GDR Guide: A Journey to a Bygone State

by Robert Rückel (Editor), Andreas Menn, Katrin Strohl

Shielded from the Western world by the iron cutain and subject to surveiilance from the Ministry for State Security, 17 million East Germans lived under the control of the Socialist Unity Party.

But what was life like under Real Existing Socialism? Was it just a story of pickles from the Spree Forest, Free Body Culture and life in high-rise tower blocks? Or is the reality of Socialism better captured by concentrating on full employment and endless queuing?
The 160 pages of this GDR guide introduce its readers to all the elements of life in a world which has long since dissappeared. 42 exciting chapters written by experts from the DDR Museum and including over 200 photographs and countless illustrations provide both a succinct introduction to the history of the GDR an the ideal companion to the permanent exhibition at the DDR Museum.

Written by Dr. Stefan Wolle, Dr. Jochen Voit and others.

"An important contribution to our inner reunification. More than just a good read, the GDR Guide should be required reading for all Germans" [literaturtipps.de].

Genres: History, Nonfiction

156 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Pavlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

From what I can tell, this book basically summarizes what's on display in the GDR Museum in Berlin. It provides an interesting snapshot of peoples lives from various different aspects. However, if you're expecting a narrative or history of the GDR, this book is not that. The book in comprised of loads of chapters, each about two pages long, and each is its own self-contained description of that particular theme.

[James Crabtree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to daily life in the German Democratic Republic. Meant as a guidebook to the DDR Museum in Berlin, it is an excellent book that provides information illustrated with photos, statistics, etc. about the Communist East. For a small volume it provides insight into how people lived, cut off from the rest of Germany.

[Timo · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a little gem of a book.
A run through of history and life in DDR with bunch of great photos, told from the perspective of normal people.
Very interesting.

[Rik Demeyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zeer toegankelijke geschiedenis van het dagelijks leven in de DDR. De vindingrijkheid van de burgers om te overleven onder een verstikkend regime dwingt respect af.

[Martin Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brought this in the gift shop at the DDR Museum in Berlin. Best museum guide I've ever read. You don't need to have visited the museum to read it though. Gives a very potted history of life in the DDR (or GDR/East Germany as we know it). Not extensive by any means - it's not a massive tome; just one pagers of subject summary with photos and images, but I felt I learned a lot from so little. The author manages to entertain and inform in so few words. A little gem.