#eastgermany — Public Fediverse posts

German Reunification is a failure.

#afd
#germany
#westgermany
#eastgermany
#farright

German Reunification is a failure.

#afd
#germany
#westgermany
#eastgermany
#farright

German Reunification is a failure.

#afd
#germany
#westgermany
#eastgermany
#farright

DATE: September 28, 2026 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: East Germans who experienced repression during the GDR show higher distress and systemic inflammation, study finds

URL: https://www.psypost.org/east-germans-who-experienced-repression-during-the-gdr-show-higher-distress-and-systemic-inflammation-study-finds/

A study involving citizens of the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany or GDR) found that those who experienced state-organized soft repression scored higher on psychological distress indicators. They also tended to have higher interleukin-6 levels, indicating increased systemic inflammation. The paper was published in The British Journal of Psychiatry.

Political repression can affect health not only through overt violence, imprisonment, or torture, but also through quieter forms of control that interfere with everyday life. So-called soft repression can include surveillance, denunciation, restrictions on speech, harassment, and deliberate obstacles in a person’s professional or social life. These practices may create chronic feelings of insecurity, mistrust, uncertainty, and the need to constantly monitor one’s own behavior.

In the former German Democratic Republic, such methods were used against people and groups regarded as politically troublesome, including artists, church groups, youth subcultures, and people seeking to emigrate. Although these experiences do not necessarily meet conventional definitions of psychological trauma, they can still function as powerful and prolonged sources of psychosocial stress. Long-term stress of this kind has been linked to anxiety, depression, disruption of stress-regulation systems, and changes in immune functioning.

The German Democratic Republic was the socialist state that existed from 1949 until German reunification in 1990. It was closely aligned with the Soviet Union and governed by an authoritarian one-party system led by the Socialist Unity Party.

Study author Ruth Marheinecke and her colleagues examined the long-term psychobiological consequences of soft repression. They hypothesized that individuals who experienced soft repression in the GDR would show elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms. They also expected that these individuals would have elevated levels of interleukin-6 and hs-CRP as well as shorter telomere length, indicating accelerated biological aging.

Interleukin-6 is a molecule involved in immune signaling and inflammation. Higher blood levels indicate increased inflammatory activity. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein or hs-CRP is a blood marker that detects low levels of systemic inflammation. It is commonly used to assess inflammatory and cardiovascular risk. Telomeres are repetitive DNA-protein structures located at the ends of chromosomes inside cells that help protect chromosome ends from damage and fusion. They are used as an indicator of biological aging, with shorter telomeres indicating greater cellular stress and higher biological age.

Participants of this study were 100 former GDR citizens between 50 and 78 years of age, mainly from Thuringia and Saxony in modern Germany. Study authors recruited them using flyers, local newspaper ads, and support from local organizations such as church communities.

They were organized into two groups. One group consisted of 49 participants who experienced at least two state-organized soft repression techniques in the GDR, including planned surveillance, summoning to interrogations, denunciation, or school and workplace harassment. The other group was composed of 51 individuals who lived in the GDR but reported no personal repression experiences. The two groups were matched for age, gender, and GDR origin.

Study participants completed assessments of depression (the Beck Depression Inventory-II), anxiety (the trait subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and psychological trauma symptoms (the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire). They also completed assessments of perceived social support and resilience. Aside from this, study participants gave blood samples, allowing study authors to assess their interleukin-6 levels, hs-CRP levels, and telomere length.

The results showed that participants who were exposed to soft repression during the GDR had higher levels of depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms on average. They also reported lower resilience compared to the control group and tended to have higher levels of interleukin-6. There were no differences between the two groups in hs-CRP levels and telomere length. However, in the repression group, lower social support was associated with shorter telomeres.

“This study is the first to explore the psychobiological health consequences of soft political repression. Findings emphasize its long-term consequences on the psyche and immune system and highlight the potential role of social support in mitigating cellular aging. As authoritarian tactics are becoming more prevalent worldwide, understanding the impact of soft repression on health is essential for supporting affected individuals,” the study authors concluded.

The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the psychobiological consequences of state repression. However, it should be noted that the study did not have a pretest, and this was not an experimental study. Therefore, it remains unknown whether the observed differences are a consequence of the repression participants endured during the GDR or are caused by other factors. Furthermore, because individuals with acute psychopathology were excluded from participating, the sample may reflect particularly resilient individuals, meaning the actual impact of soft repression could be even more pronounced.

The paper, “Long-term consequences of soft political repression on psychological well-being, systemic inflammation and cellular ageing,” was authored by Ruth Marheinecke, Jost Blasberg, Jue Lin, Nils Opel, Carsten Spitzer, Bernhard Strauss, Elissa Epel, and Veronika Engert.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/east-germans-who-experienced-repression-during-the-gdr-show-higher-distress-and-systemic-inflammation-study-finds/

-------------------------------------------------

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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #GDRrepression #psychobiology #systemicinflammation #IL6 #telomerelength #softrepression #EastGermany #mentalhealth #inflammaging #socialsupportmatters

DATE: September 28, 2026 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: East Germans who experienced repression during the GDR show higher distress and systemic inflammation, study finds

URL: https://www.psypost.org/east-germans-who-experienced-repression-during-the-gdr-show-higher-distress-and-systemic-inflammation-study-finds/

A study involving citizens of the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany or GDR) found that those who experienced state-organized soft repression scored higher on psychological distress indicators. They also tended to have higher interleukin-6 levels, indicating increased systemic inflammation. The paper was published in The British Journal of Psychiatry.

Political repression can affect health not only through overt violence, imprisonment, or torture, but also through quieter forms of control that interfere with everyday life. So-called soft repression can include surveillance, denunciation, restrictions on speech, harassment, and deliberate obstacles in a person’s professional or social life. These practices may create chronic feelings of insecurity, mistrust, uncertainty, and the need to constantly monitor one’s own behavior.

In the former German Democratic Republic, such methods were used against people and groups regarded as politically troublesome, including artists, church groups, youth subcultures, and people seeking to emigrate. Although these experiences do not necessarily meet conventional definitions of psychological trauma, they can still function as powerful and prolonged sources of psychosocial stress. Long-term stress of this kind has been linked to anxiety, depression, disruption of stress-regulation systems, and changes in immune functioning.

The German Democratic Republic was the socialist state that existed from 1949 until German reunification in 1990. It was closely aligned with the Soviet Union and governed by an authoritarian one-party system led by the Socialist Unity Party.

Study author Ruth Marheinecke and her colleagues examined the long-term psychobiological consequences of soft repression. They hypothesized that individuals who experienced soft repression in the GDR would show elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms. They also expected that these individuals would have elevated levels of interleukin-6 and hs-CRP as well as shorter telomere length, indicating accelerated biological aging.

Interleukin-6 is a molecule involved in immune signaling and inflammation. Higher blood levels indicate increased inflammatory activity. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein or hs-CRP is a blood marker that detects low levels of systemic inflammation. It is commonly used to assess inflammatory and cardiovascular risk. Telomeres are repetitive DNA-protein structures located at the ends of chromosomes inside cells that help protect chromosome ends from damage and fusion. They are used as an indicator of biological aging, with shorter telomeres indicating greater cellular stress and higher biological age.

Participants of this study were 100 former GDR citizens between 50 and 78 years of age, mainly from Thuringia and Saxony in modern Germany. Study authors recruited them using flyers, local newspaper ads, and support from local organizations such as church communities.

They were organized into two groups. One group consisted of 49 participants who experienced at least two state-organized soft repression techniques in the GDR, including planned surveillance, summoning to interrogations, denunciation, or school and workplace harassment. The other group was composed of 51 individuals who lived in the GDR but reported no personal repression experiences. The two groups were matched for age, gender, and GDR origin.

Study participants completed assessments of depression (the Beck Depression Inventory-II), anxiety (the trait subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and psychological trauma symptoms (the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire). They also completed assessments of perceived social support and resilience. Aside from this, study participants gave blood samples, allowing study authors to assess their interleukin-6 levels, hs-CRP levels, and telomere length.

The results showed that participants who were exposed to soft repression during the GDR had higher levels of depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms on average. They also reported lower resilience compared to the control group and tended to have higher levels of interleukin-6. There were no differences between the two groups in hs-CRP levels and telomere length. However, in the repression group, lower social support was associated with shorter telomeres.

“This study is the first to explore the psychobiological health consequences of soft political repression. Findings emphasize its long-term consequences on the psyche and immune system and highlight the potential role of social support in mitigating cellular aging. As authoritarian tactics are becoming more prevalent worldwide, understanding the impact of soft repression on health is essential for supporting affected individuals,” the study authors concluded.

The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the psychobiological consequences of state repression. However, it should be noted that the study did not have a pretest, and this was not an experimental study. Therefore, it remains unknown whether the observed differences are a consequence of the repression participants endured during the GDR or are caused by other factors. Furthermore, because individuals with acute psychopathology were excluded from participating, the sample may reflect particularly resilient individuals, meaning the actual impact of soft repression could be even more pronounced.

The paper, “Long-term consequences of soft political repression on psychological well-being, systemic inflammation and cellular ageing,” was authored by Ruth Marheinecke, Jost Blasberg, Jue Lin, Nils Opel, Carsten Spitzer, Bernhard Strauss, Elissa Epel, and Veronika Engert.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/east-germans-who-experienced-repression-during-the-gdr-show-higher-distress-and-systemic-inflammation-study-finds/

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #GDRrepression #psychobiology #systemicinflammation #IL6 #telomerelength #softrepression #EastGermany #mentalhealth #inflammaging #socialsupportmatters

DATE: September 28, 2026 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: East Germans who experienced repression during the GDR show higher distress and systemic inflammation, study finds

URL: https://www.psypost.org/east-germans-who-experienced-repression-during-the-gdr-show-higher-distress-and-systemic-inflammation-study-finds/

A study involving citizens of the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany or GDR) found that those who experienced state-organized soft repression scored higher on psychological distress indicators. They also tended to have higher interleukin-6 levels, indicating increased systemic inflammation. The paper was published in The British Journal of Psychiatry.

Political repression can affect health not only through overt violence, imprisonment, or torture, but also through quieter forms of control that interfere with everyday life. So-called soft repression can include surveillance, denunciation, restrictions on speech, harassment, and deliberate obstacles in a person’s professional or social life. These practices may create chronic feelings of insecurity, mistrust, uncertainty, and the need to constantly monitor one’s own behavior.

In the former German Democratic Republic, such methods were used against people and groups regarded as politically troublesome, including artists, church groups, youth subcultures, and people seeking to emigrate. Although these experiences do not necessarily meet conventional definitions of psychological trauma, they can still function as powerful and prolonged sources of psychosocial stress. Long-term stress of this kind has been linked to anxiety, depression, disruption of stress-regulation systems, and changes in immune functioning.

The German Democratic Republic was the socialist state that existed from 1949 until German reunification in 1990. It was closely aligned with the Soviet Union and governed by an authoritarian one-party system led by the Socialist Unity Party.

Study author Ruth Marheinecke and her colleagues examined the long-term psychobiological consequences of soft repression. They hypothesized that individuals who experienced soft repression in the GDR would show elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and trauma-related symptoms. They also expected that these individuals would have elevated levels of interleukin-6 and hs-CRP as well as shorter telomere length, indicating accelerated biological aging.

Interleukin-6 is a molecule involved in immune signaling and inflammation. Higher blood levels indicate increased inflammatory activity. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein or hs-CRP is a blood marker that detects low levels of systemic inflammation. It is commonly used to assess inflammatory and cardiovascular risk. Telomeres are repetitive DNA-protein structures located at the ends of chromosomes inside cells that help protect chromosome ends from damage and fusion. They are used as an indicator of biological aging, with shorter telomeres indicating greater cellular stress and higher biological age.

Participants of this study were 100 former GDR citizens between 50 and 78 years of age, mainly from Thuringia and Saxony in modern Germany. Study authors recruited them using flyers, local newspaper ads, and support from local organizations such as church communities.

They were organized into two groups. One group consisted of 49 participants who experienced at least two state-organized soft repression techniques in the GDR, including planned surveillance, summoning to interrogations, denunciation, or school and workplace harassment. The other group was composed of 51 individuals who lived in the GDR but reported no personal repression experiences. The two groups were matched for age, gender, and GDR origin.

Study participants completed assessments of depression (the Beck Depression Inventory-II), anxiety (the trait subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and psychological trauma symptoms (the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire). They also completed assessments of perceived social support and resilience. Aside from this, study participants gave blood samples, allowing study authors to assess their interleukin-6 levels, hs-CRP levels, and telomere length.

The results showed that participants who were exposed to soft repression during the GDR had higher levels of depression, anxiety, and trauma symptoms on average. They also reported lower resilience compared to the control group and tended to have higher levels of interleukin-6. There were no differences between the two groups in hs-CRP levels and telomere length. However, in the repression group, lower social support was associated with shorter telomeres.

“This study is the first to explore the psychobiological health consequences of soft political repression. Findings emphasize its long-term consequences on the psyche and immune system and highlight the potential role of social support in mitigating cellular aging. As authoritarian tactics are becoming more prevalent worldwide, understanding the impact of soft repression on health is essential for supporting affected individuals,” the study authors concluded.

The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the psychobiological consequences of state repression. However, it should be noted that the study did not have a pretest, and this was not an experimental study. Therefore, it remains unknown whether the observed differences are a consequence of the repression participants endured during the GDR or are caused by other factors. Furthermore, because individuals with acute psychopathology were excluded from participating, the sample may reflect particularly resilient individuals, meaning the actual impact of soft repression could be even more pronounced.

The paper, “Long-term consequences of soft political repression on psychological well-being, systemic inflammation and cellular ageing,” was authored by Ruth Marheinecke, Jost Blasberg, Jue Lin, Nils Opel, Carsten Spitzer, Bernhard Strauss, Elissa Epel, and Veronika Engert.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/east-germans-who-experienced-repression-during-the-gdr-show-higher-distress-and-systemic-inflammation-study-finds/

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #GDRrepression #psychobiology #systemicinflammation #IL6 #telomerelength #softrepression #EastGermany #mentalhealth #inflammaging #socialsupportmatters

https://www.laviezine.com/1647447/we-picked-wrong-days-to-visit-these-cities/ We picked wrong days to visit these cities #Austria #BeautifulDestinations #Cottbus #CottbusGermanyTour #DeutschlandDestinations #DeutschlandTour #DeutschlandTravel #DeutschlandTrip #DeutschlandVacation #EastGermany #Europe #Germany #GermanyDestinations #GermanyTour #GermanyTravel #GermanyTrip #GermanyVacation #PlacesToTravel #Salzburg #travel

Left under pressure to tackle anti-Semitism charges after Berlin win

Calls are growing for The Left in Berlin to take action against allegations of anti-Semitism within its ranks,…
#Germany #DE #Europe #EU #Europa #Berlin #anti-Semitism #EastGermany #RonProsor #stateelections #TheLeftParty
https://www.europesays.com/germany/96549/

Germany’s SPD wades into anti-Semitism debate around Berlin’s The Left https://www.byteseu.com/2389714/ #berlin #EastGermany #ElifEralp #Germany #LaborAndSocialAffairsAndSocialDemocraticParty #LarsKlingbeil #SocialDemocrats #SPD #WillyBrandtHouse

https://www.europesays.com/dk/172235/ Germany’s SPD wades into anti-Semitism debate around Berlin’s The Left #berlin #EastGermany #ElifEralp #Germany #LaborAndSocialAffairsAndSocialDemocraticParty #LarsKlingbeil #SocialDemocrats #SPD #WillyBrandtHouse

Germany’s SPD wades into anti-Semitism debate around Berlin’s The Left

The leadership of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) on Tuesday waded into the highly charged debate over alleged anti-Semitism…
#Germany #DE #Europe #EU #Europa #Berlin #EastGermany #ElifEralp #LaborandSocialAffairsandSocialDemocraticParty #LarsKlingbeil #SocialDemocrats #SPD #WillyBrandtHouse
https://www.europesays.com/germany/96465/

https://www.europesays.com/dk/172169/ Left under pressure to tackle anti-Semitism charges after Berlin win #AntiSemitism #berlin #EastGermany #Germany #RonProsor #StateElections #TheLeftParty

https://www.europesays.com/dk/171799/ Israeli envoy says Berlin Left’s rise poses threat to Jewish community #AntiSemitism #berlin #EastGermany #ExistentialThreat #Germany #JewishCommunity #RonProsor

Israeli envoy says Berlin Left’s rise poses threat to Jewish community

Israeli ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor has warned of an “immediate existential threat” to the Jewish community in…
#Germany #DE #Europe #EU #Europa #Berlin #anti-Semitism #EastGermany #existentialthreat #Jewishcommunity #RonProsor
https://www.europesays.com/germany/96022/

https://www.europesays.com/dk/171735/ Israeli envoy says Berlin Left’s rise poses threat to Jewish community #AntiSemitism #berlin #EastGermany #ExistentialThreat #Germany #JewishCommunity #RonProsor

Israeli envoy says Berlin Left’s rise poses threat to Jewish community

Israeli ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor has warned of an “immediate existential threat” to the Jewish community in…
#Germany #DE #Europe #EU #Europa #Berlin #anti-Semitism #EastGermany #existentialthreat #Jewishcommunity #RonProsor
https://www.europesays.com/germany/96005/

Germany’s AfD set for second major election win in ‘disaster’ for Merz https://www.byteseu.com/2383155/ #AfD #ChristianDemocraticUnion #ChristianDemocrats #ConservativeParty #EastGermany #FriedrichMerz #GermanChancellor #Germany #ManuelaSchwesig #MecklenburgWesternPomerania

Rotting ballroom and roadside inn, for decades she was one of the main social venues in Gärtitz, Germany. Demolished around 2022.

#Germany #Photography #History #Abandoned #LostPlaces #EastGermany #Urbex #UrbanExploration

Rotting ballroom and roadside inn, for decades she was one of the main social venues in Gärtitz, Germany. Demolished around 2022.

#Germany #Photography #History #Abandoned #LostPlaces #EastGermany #Urbex #UrbanExploration

Rotting ballroom and roadside inn, for decades she was one of the main social venues in Gärtitz, Germany. Demolished around 2022.

#Germany #Photography #History #Abandoned #LostPlaces #EastGermany #Urbex #UrbanExploration

Rotting ballroom and roadside inn, for decades she was one of the main social venues in Gärtitz, Germany. Demolished around 2022.

#Germany #Photography #History #Abandoned #LostPlaces #EastGermany #Urbex #UrbanExploration

Germany’s east-west divide shifts from jobs to wealth

By Maria Martinez BERLIN, Sept 17 (Reuters) – The economy of the former East Germany has transformed since…
#Germany #DE #Europe #EU #Europa #Berlin #EastGermany #theformereast
https://www.europesays.com/germany/92890/

DATE: September 16, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: How growing up in East Germany affected cognitive health in later life

URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-growing-up-in-east-germany-affected-cognitive-health-in-later-life/

Older adults who lived in socialist East Germany before the 1989 reunification show better cognitive health and slower mental decline today than their West German peers. This unexpected advantage seems linked to the former East German educational system, which featured longer compulsory schooling and widespread early childcare. The findings were recently published in the journal Research on Aging.

Following World War II, Germany was split into two distinct nations with opposing political and economic models. The German Democratic Republic in the East operated as a socialist state with a planned economy. The Federal Republic of Germany in the West developed as a capitalist, liberal democracy.

When the countries reunited in 1989, citizens merged into a single legal and economic system. This unique history provides researchers with a natural experiment to study how entirely different societal structures affect human development over a lifetime.

The contrast between East and West Germany represents a rare situation where culturally similar populations were separated by completely different modes of governance. The East German welfare state prioritized collective investments, aiming to build a highly productive workforce through extensive health and education services.

Previous research has consistently shown that East Germans suffered worse physical health and lower life expectancies compared to West Germans. These physical disparities are largely attributed to differences in health behaviors, economic development, and cardiovascular health.

Sociologist Ariane Bertogg at the University of Konstanz and gerontologist Jeffrey E. Stokes at the University of Massachusetts Boston wanted to see if these political systems left a similar footprint on the aging brain. They tested two competing ideas about cognitive aging.

One theory suggested West Germans would perform better on cognitive tests in later life because they enjoyed stronger economic growth, better nutrition, and more civil liberties. Another theory proposed that East Germans might have an advantage due to their state funded educational system.

East Germany mandated ten years of compulsory schooling, compared to eight or nine years in West Germany. The East also provided universal early childcare and a less socially divided school structure.

Educational exposure early in life is a primary driver of cognitive reserve. Cognitive reserve is the brain’s ability to build dense neural connections, which helps it compensate for age related damage and delay the onset of memory loss.

To find out which societal effect dominated, Bertogg and Stokes analyzed information from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. They looked at a large sample of 5,231 older adults who lived in either East or West Germany in 1989.

Participants were at least 50 years old during the study and were interviewed multiple times over an average of four years. The survey included four standard tests used to evaluate brain health and predict dementia.

Working memory was tested by asking participants to recall a list of ten words. Executive function, which involves planning and focusing attention, was measured by having people name as many animals as they could in a set time.

Orientation was scored based on whether participants correctly knew the current date and day of the week. Finally, numeracy was tested by having participants repeatedly subtract the number seven from one hundred.

The researchers used statistical models to map each person’s cognitive trajectory over time. They adjusted the results for factors like childhood health, household income, and overall educational attainment.

To account for early life conditions, the researchers utilized a special retrospective module of the survey. Participants provided detailed histories regarding their childhood health, their perceived math and language skills relative to peers, and the number of books in their childhood homes.

The data revealed that individuals who lived in East Germany before reunification performed better across all four cognitive tests. They also showed a slower rate of cognitive decline as they aged.

West German residents experienced a steady decline in immediate memory and verbal fluency over the course of the study. In contrast, East German residents maintained stable scores or even slightly improved in these areas.

East Germans also demonstrated less steep declines in their orientation and numerical abilities. The researchers noted that these advantages were especially pronounced in men.

The results present an unusual paradox in aging research. Usually, populations with poorer physical health and lower life expectancies also suffer from worse cognitive aging.

Despite East Germans having higher rates of cardiovascular disease and earlier mortality on average, their aging brains remained more resilient. This suggests that the early benefits of an egalitarian, intensive education system can offset some of the physical wear and tear associated with a lower standard of living.

Next, Bertogg and Stokes examined whether a person’s age at the time of reunification influenced their cognitive outcomes. They wanted to know if experiencing the transition during a specific life stage altered the trajectory of mental aging.

They found that the gap in memory and verbal fluency was widest between East and West Germans who were in their forties when the Berlin Wall fell. West Germans in this age group showed relative disadvantages compared to their Eastern counterparts.

For numeracy and orientation, the East German advantage was highest among those who experienced reunification in their twenties. The cognitive differences between the two populations were largely absent among people who were already nearing retirement age in 1989.

The researchers interpret this as evidence of critical periods in adult development. Entering the workforce during reunification may have helped young East Germans maximize the benefits of their schooling within the new, larger economy.

Conversely, West Germans navigating reunification in their forties may have faced intense economic competition and family stress. Mid adulthood is often a period of high financial responsibility, making individuals more vulnerable to the mental health impacts of economic shifts.

The two nations differed in many ways beyond education and economics. West Germans faced higher exposure to environmental toxins like lead from gasoline, simply because car ownership was much higher there.

Social and psychological experiences also varied wildly depending on the side of the border. West Germany fostered a more open civil society, while East Germany relied on secret police and informants, which negatively impacted social trust.

The dataset did not allow the researchers to measure the direct impact of these specific social and environmental stressors on brain health. Future investigations will need to look at similar differences across other post socialist and capitalist European countries to see if the pattern holds.

Future studies will also need to track clinical diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, rather than just test scores. High performing individuals sometimes hit the maximum possible score on cognitive tests, which can mask early signs of decline.

Cognitive test performance does not capture the full reality of living with a neurodegenerative disease. Tracking actual medical records over time will clarify how these early life educational advantages translate into real world dementia prevention.

The study, “Is There a Cognitive Footprint of Political Systems? The Case of Separation and Reunification of East and West Germany and Its Association With Later Life Cognitive Health,” was authored by Ariane Bertogg and Jeffrey E. Stokes.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-growing-up-in-east-germany-affected-cognitive-health-in-later-life/

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #CognitiveHealth #EastGermany #CognitiveReserve #AgingBrain #EducationAndMemory #ReunificationGermany #DementiaPrevention #Gerontology #BrainAging #SocialSystemsImpact

DATE: September 16, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: How growing up in East Germany affected cognitive health in later life

URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-growing-up-in-east-germany-affected-cognitive-health-in-later-life/

Older adults who lived in socialist East Germany before the 1989 reunification show better cognitive health and slower mental decline today than their West German peers. This unexpected advantage seems linked to the former East German educational system, which featured longer compulsory schooling and widespread early childcare. The findings were recently published in the journal Research on Aging.

Following World War II, Germany was split into two distinct nations with opposing political and economic models. The German Democratic Republic in the East operated as a socialist state with a planned economy. The Federal Republic of Germany in the West developed as a capitalist, liberal democracy.

When the countries reunited in 1989, citizens merged into a single legal and economic system. This unique history provides researchers with a natural experiment to study how entirely different societal structures affect human development over a lifetime.

The contrast between East and West Germany represents a rare situation where culturally similar populations were separated by completely different modes of governance. The East German welfare state prioritized collective investments, aiming to build a highly productive workforce through extensive health and education services.

Previous research has consistently shown that East Germans suffered worse physical health and lower life expectancies compared to West Germans. These physical disparities are largely attributed to differences in health behaviors, economic development, and cardiovascular health.

Sociologist Ariane Bertogg at the University of Konstanz and gerontologist Jeffrey E. Stokes at the University of Massachusetts Boston wanted to see if these political systems left a similar footprint on the aging brain. They tested two competing ideas about cognitive aging.

One theory suggested West Germans would perform better on cognitive tests in later life because they enjoyed stronger economic growth, better nutrition, and more civil liberties. Another theory proposed that East Germans might have an advantage due to their state funded educational system.

East Germany mandated ten years of compulsory schooling, compared to eight or nine years in West Germany. The East also provided universal early childcare and a less socially divided school structure.

Educational exposure early in life is a primary driver of cognitive reserve. Cognitive reserve is the brain’s ability to build dense neural connections, which helps it compensate for age related damage and delay the onset of memory loss.

To find out which societal effect dominated, Bertogg and Stokes analyzed information from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. They looked at a large sample of 5,231 older adults who lived in either East or West Germany in 1989.

Participants were at least 50 years old during the study and were interviewed multiple times over an average of four years. The survey included four standard tests used to evaluate brain health and predict dementia.

Working memory was tested by asking participants to recall a list of ten words. Executive function, which involves planning and focusing attention, was measured by having people name as many animals as they could in a set time.

Orientation was scored based on whether participants correctly knew the current date and day of the week. Finally, numeracy was tested by having participants repeatedly subtract the number seven from one hundred.

The researchers used statistical models to map each person’s cognitive trajectory over time. They adjusted the results for factors like childhood health, household income, and overall educational attainment.

To account for early life conditions, the researchers utilized a special retrospective module of the survey. Participants provided detailed histories regarding their childhood health, their perceived math and language skills relative to peers, and the number of books in their childhood homes.

The data revealed that individuals who lived in East Germany before reunification performed better across all four cognitive tests. They also showed a slower rate of cognitive decline as they aged.

West German residents experienced a steady decline in immediate memory and verbal fluency over the course of the study. In contrast, East German residents maintained stable scores or even slightly improved in these areas.

East Germans also demonstrated less steep declines in their orientation and numerical abilities. The researchers noted that these advantages were especially pronounced in men.

The results present an unusual paradox in aging research. Usually, populations with poorer physical health and lower life expectancies also suffer from worse cognitive aging.

Despite East Germans having higher rates of cardiovascular disease and earlier mortality on average, their aging brains remained more resilient. This suggests that the early benefits of an egalitarian, intensive education system can offset some of the physical wear and tear associated with a lower standard of living.

Next, Bertogg and Stokes examined whether a person’s age at the time of reunification influenced their cognitive outcomes. They wanted to know if experiencing the transition during a specific life stage altered the trajectory of mental aging.

They found that the gap in memory and verbal fluency was widest between East and West Germans who were in their forties when the Berlin Wall fell. West Germans in this age group showed relative disadvantages compared to their Eastern counterparts.

For numeracy and orientation, the East German advantage was highest among those who experienced reunification in their twenties. The cognitive differences between the two populations were largely absent among people who were already nearing retirement age in 1989.

The researchers interpret this as evidence of critical periods in adult development. Entering the workforce during reunification may have helped young East Germans maximize the benefits of their schooling within the new, larger economy.

Conversely, West Germans navigating reunification in their forties may have faced intense economic competition and family stress. Mid adulthood is often a period of high financial responsibility, making individuals more vulnerable to the mental health impacts of economic shifts.

The two nations differed in many ways beyond education and economics. West Germans faced higher exposure to environmental toxins like lead from gasoline, simply because car ownership was much higher there.

Social and psychological experiences also varied wildly depending on the side of the border. West Germany fostered a more open civil society, while East Germany relied on secret police and informants, which negatively impacted social trust.

The dataset did not allow the researchers to measure the direct impact of these specific social and environmental stressors on brain health. Future investigations will need to look at similar differences across other post socialist and capitalist European countries to see if the pattern holds.

Future studies will also need to track clinical diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, rather than just test scores. High performing individuals sometimes hit the maximum possible score on cognitive tests, which can mask early signs of decline.

Cognitive test performance does not capture the full reality of living with a neurodegenerative disease. Tracking actual medical records over time will clarify how these early life educational advantages translate into real world dementia prevention.

The study, “Is There a Cognitive Footprint of Political Systems? The Case of Separation and Reunification of East and West Germany and Its Association With Later Life Cognitive Health,” was authored by Ariane Bertogg and Jeffrey E. Stokes.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-growing-up-in-east-germany-affected-cognitive-health-in-later-life/

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #CognitiveHealth #EastGermany #CognitiveReserve #AgingBrain #EducationAndMemory #ReunificationGermany #DementiaPrevention #Gerontology #BrainAging #SocialSystemsImpact

DATE: September 16, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: How growing up in East Germany affected cognitive health in later life

URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-growing-up-in-east-germany-affected-cognitive-health-in-later-life/

Older adults who lived in socialist East Germany before the 1989 reunification show better cognitive health and slower mental decline today than their West German peers. This unexpected advantage seems linked to the former East German educational system, which featured longer compulsory schooling and widespread early childcare. The findings were recently published in the journal Research on Aging.

Following World War II, Germany was split into two distinct nations with opposing political and economic models. The German Democratic Republic in the East operated as a socialist state with a planned economy. The Federal Republic of Germany in the West developed as a capitalist, liberal democracy.

When the countries reunited in 1989, citizens merged into a single legal and economic system. This unique history provides researchers with a natural experiment to study how entirely different societal structures affect human development over a lifetime.

The contrast between East and West Germany represents a rare situation where culturally similar populations were separated by completely different modes of governance. The East German welfare state prioritized collective investments, aiming to build a highly productive workforce through extensive health and education services.

Previous research has consistently shown that East Germans suffered worse physical health and lower life expectancies compared to West Germans. These physical disparities are largely attributed to differences in health behaviors, economic development, and cardiovascular health.

Sociologist Ariane Bertogg at the University of Konstanz and gerontologist Jeffrey E. Stokes at the University of Massachusetts Boston wanted to see if these political systems left a similar footprint on the aging brain. They tested two competing ideas about cognitive aging.

One theory suggested West Germans would perform better on cognitive tests in later life because they enjoyed stronger economic growth, better nutrition, and more civil liberties. Another theory proposed that East Germans might have an advantage due to their state funded educational system.

East Germany mandated ten years of compulsory schooling, compared to eight or nine years in West Germany. The East also provided universal early childcare and a less socially divided school structure.

Educational exposure early in life is a primary driver of cognitive reserve. Cognitive reserve is the brain’s ability to build dense neural connections, which helps it compensate for age related damage and delay the onset of memory loss.

To find out which societal effect dominated, Bertogg and Stokes analyzed information from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. They looked at a large sample of 5,231 older adults who lived in either East or West Germany in 1989.

Participants were at least 50 years old during the study and were interviewed multiple times over an average of four years. The survey included four standard tests used to evaluate brain health and predict dementia.

Working memory was tested by asking participants to recall a list of ten words. Executive function, which involves planning and focusing attention, was measured by having people name as many animals as they could in a set time.

Orientation was scored based on whether participants correctly knew the current date and day of the week. Finally, numeracy was tested by having participants repeatedly subtract the number seven from one hundred.

The researchers used statistical models to map each person’s cognitive trajectory over time. They adjusted the results for factors like childhood health, household income, and overall educational attainment.

To account for early life conditions, the researchers utilized a special retrospective module of the survey. Participants provided detailed histories regarding their childhood health, their perceived math and language skills relative to peers, and the number of books in their childhood homes.

The data revealed that individuals who lived in East Germany before reunification performed better across all four cognitive tests. They also showed a slower rate of cognitive decline as they aged.

West German residents experienced a steady decline in immediate memory and verbal fluency over the course of the study. In contrast, East German residents maintained stable scores or even slightly improved in these areas.

East Germans also demonstrated less steep declines in their orientation and numerical abilities. The researchers noted that these advantages were especially pronounced in men.

The results present an unusual paradox in aging research. Usually, populations with poorer physical health and lower life expectancies also suffer from worse cognitive aging.

Despite East Germans having higher rates of cardiovascular disease and earlier mortality on average, their aging brains remained more resilient. This suggests that the early benefits of an egalitarian, intensive education system can offset some of the physical wear and tear associated with a lower standard of living.

Next, Bertogg and Stokes examined whether a person’s age at the time of reunification influenced their cognitive outcomes. They wanted to know if experiencing the transition during a specific life stage altered the trajectory of mental aging.

They found that the gap in memory and verbal fluency was widest between East and West Germans who were in their forties when the Berlin Wall fell. West Germans in this age group showed relative disadvantages compared to their Eastern counterparts.

For numeracy and orientation, the East German advantage was highest among those who experienced reunification in their twenties. The cognitive differences between the two populations were largely absent among people who were already nearing retirement age in 1989.

The researchers interpret this as evidence of critical periods in adult development. Entering the workforce during reunification may have helped young East Germans maximize the benefits of their schooling within the new, larger economy.

Conversely, West Germans navigating reunification in their forties may have faced intense economic competition and family stress. Mid adulthood is often a period of high financial responsibility, making individuals more vulnerable to the mental health impacts of economic shifts.

The two nations differed in many ways beyond education and economics. West Germans faced higher exposure to environmental toxins like lead from gasoline, simply because car ownership was much higher there.

Social and psychological experiences also varied wildly depending on the side of the border. West Germany fostered a more open civil society, while East Germany relied on secret police and informants, which negatively impacted social trust.

The dataset did not allow the researchers to measure the direct impact of these specific social and environmental stressors on brain health. Future investigations will need to look at similar differences across other post socialist and capitalist European countries to see if the pattern holds.

Future studies will also need to track clinical diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, rather than just test scores. High performing individuals sometimes hit the maximum possible score on cognitive tests, which can mask early signs of decline.

Cognitive test performance does not capture the full reality of living with a neurodegenerative disease. Tracking actual medical records over time will clarify how these early life educational advantages translate into real world dementia prevention.

The study, “Is There a Cognitive Footprint of Political Systems? The Case of Separation and Reunification of East and West Germany and Its Association With Later Life Cognitive Health,” was authored by Ariane Bertogg and Jeffrey E. Stokes.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-growing-up-in-east-germany-affected-cognitive-health-in-later-life/

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #CognitiveHealth #EastGermany #CognitiveReserve #AgingBrain #EducationAndMemory #ReunificationGermany #DementiaPrevention #Gerontology #BrainAging #SocialSystemsImpact

DATE: September 16, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: How growing up in East Germany affected cognitive health in later life

URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-growing-up-in-east-germany-affected-cognitive-health-in-later-life/

Older adults who lived in socialist East Germany before the 1989 reunification show better cognitive health and slower mental decline today than their West German peers. This unexpected advantage seems linked to the former East German educational system, which featured longer compulsory schooling and widespread early childcare. The findings were recently published in the journal Research on Aging.

Following World War II, Germany was split into two distinct nations with opposing political and economic models. The German Democratic Republic in the East operated as a socialist state with a planned economy. The Federal Republic of Germany in the West developed as a capitalist, liberal democracy.

When the countries reunited in 1989, citizens merged into a single legal and economic system. This unique history provides researchers with a natural experiment to study how entirely different societal structures affect human development over a lifetime.

The contrast between East and West Germany represents a rare situation where culturally similar populations were separated by completely different modes of governance. The East German welfare state prioritized collective investments, aiming to build a highly productive workforce through extensive health and education services.

Previous research has consistently shown that East Germans suffered worse physical health and lower life expectancies compared to West Germans. These physical disparities are largely attributed to differences in health behaviors, economic development, and cardiovascular health.

Sociologist Ariane Bertogg at the University of Konstanz and gerontologist Jeffrey E. Stokes at the University of Massachusetts Boston wanted to see if these political systems left a similar footprint on the aging brain. They tested two competing ideas about cognitive aging.

One theory suggested West Germans would perform better on cognitive tests in later life because they enjoyed stronger economic growth, better nutrition, and more civil liberties. Another theory proposed that East Germans might have an advantage due to their state funded educational system.

East Germany mandated ten years of compulsory schooling, compared to eight or nine years in West Germany. The East also provided universal early childcare and a less socially divided school structure.

Educational exposure early in life is a primary driver of cognitive reserve. Cognitive reserve is the brain’s ability to build dense neural connections, which helps it compensate for age related damage and delay the onset of memory loss.

To find out which societal effect dominated, Bertogg and Stokes analyzed information from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. They looked at a large sample of 5,231 older adults who lived in either East or West Germany in 1989.

Participants were at least 50 years old during the study and were interviewed multiple times over an average of four years. The survey included four standard tests used to evaluate brain health and predict dementia.

Working memory was tested by asking participants to recall a list of ten words. Executive function, which involves planning and focusing attention, was measured by having people name as many animals as they could in a set time.

Orientation was scored based on whether participants correctly knew the current date and day of the week. Finally, numeracy was tested by having participants repeatedly subtract the number seven from one hundred.

The researchers used statistical models to map each person’s cognitive trajectory over time. They adjusted the results for factors like childhood health, household income, and overall educational attainment.

To account for early life conditions, the researchers utilized a special retrospective module of the survey. Participants provided detailed histories regarding their childhood health, their perceived math and language skills relative to peers, and the number of books in their childhood homes.

The data revealed that individuals who lived in East Germany before reunification performed better across all four cognitive tests. They also showed a slower rate of cognitive decline as they aged.

West German residents experienced a steady decline in immediate memory and verbal fluency over the course of the study. In contrast, East German residents maintained stable scores or even slightly improved in these areas.

East Germans also demonstrated less steep declines in their orientation and numerical abilities. The researchers noted that these advantages were especially pronounced in men.

The results present an unusual paradox in aging research. Usually, populations with poorer physical health and lower life expectancies also suffer from worse cognitive aging.

Despite East Germans having higher rates of cardiovascular disease and earlier mortality on average, their aging brains remained more resilient. This suggests that the early benefits of an egalitarian, intensive education system can offset some of the physical wear and tear associated with a lower standard of living.

Next, Bertogg and Stokes examined whether a person’s age at the time of reunification influenced their cognitive outcomes. They wanted to know if experiencing the transition during a specific life stage altered the trajectory of mental aging.

They found that the gap in memory and verbal fluency was widest between East and West Germans who were in their forties when the Berlin Wall fell. West Germans in this age group showed relative disadvantages compared to their Eastern counterparts.

For numeracy and orientation, the East German advantage was highest among those who experienced reunification in their twenties. The cognitive differences between the two populations were largely absent among people who were already nearing retirement age in 1989.

The researchers interpret this as evidence of critical periods in adult development. Entering the workforce during reunification may have helped young East Germans maximize the benefits of their schooling within the new, larger economy.

Conversely, West Germans navigating reunification in their forties may have faced intense economic competition and family stress. Mid adulthood is often a period of high financial responsibility, making individuals more vulnerable to the mental health impacts of economic shifts.

The two nations differed in many ways beyond education and economics. West Germans faced higher exposure to environmental toxins like lead from gasoline, simply because car ownership was much higher there.

Social and psychological experiences also varied wildly depending on the side of the border. West Germany fostered a more open civil society, while East Germany relied on secret police and informants, which negatively impacted social trust.

The dataset did not allow the researchers to measure the direct impact of these specific social and environmental stressors on brain health. Future investigations will need to look at similar differences across other post socialist and capitalist European countries to see if the pattern holds.

Future studies will also need to track clinical diagnoses of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, rather than just test scores. High performing individuals sometimes hit the maximum possible score on cognitive tests, which can mask early signs of decline.

Cognitive test performance does not capture the full reality of living with a neurodegenerative disease. Tracking actual medical records over time will clarify how these early life educational advantages translate into real world dementia prevention.

The study, “Is There a Cognitive Footprint of Political Systems? The Case of Separation and Reunification of East and West Germany and Its Association With Later Life Cognitive Health,” was authored by Ariane Bertogg and Jeffrey E. Stokes.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/how-growing-up-in-east-germany-affected-cognitive-health-in-later-life/

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #CognitiveHealth #EastGermany #CognitiveReserve #AgingBrain #EducationAndMemory #ReunificationGermany #DementiaPrevention #Gerontology #BrainAging #SocialSystemsImpact

Billy Bragg, Billy Bragg, 1988 on Amiga

https://goatless.org/2026/09/14/billy-bragg-billy-bragg-1988-on-amiga

Sunday book pick: In ‘The Others’, immigrants’ fates hang in the balance as the Berlin Wall teeters

“And it’s always at this point, the point of change, that we must take greatest care.” The most…
#Germany #DE #Europe #EU #Europa #Berlin #BooksandIdeas #EastGermany #SheenaKalayil #SheenaKalayiltheothers #theothersSheenaKalayil #theothersSheenaKalayilreview
https://www.europesays.com/germany/90282/

https://www.europesays.com/dk/165452/ Sunday book pick: In ‘The Others’, immigrants’ fates hang in the balance as the Berlin Wall teeters #berlin #BooksAndIdeas #EastGermany #Germany #SheenaKalayil #SheenaKalayilTheOthers #TheOthersSheenaKalayil #TheOthersSheenaKalayilReview

https://www.europesays.com/ie/678936/ What’s behind AfD’s surge to victory in Saxony-Anhalt, and what are they promising? #afd #AliceWeidel #BreakingNews #BreakingNews #EastGermany #FarRight #FeaturedNews #FeaturedNews #GermanFarRight #Germany #Headlines #LatestNews #LatestNews #MainNews #MainNews #NaziGermany #News #remigration #SaxonyAnhalt #TopStories #TopStories #UlrichSiegmund #World #WorldNews #WorldNews

https://www.europesays.com/videos/90317/ ‘Turning blind eye’ to AfD win further angers voters, political scientist warns #AlternativeForGermany #EastGermany #Euronews #FriedrichMerz #GermanElection #GermanPolitics

Charismatic candidate puts a friendly face on Germany’s far-right party

BERLIN (AP) — Ulrich Siegmund, a charismatic 35-year-old who gave the far-right Alternative for Germany a friendly face…
#Germany #DE #Europe #EU #Europa #conservatism #EastGermany #Elections #FriedrichMerz #Generalnews #Germanygovernment #Internationalagreements #politics #SvenSchulze #UlrichSiegmund #worldnews
https://www.europesays.com/germany/86458/

#EASTGeRMANY: #FarRight Trash are Gaining Ground

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mG_YIQgLB9Y&pp=ygUfYWwgamF6ZWVyYSwgZ2VybWFueSdzIGZhciByaWdodNIHCQkbDAGHKiGM7w

#EASTGeRMANY: #FarRight Trash are Gaining Ground

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mG_YIQgLB9Y&pp=ygUfYWwgamF6ZWVyYSwgZ2VybWFueSdzIGZhciByaWdodNIHCQkbDAGHKiGM7w

#EASTGeRMANY: #FarRight Trash are Gaining Ground

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mG_YIQgLB9Y&pp=ygUfYWwgamF6ZWVyYSwgZ2VybWFueSdzIGZhciByaWdodNIHCQkbDAGHKiGM7w

#EASTGeRMANY: #FarRight Trash are Gaining Ground

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mG_YIQgLB9Y&pp=ygUfYWwgamF6ZWVyYSwgZ2VybWFueSdzIGZhciByaWdodNIHCQkbDAGHKiGM7w

https://www.europesays.com/uk/1187540/ Why former East Germany became the stronghold of far-right AfD #AFD #afghan #AlternativeForGermany #Berlin #BerlinWall #EastGermany #ElisabethKaiser #EU #Europe #GDR #GermanDemocraticRepublic #Germany #Moscow #Russia #SaxonyAnhalt #Syrian #Ukraine

https://www.europesays.com/videos/85425/ Ulrich Siegmund: Is this AfD politician the most dangerous man in Germany? #AfD #AlternativeForDeutschland #EastGermany #Election #FarRight #Germany #NationalSecurity #NAZI #racism #SaxonyAnhalt #SkyNews #UlrichSiegmund #ww2

Germany’s demographic disaster https://www.byteseu.com/2293476/ #AlternativeForGermany #EastGermany #Fertility #FertilityCrisis #Germany

Germany’s demographic disaster

Early on 13 August 1961, Berliners woke up to find their city divided. The East German regime was…
#Germany #DE #Europe #EU #Europa #AlternativeforGermany #EastGermany #Fertility #fertilitycrisis
https://www.europesays.com/germany/76191/

‘Long-lost friend’: German man searches for Pinay pen pal ‘Madelyn’ after 50 years

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2026/08/04/317125/german-searches-pinay-pen-pal-madelyn-50-years/

🎶A decaying ballroom in Germany. Closed since the 1990s, it has been many years since the last dance. If you listen closely, maybe you can hear the last song echoing. What do you think the final song played was?

#Photography #Germany #History #EastGermany #Abandoned #Ballroom #Music

🎶A decaying ballroom in Germany. Closed since the 1990s, it has been many years since the last dance. If you listen closely, maybe you can hear the last song echoing. What do you think the final song played was?

#Photography #Germany #History #EastGermany #Abandoned #Ballroom #Music

🎶A decaying ballroom in Germany. Closed since the 1990s, it has been many years since the last dance. If you listen closely, maybe you can hear the last song echoing. What do you think the final song played was?

#Photography #Germany #History #EastGermany #Abandoned #Ballroom #Music

A young border guard jumped the wire on his first day of duty. A family floated across a canal in the dark. These are real stories. Frederick Taylor tells them all.
#BerlinWall #EastGermany #ColdWarStories #books #bookreviews
https://grandpasbookreviews.blogspot.com/2026/05/berlin-wall-frederick-taylor-book-review-cold-war-history.html

🇩🇪 A fire-damaged and collapsing ballroom that dates back to the late 1800s. Somewhere in Germany.

#Photography #Germany #LostPlaces #History #EastGermany #Ballroom

🇩🇪 A fire-damaged and collapsing ballroom that dates back to the late 1800s. Somewhere in Germany.

#Photography #Germany #LostPlaces #History #EastGermany #Ballroom

🇩🇪 A fire-damaged and collapsing ballroom that dates back to the late 1800s. Somewhere in Germany.

#Photography #Germany #LostPlaces #History #EastGermany #Ballroom

Want to understand how a government can turn on its own people? This Berlin Wall history book gives you the full picture. Five stars.
#books #bookreview #HistoryBooks #EastGermany
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/berlin-wall-frederick-taylor-review/

Want to understand how a government can turn on its own people? This Berlin Wall history book gives you the full picture. Five stars.
#books #bookreview #HistoryBooks #EastGermany
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/berlin-wall-frederick-taylor-review/

Want to understand how a government can turn on its own people? This Berlin Wall history book gives you the full picture. Five stars.
#books #bookreview #HistoryBooks #EastGermany
https://thisgrandpablogs.com/berlin-wall-frederick-taylor-review/

Last night we watched In A Land That No Longer Exists, from SBS. It tells the story of being young in East Germany just before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. I reckon it's a must watch!

It shows a little of how restrictive life was behind the wall; of finding a place in the fashion industry; of a male-dominated world with socialist competition, in contrast to capitalist competition; of human rivalries; of trust and love; of homophobia.

It also reminded me of the movie Good Bye Lenin, also running on SBS On Demand right now. Watch both! They are not alike, but their worlds intersect.

https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/movie/in-a-land-that-no-longer-exists/2368092227617
https://app.trakt.tv/movies/in-a-land-that-no-longer-exists-2022
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11864074

Good Bye Lenin:
https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/movie/good-bye-lenin/317983299628
https://app.trakt.tv/movies/good-bye-lenin-2003
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0301357

#SBSOnDemand #movies #EastGermany

Last night we watched In A Land That No Longer Exists, from SBS. It tells the story of being young in East Germany just before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. I reckon it's a must watch!

It shows a little of how restrictive life was behind the wall; of finding a place in the fashion industry; of a male-dominated world with socialist competition, in contrast to capitalist competition; of human rivalries; of trust and love; of homophobia.

It also reminded me of the movie Good Bye Lenin, also running on SBS On Demand right now. Watch both! They are not alike, but their worlds intersect.

https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/movie/in-a-land-that-no-longer-exists/2368092227617
https://app.trakt.tv/movies/in-a-land-that-no-longer-exists-2022
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11864074

Good Bye Lenin:
https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/movie/good-bye-lenin/317983299628
https://app.trakt.tv/movies/good-bye-lenin-2003
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0301357

#SBSOnDemand #movies #EastGermany

Last night we watched In A Land That No Longer Exists, from SBS. It tells the story of being young in East Germany just before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. I reckon it's a must watch!

It shows a little of how restrictive life was behind the wall; of finding a place in the fashion industry; of a male-dominated world with socialist competition, in contrast to capitalist competition; of human rivalries; of trust and love; of homophobia.

It also reminded me of the movie Good Bye Lenin, also running on SBS On Demand right now. Watch both! They are not alike, but their worlds intersect.

https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/movie/in-a-land-that-no-longer-exists/2368092227617
https://app.trakt.tv/movies/in-a-land-that-no-longer-exists-2022
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11864074

Good Bye Lenin:
https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/movie/good-bye-lenin/317983299628
https://app.trakt.tv/movies/good-bye-lenin-2003
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0301357

#SBSOnDemand #movies #EastGermany

🎳 An abandoned kegelbahn nine-pin bowling alley in East Germany. It closed in the late 1980s. Today, the wooden floor rots and splinters. Sapling trees have found a cosy home in the old lanes.

#EastGermany #History #Bowling #Abandoned #Urbex #UrbanExploration

🎳 An abandoned kegelbahn nine-pin bowling alley in East Germany. It closed in the late 1980s. Today, the wooden floor rots and splinters. Sapling trees have found a cosy home in the old lanes.

#EastGermany #History #Bowling #Abandoned #Urbex #UrbanExploration