A great history book that describes the ‘birth’ of East Germany, its difficulties from the outset and its development.
It presents well how it differed from the west from the outset with a different social mix, Protestants against mainly Catholics, the ethnic germans who were displaced to Germany after WW2 from other eastern countries and the lack of natural resources for industry.
The east developed its own politics clearly, with positives within its society along with the well known political suppression and Stasi surveillance. The Wall went up as a economic necessity for the east, but despite the rhetoric, was accepted as needed by the western powers too.
Another factor is the clear arrogance of the west, with its own imperfections, but unwillingness to accept positives existed in the east. There was a take over rather unification.
It is a good accompaniment to ‘Siblings’ the novel of east german origin and the political history book about Albania.
