The Influence of the GDR on the Formation of Historical Memory and Modern Identity in Germany – Valdai Discussion Club

Since then, the East German state has been apart ofhistory. Therefore, this article raises the question ofwhat role the GDR plays inthe historical consciousness ofthe Federal Republic ofGermany and how its society relates tothe legacy ofthe vanished state today.

Assessments ofthe GDR and its role inGerman history continue todiverge widely. Before the peaceful revolution inthe GDR, the thesis ofHermann Rudolph about the GDR asaGerman alternative was repeatedly cited. Onthe other hand, after 1989, the writer Stefan Heym saw itonly asafootnote inhistory. This reflects not only the changed views, caused by1989, but also historiography. Ifuntil the end ofthe existence ofthe GDR inthe East and West the history ofapartial German state was written almost asanational history, the historian Christoph Klessmann presented the parallel post-war development oftwo German states asanovelty inhis work Die doppelte Staatsgrndung, first published in1982.

The collapse ofthe GDR and the communist state system naturally changed the perspective. Political scientist Peter Graf Kielmansegg spoke out against the parallel history oftwo German states. Historian Hermann Weber, onthe other hand, saw the main flaw ofthe SED regime inthe lack ofdemocratic legitimacy ofthe East German state. Against this background, the question ofthe similarity and comparability ofthe two German dictatorships inthe 20th century almost naturally provoked itself.

Finally, in1992, the Enquete-Kommission Understanding the history and consequences ofthe SED dictatorship inGermany was created for this purpose, consisting of16members ofparliament and 11experts. During 44open and 37closed-door meetings, the commission heard 327 witnesses and scientists. Astudy, which was about 15,000 pages long, was subsequently published asafinal report.

Incontrast, former GDR historians emphasised the anti-capitalist lines asthe tradition onwhich government and society inEast Germany was based, while atthe same time emphasising its autonomy and intrinsic value. This was intended tosubstantiate the claim that the history ofthe GDR was ultimately alegitimate and autochthonous alternative tothe Federal Republic. SoRolf Badstbner, along time professor atthe Central Institute ofHistory ofthe Academy ofSciences ofthe GDR, wrote atthe turn ofthe millennium: Infact, wewere dealing with two different lines ofdevelopment and potential opportunities, which, after the First World War and its consequences, simultaneously manifested themselves asepoch-making processes and constellations. His colleague Heinz Karl even saw inthe GDR nothing more than aconsequence and implementation ofdemands which were proclaimed back inthe 19th century, which have since been atthe centre ofpolitical disputes and for which they have been fought inrevolutionary actions since 1918. The historians ofthe former GDR, however, were not only concerned with the line ofargument that stressed the role oftradition. They wanted tolegitimise the vanished state inretrospect and atthe same time fit itinto the continuity ofthe social movement inGermany. Academically, however, historians who view the GDR asthe second German dictatorship inthe 20th century have largely prevailed.

However, for the general public, this question does not seem sosimple. Itisespecially noticeable here that the West ofGermany knows almost nothing about the history ofthe eastern part ofGermany after 1945. Although the GDR has earned the right toappear inschool textbooks after its collapse and the reunification ofGermany, what iswritten there mainly emphasises only the repressive aspects ofthe history ofthe GDR. Only intextbooks for the 12th or13th grade thatis, shortly before the certificate ofmaturity can you find details about the socialist state. Students inWest Germany mostly learn only about the negative side ofthe GDR. They hear about anunjust state, anineffective economic system and the Ministry ofState Security, which controlled all spheres oflife ofthe citizens ofthe GDR and was supposed toeliminate any political opposition.

That iswhy, more than 30years after the reunification ofGermany, millions ofpeople have practically nobasic knowledge about this most important episode ofGerman history. For this very reason, itshould not besurprising why somany people inEast Germany still feel that theyre misunderstood, and are considered only asvictims ofthe dictatorship. But only inthe rarest cases does this correspond totheir real life experience. The positive aspects ofthe GDR, such associal security and public welfare, are scarcely represented inhistorical memory.

While the historical image ofthe GDR inthe east ofthe republic also includes biographies ofindividuals, certain economic aspects ofthe GDR, and just the everyday life and mentality ofthe population, inthe west itismainly about the contrast between the dictatorship ofthe SED and the main democratic system, orthat between social oppression and afree pluralistic society.

This indirect historical image ofthe GDR isprobably one ofthe reasons that inthe West, the experience ofoppression, disappointment inthe fall ofcommunism and humiliation inthe East isoften transmitted inthe form ofstories and feelings. Inthe West, this leads toalatent rejection ofthe East associalist, underdeveloped, and sometimes even radically right. Thus, much can besaid about the fact that history lessons inschools should oppose this opinion with amore objective point ofview and thus ensure greater mutual understanding between East and West Germans.

East Germans still consider themselves outsiders, and itislargely due tothe fact that they have not yet entered the social, political and economic elite ofthe Federal Republic. For example, out of200 top managers ofthe largest German corporations included inthe Dax stock index, only four are from East Germany. Among the rectors ofGerman universities, there isnot even asingle representative from the former territory ofthe GDR. None ofthe 25presidents and presiding judges ofthe highest courts inEast Germany are from the five new federal states.

Ifthe elites are not strengthened through the inclusion ofthose who spent atleast part oftheir historical past inthe GDR, the historical memory and everyday culture ofthe second German state will belost forever, because itwill not bepreserved for acommon Germany. Itislike anidentity, part ofwhich issimply cut off. Itisstill unclear how tomake upfor what has been neglected over the past decades. However, itisclear that ifnoeffort ismade, the feeling offrustration inthe context ofGerman reunification will persist for avery, very long time, especially inthe East.

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The Influence of the GDR on the Formation of Historical Memory and Modern Identity in Germany - Valdai Discussion Club