History UsefulNotes / EastGermany

* In ''AxisPowersHetalia'', it's strongly implied that Prussia takes up the East Germany role after UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. There is still much InternetBackdraft about this, as other parts of the fandom believe Prussia is actually [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaliningrad Kaliningrad.]] Some clues that support the "Prussia = East Germany" connections are:

* ''Series/TheSingingRingingTree'', a fairy tale filmed by the East German DEFA studio in 1957 and adapted by the BBC as part of the "Tales From Europe" strand, being oft-repeated on British TV during the 1960s and 70s. Well enough known to have been spoofed by TheFastShow.

* ''Series/TheSingingRingingTree'', a fairy tale filmed by the East German DEFA studio in 1957 and oft-repeated on British TV during the 1960s and 70s. Well enough known to have been spoofed by TheFastShow.

[[caption-width-right:320: [[BilingualBonus Halt! Hammerstaat!]]]]

The Eastern side did have a pretty good military, getting the full Soviet versions of military tech rather than the weaker export versions. Planned the one or other raid on West Germany too, but the unification stopped the plan before it could be executed. [[PuttingOnTheReich Their uniforms, though...]] Due to Germany still being, in many regards, an occupied [[strike:country]] [[strike:couple of countries]] [[InsistentTerminology country with two separate and independent governments]], the Western powers (US, UK, France) had [[OvertOperative Military Liaison Missions]] in the GDR, allowing them to observe Soviet forces in action.

-->--'''Bertold Brecht''', ''Die Lösung'', after the East German government and [[RedsWithRockets Soviet forces]] massacred 513 workers demonstrating for better conditions.

-->''Do not think that I'm a Nazi\\
Actually, we're communists\\
No Gestapo, only Stasi\\
Soviets' leader we have kissed\\
We walled up our western borders\\
To prevent our people's flight\\
If you visit, follow orders\\
Stick to checkpoints and behave\\
Sovereign, not quite; Russian satellite''\\
-- [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLju6RwUAws East German anthem spoof]]

Much of East Germany could pick up West German TV networks, which helped undermine the regime. The channels couldn't be jammed since it would also jam West Germany and that would be bad diplomatically. The Dresden and Rügen areas couldn't, so were dubbed "The Valley of the Clueless". This was done a) because GDR television was full of propaganda and b) it appears not to have been that good. The only programmes that TheOtherWiki discusses in its English version are:

During its early years, the conservative government of UsefulNotes/WestGermany did everything they could to not acknowledge East Germany's existence; breaking off diplomatic relations with every state (other than the USSR, which was too big to ignore) that acknowledged the GDR, calling it derogatory names like "[[Series/EinHerzUndEineSeele Ostzone]]" (east zone), "Sowjetische Besatzungszone" (Soviet-occupied Zone), "so-called GDR" and "Undeutsche Undemokratische Diktatur" ([[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Un-German Undemocratic Dictatorship]]), and generally claiming that western Germany was the only legitimate German state. The GDR rulers did the same, just the other way round. Later, under Social Democrat Willy Brandt, diplomatic relations between the Germanies improved (the so-called "Neue Ostpolitik'', "New Eastern Policy") and relations with the Eastern Bloc were established.

During its early years, the conservative government of UsefulNotes/WestGermany did everything they could to not acknowledge East Germany's existence; breaking off diplomatic relations with every state (other than the USSR, which was too big to ignore) that acknowledged the GDR, calling it derogatory names like "[[Series/EinHerzUndEineSeele Ostzone]]" (east zone), "Sowjetische Besatzungszone" (Soviet-occupied Zone), "so-called GDR" and "Undeutsche Undemokratische Diktatur" ([[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny Un-German Undemocratic Dictatorship]]), and generally claiming that western Germany was the only legitimate German state. The GDR rulers did the same, just the other way round. Later, under social democrat Willy Brandt, diplomatic relations improved.

During its early years, the conservative government of UsefulNotes/WestGermany did everything they could to not acknowledge East Germany's existence; breaking off diplomatic relations with every state (other than the USSR, which was too big to ignore) that acknowledged the GDR, calling it derogatory names like "[[Series/EinHerzUndEineSeele Ostzone]]" (east zone), "Sowjetische Besatzungszone" (Soviet-occupied zone), "so-called GDR" and "Undeutsche Undemokratische Diktatur" ([[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny un-German undemocratic dictatorship]]), and generally claiming that western Germany was the only legitimate German state. The GDR rulers did the same, just the other way round. Later, under social democrat Willy Brandt, diplomatic relations improved.

During its early years, the conservative government of UsefulNotes/WestGermany did everything they could to not acknowledge East Germany's existence; breaking off diplomatic relations with every state that acknowledged the GDR, calling it derogatory names like "[[Series/EinHerzUndEineSeele Ostzone]]" (east zone), "Sowjetische Besatzungszone" (Soviet-occupied zone), "so-called GDR" and "Undeutsche Undemokratische Diktatur" ([[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny un-German undemocratic dictatorship]]), and generally claiming that western Germany was the only legitimate German state. The GDR rulers did the same, just the other way round. Later, under social democrat Willy Brandt, diplomatic relations improved.

East Germany's most famous consumer products were the Exacta and Praktica cameras (the Praktica brand still exists; it was part of the Kombinat Volks Eigener Betrieb Zeiss Jena (how's that for a company name, eh?) that ''invented'' the prism SLR design which is still the standard for cameras today - one of the few communist inventions to have an impact in the west), MZ motorcycles (whose engine technology gave Suzuki quite a boost in the early '60's) and the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabant Trabant]] [[TheAllegedCar car, which was, by Western standards, obsolete before the '60s were over]] but gave many a Worker and his family the opportunity to move themselves about a bit, trailing a blue two-stroke smoke cloud. It pretty much disappeared from the East German streets as soon as the Wall opening brought other choices, but it's now considered a [[TheAllegedCar classic car]]. Some enthusiasts have succeeded in making their Trabants capable of passing the [=MoT=], Britain's strict government-mandated roadworthiness test; divine intervention is suspected. However the Trabant, suitably renovated, is making a bit of a comeback today among enthusiasts, who often rebuild them into customized hotrods.

East Germany also did quite well in sporting events... largely because many of its athletes were doped up to the eyeballs with the latest performance-enhancing drugs, in an effort to make the Communist regime look like it was working on the international stage. Most would suffer serious health problems as a result. In American TV of the [[TheSeventies seventies]] and [[TheEighties eighties]] look for many jokes about East German sportswomen [[VillainousCrossdresser not really being women]]. Less amusingly, some female athletes were so badly messed up by the doping regimen (which in some cases started at the age of ''ten'') to undergo a full sex change operation, while others found themselves unable to properly bear children.

East Germany's most famous consumer products were the Exacta and Praktica cameras (the Praktica brand still exists; it was part of the Kombinat Volks Eigener Betrieb Zeiss Jena (how's that for a company name, eh?) that ''invented'' the prism SLR design which is still the standard for cameras today - one of the few communist inventions to have an impact in the west), MZ motorcycles (whose engine technology gave Suzuki quite a boost in the early '60's) and the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabant Trabant]] [[TheAllegedCar car, which was, by Western standards, obsolete before the '60s were over]] but gave many a Worker and his family the opportunity to move themselves about a bit, trailing a blue two-stroke smoke cloud. It pretty much disappeared from the East German streets as soon as the Wall opening brought other choices, but it's now considered a [[TheAllegedCar classic car]]. Some enthusiasts have succeeded in making their Trabants capable of passing the [=MoT=], Britain's strict government-mandated roadworthiness test; divine intervention is suspected. However the Trabant, suitably renovated, is making a bit of a comeback today as a basis for custom hotrods.

East Germany also did quite well in sporting events... largely because many of its athletes were doped up to the eyeballs with the latest performance-enhancing drugs, in an effort to make the Communist regime look like it was working on the international stage. Most would suffer health problems as a result. In American TV of the [[TheSeventies seventies]] and [[TheEighties eighties]] look for many jokes about East German sportswomen [[VillainousCrossdresser not really being women]].

East Germany's most famous consumer products were the Exacta and Praktica cameras (the Praktica brand still exists; it was part of the Kombinat Volks Eigener Betrieb Zeiss Jena (how's that for a company name, eh?) that ''invented'' the prism SLR design which is still the standard for cameras today - one of the few communist inventions to have an impact in the west), MZ motorcycles (whose engine technology gave Suzuki quite a boost in the early '60's) and the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabant Trabant]] [[TheAllegedCar car, which was, by Western standards, obsolete before the '60s were over]] but gave many a Worker and his family the opportunity to move themselves about a bit, trailing a blue two-stroke smoke cloud. It pretty much disappeared from the East German streets as soon as the Wall opening brought other choices, but it's now considered a [[TheAllegedCar classic car]]. Some enthusiasts have succeeded in making their Trabants capable of passing the [=MoT=], Britain's strict government-mandated roadworthiness test; divine intervention is suspected. However the Trabant, suitably renovated, is making a bit of a comeback today.

** Whether or not the ROM is freely available has nothing to do with copyright. You can easily find almost any ROM for almost any system. No one cares about the copyright.

There ''were'' elections, and other parties than the Socialist SED, but they were far from democratic. East Germans called this voting "Falten gehen" (going to fold), because anybody who did anything but fold their ballot (like crossing out candidates, or even staying at home) and put it in the urn immediately became suspicious. As the East Germans said, the only way to vote was "by foot", i.e. leaving the GDR for WestGermany. Well, until 1961 that is, [[BerlinWall afterwards this was less of an option]].

During its early years, the conservative government of WestGermany did everything they could to not acknowledge EastGermany's existence; breaking off diplomatic relations with every state that acknowledged the GDR, calling it derogatory names like "[[Series/EinHerzUndEineSeele Ostzone]]" (east zone), "Sowjetische Besatzungszone" (Soviet-occupied zone), "so-called GDR" and "Undeutsche Undemokratische Diktatur" ([[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny un-German undemocratic dictatorship]]), and generally claiming that western Germany was the only legitimate German state. The GDR rulers did the same, just the other way round. Later, under social democrat Willy Brandt, diplomatic relations improved.

East Germany was one of the economic success stories of CommieLand, with a decent agricultural system and enough manufacturing to put consumer goods within reach of many; their flag reflects this with its hammer and pair of compasses instead of the ubiquitous sickle. They achieved this despite the fact that, like the rest of CommieLand, the government invested far more than was necessary into the military and heavy industry. In fact, while the 1989 protesters had popular support for doing away with the oppressive regime, many East Germans were proud of their state and were not happy with the way that East Germany "[[InsistentTerminology became part of the effective area of the Basic Law of Germany]]" quite so summarily. [[note]]The term ''annexation'' is frequently used. This is incorrect. There was (in theory) only one German state, divided into WestGermany, EastGermany and the lands occupied by UsefulNotes/{{Poland}} and the SovietUnion. EastGermany adopted the laws of WestGermany and the lands east of the Oder-Neiße border were indeed annexed (or ceded to) the respective countries. Berlin was a special case.[[/note]] At least not after realising that reunification did not bring them an instant paradise, and that the now-ruling Western leaders weren't shy about handing out pink slips.[[note]] Neither were they particularly interested in keeping potential economic rivals of Western companies alive until they found their footing. A lot of previously state-owned factories were sold for next-to-nothing by the new government and then closed down by the "investors".[[/note]]

On the other hand, the East German rail network retained the pre-1945 name of Deutsche Reichsbahn ("German Imperial Railways"), while the West Germans renamed theirs Deutsche Bundesbahn ("German Federal Railways"). This may have been done since several treaties dating to the end of WorldWarTwo mentioned special privileges--particularly relating to trackage rights in West Berlin, including the right to run the [[UsefulNotes/BerlinUAndSBahn S-Bahn]] there--given by name to ''Deutsche Reichsbahn'' that might not have transferred automatically to ''VEB Bahn der DDR'' or some such, so it was best not to risk it.

Since approximately [[TheGreatPoliticsMessUp 1990]] "Ossi" is the German slang term for a former East German, "Wessi" being the WestGermany counterpart. Until then, "Zoni"[[note]]from "Sowjetische Besatzungszone" (Soviet Occupation Zone)[[/note]] was used for people from the GDR, "Wessi" was used by the people in West Berlin for those from West Germany and "Ossi" was used in jokes about people from East Frisia.

* The 1984 comedy ''Film/TopSecret'' depicts it as NaziGermany in order to spoof WorldWarII espionage thrillers. Then again, the Volksarmee did spend a while PuttingOnTheReich...

East German agents were also common in ColdWar fiction, partly because of their major role in the WarsawPact and partly (possibly) to what might be called the "[[TheSimpsons German Commie Nazi]]" factor, which allowed writers to combine the worst stereotypes of Germans, Nazis and Communists.

* In ''AxisPowersHetalia'', it's strongly implied that Prussia takes up the EastGermany role after WorldWarII. There is still much InternetBackdraft about this, as other parts of the fandom believe Prussia is actually [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaliningrad Kaliningrad.]] Some clues that support the "Prussia = East Germany" connections are:

East Germany's most famous consumer products were the Exacta and Praktica cameras (the Praktica brand still exists; it was part of the Kombinat Volks Eigener Betrieb Zeiss Jena (how's that for a company name, eh?) that ''invented'' the prism SLR design which is still the standard for cameras today - one of the few communist inventions to have an impact in the west), MZ motorcycles (whose engine technology gave Suzuki quite a boost in the early '60's) and the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabant Trabant]] [[TheAllegedCar car, which was, by Western standards, obsolete before the '60s were over]] but gave many a Worker and his family the opportunity to move themselves about a bit, followed by a blue two-stroke oil cloud. It pretty much disappeared from the East German streets as soon as the Wall opening brought other choices, but it's now considered a [[TheAllegedCar classic car]]. Some enthusiasts have succeeded in making their Trabants capable of passing the [=MoT=], Britain's strict government-mandated roadworthiness test; divine intervention is suspected. However the Trabant, suitably renovated, is making a bit of a comeback today.

* In ''AxisPowersHetalia'', it's strongly implied that seems to take up the EastGermany role. There is still much InternetBackdraft about this, as other parts of the fandom believe Prussia is actually Kaliningrad. Some clues that support the "Prussia = East Germany" connections are:

** A later profile has Prussia being described as [[BeleagueredAssistant brought under Russia's beck and call after the War]], further strengthening the East German connection.
*** Not only there have been direct allusions to Prussia "being stuck doing menial jobs for Russia after WorldWarTwo", but it has also been stated that Prussia sometimes gets struck by [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostalgie "Ostalgie"]] -- and when this happens, Russia shows up uninvited to his doorstep and tries to drag him away. [[http://hetalia.kitawiki.net/index.php?title=Prussia#Trivia See here]]
*** After the reunification, Prussia arrived at Germany's house [[http://himaruya.blog61.fc2.com/blog-entry-1406.html in a "cardboard car"]] (an allusion to the Trabant).

* In ''AxisPowersHetalia'', Prussia seems to take up the EastGermany role in contrast to his younger brother, Germany, whom he apparently nicknames [[WhatdoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic "West"]]. Which is pretty much WordOfGod.
** The whole Prussia calling Germany "West" thing is less, "What do you mean it's not Symbolic" and more that Himaruya was just giving people hints. No symbolism attached, except that Prussia called Germany "West" ''in an episode that took place before there was a West Germany and an East Germany'', which makes it kind of confusing.
** A later profile has Prussia being described as brought under Russia's beck and call after the War, further strengthening the East German connection.
*** Not only there have been direct allusions to Prussia "being stuck doing menial jobs for Russia after WorldWarTwo", but it has also been stated that Prussia sometimes gets struck by "Ostalgie" -- and when this happens, Russia shows up uninvited to his doorstep. [[http://hetalia.kitawiki.net/index.php?title=Prussia#Trivia So Prussia = East Germany is pretty much all but stated to be canon]].

* The appallingly dreadful film "Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2" involves a superpowered baby secret agent codenamed Kahuna (just go with it) whose jealous older brother seeks to spite him by defecting to East Germany and growing up to be a Stasi captain performing medical experiments on children(and later turned television producer) imprisoning his victims beneath the Berlin Wall, played by a painfully scenery-chewing John Voigt.

*** After the reunification, Prussia arrive at Germany's house [[http://himaruya.blog61.fc2.com/blog-entry-1406.html in a "cardboard car"]] (an allusion to the Trabant).

On the other hand, the East German rail network retained the pre-1945 name of Deutsche Reichsbahn ("German Imperial Railways"), while the West Germans renamed theirs Deutsche Bundesbahn ("German Federal Railways"). This may have been done since several treaties dating to the end of WorldWarTwo mentioned special privileges given by name to ''Deutsche Reichsbahn'' that might not have transferred automatically to ''VEB Bahn der DDR'' or some such, so it was best not to risk it.

The GDR was also famous for its bureaucratic nomenclature. Coffins for example were named ''Erdmöbel'' (literally: ground furniture), or the term ''Sättigungsbeilage'' (literally: ''[[EvenTheSubtitlerIsStumped Well it is difficult to translate, really.]]'' It would be something like "a filling side dish", and means stuff like potatoes, dumplings or rice as a supplement to a proper meal[[note]]Though German cuisine usually includes one source of carbohydrates as a necessary component of a proper meal, besides meat and vegetables. So it's doubly strange that it was called a "supplement".[[/note]]). Even more hilarious were the words they invented for religious stuff, like ''Frühjahrsschokoladenhohlkörper'' (hollow chocolate article of spring - a chocolate easter bunny) and ''Jahresendflügelpuppe'' (winged doll of the year's end - a christmas angel for the christmas tree and the like). The reason: Religion wasn't verboten in the GDR, but the ruling people didn't like it too much either.