Our author Karsten Zeidler was born in the GDR. He did not experience any major discrimination. Nevertheless, he has suggestions on how East and West can find each other better.
In the GDR there was not only the Stasi and the opposition, but also everyday life. A picture from 1985.imago
The book “The East: A West German Invention” by Dirk Oschmann, a literature professor from Leipzig, became a bestseller immediately after its publication. And opens up a new debate about East German identity. does it even exist? What makes her special? Do people hide that they come from the East? Are you proud of it? The Berliner Zeitung lets people with East German biographies have their say. Would you also like to report on your experience? We look forward to letters to [email protected]. This text comes from our reader Karsten Zeidler and is a contribution to the debate.
I was born in Frankfurt (Oder). I experienced the turning point in Berlin and had a positive attitude towards this exciting time. I had the feeling that the GDR would have no future the way it was then. In the spring of 1990 it became increasingly clear to me that the development that had started had become too hasty and even uncontrollable.
It wasn’t long before those who hadn’t made it to the top in their homeland came from the former West Germany. They might even be good, but they were only second choice in the West: politicians, business people, sports officials. And then came those who took advantage of the gullibility of the still GDR citizens.
Photo: private
To the author
I was born in Frankfurt (Oder) in 1967 and grew up there. My parents and my sister were or are teachers. After my service in the NVA I studied geography at the Humboldt University in Berlin until 1993. I got married that same year and have been living with my wife in the Lichtenberg district since the late 1990s. I’ve been working as a landscape designer since I finished my studies. In 2005 I set up my own planning office together with two partners. We are active in numerous federal states and primarily oversee projects in the areas of infrastructure and housing construction. In 2008 I did my doctorate at the Technical University of Munich on forecasts in landscape planning. In my free time, I like to photograph landscapes and nature motifs, such as in the Wuhletal. Occasionally I write articles on nature conservation and Northern Europe for newspapers and specialist magazines.
No reservations because of my Eastern origin
In the 90s I had no significant contact with people from the old federal states. That changed around the year 2000. I started a new job in a planning office. Location: near Kurfürstendamm. Boss: remarkably well dressed, jovial, a bit cocky – more Western clichés were not possible. I only found out about his Ost biography a few weeks later. I also got to feel his distanced management style and his pronounced “hire and fire mentality”.
My colleagues came from both East and West Germany. I’ve never had the feeling that origin played a role in our collaboration. During this time, I began working on a dissertation alongside my office job. I did my doctorate in 2008 at the Technical University of Munich. My supervisor and the other reviewers came from the old countries. I kept traveling to Munich, for example giving a lecture to students – mostly from Upper Bavaria. During these encounters, too, I did not notice any reservations about my Eastern origin.
A peaceful and respectful interaction is important
Almost twenty years ago I started my own business with two colleagues. Both come from the old federal states. We have about 20 employees. I saw at least twice as many employees come and go from the office. In the office, I’ve never had the feeling that there are reservations between colleagues from East and West.
Boundaries between categories are beginning to blur. In the office we have two colleagues who have been in East-West relations for many years and have become parents. Another colleague moved from West to East with her parents when she was in pre-school and grew up mostly in the East. Is she now Wessi or Ossi (I don’t particularly like these terms)?
In the sometimes stressful everyday office life, we have to cope with demanding tasks. The most important thing for me is that we treat each other in a friendly and respectful manner. I hardly ever feel the need to ask my West-biographical colleagues how they feel about my East-biography or about events that happened more than 30 years ago.
People from the old countries should ask more questions
Roughly speaking, I took part in 100 job interviews. New employees were and are always hired on the basis of suitability. Neither of my shareholders have ever suggested hiring someone because of their Western origin – not even when two applicants are equally qualified.
Finally, there are our clients: I never noticed that they thought my two boss colleagues were more competent.
So my biography is not suitable for documenting differences between old and new German citizens. Of course, through the media and through reports from people around me, I realize that these differences do exist. So I have some wishes for the way people from East and West treat each other.
I think people from the old countries should ask more questions and be less sure that they already know everything about the GDR. All those born in the East should be aware that the GDR was already portrayed in the media for many years in the former West Germany. After the fall of the Wall, it was and still is difficult to put this image into perspective for the West-born.
For me there is no question that there is an Eastern identity
For many people in the old countries it seems inconceivable that in the East there was also everyday life beyond the political. In my impression, this view is reinforced in social discourses as well as in culture and art related to the GDR.
People of Eastern origin should try to be open and self-confident about their biography, even if that is difficult depending on their personal environment. There is no reason for restraint, for insecurity or even shame.
For me there is no question that there is an Eastern identity. This results from the socialization in the GDR and the experience of two different social systems. I see the latter as a privilege and valuable experience.
Would you like to join the debate? Write us! [email protected]