans were entertained at home with a choice of 2 TV channels and 4 radio stations – each had to follow strict guidelines laid down by the GDR Central Committee. Many also enjoyed programmes from the West, however, which the authorities could do little to prevent.

Sporting greats

The GDR's sporting achievements are showcased with images of heroes like Olympic figure skater Katarina Witt. Employers were encouraged to give their workers time off to play sports and, like today, football was a national obsession. East and West Germany only met once in competition – in the 1974 World Cup – the GDR scoring a 1-0 win and a propaganda victory as well.

Staid vs style

GDR women received fashion tips from “Sibylle” magazine, yet most of the chicwear celebrated was unavailable. Instead man-made fibres were used to create copies of often outdated Western styles. The rest of the wardrobe was utilitarian practical work clothes, with jeans maker “Boxer” becoming the “Levis” of the GDR.

Star car

Possibly the most popular item in the museum though is the one still missed by those who drove in East Germany – the Trabant. Everyone poses for photos at the wheel of a “Trabi” – the most popular car in the GDR. Trabant means “companion” – and it was treated as such. Despite having no fuel gauge and a maximum speed of 100 kilometres an hour it was everyone’s dream to own one. It could take up to 16 years to purchase a new Trabant and the lucky owners cared for their vehicle like a child – often having to buy spare parts and fix problems themselves.

Stasi scrutiny

Whilst many dreamed of better things, East German lives ironically often loosely resembled downmarket versions of their Western counterparts - with one major difference. Those in the West were not having their post checked or their apartments bugged. The GDR’s Ministry of State Security or Stasi had nearly 100,000 employees and the right to access any or all personal information about citizens.

When the Berlin Wall disappeared so did an entire nation and a way of life. The GDR Museum stands as a reminder – for better or worse - of what was left behind.