Despite the 9th November 1989 being a relatively new addition to the history books, I cannot help but be fascinated by the series of events leading up to the Fall of the Berlin Wall. Perhaps this is partially due to my appreciation of politics, but I believe the reason may just be as simple as human curiosity. I can hardly imagine living in East Germany - the lack of privacy due to property surveillance, the tight travel restrictions and the inability to speak one's opinions are all aspects of a Communist society which I fear would be too much for me - yet it is evident that 16.11 million people did just that for over 26 years. I simply cannot stop asking myself how so many people coped, to the point whereby I often spend a long time quizzing my German teacher about her childhood living near the Russian border.
So, how did I discover this fascination with a Communist regime which was not an entirely new phenomenon to the Western world? After all, their are so many books and sources documenting the creation of the Communist Regime in Russia in November 1917 by Lenin and the emergence of fascism in the form of the Nazi Party of Germany in the 1930's, yet there is a considerably smaller number of documentaries and primary sources regarding life in the German Democratic Republic. The answer in this case, surprisingly is German film, and perhaps more commonly, autobiographies of both East German citizens and foreign news journalists.
After much thought, I have managed to choose two note-worthy sources of incredible importance - one film and one autobiography - which shed so much light on life under the German Communist Regime. If you want a quick education in East German History, you have come to the right place!
1989: The Berlin Wall, My Part In It's Downfall
Peter Millar
Arcadia Books
2009
As far as foreign perspectives go, Peter Millar's take on life behind the Berlin Wall, is one of the best. Working as a newspaper journalist for Reuters, Millar finds himself living in East Berlin, and consequently adapting to life under a Communist Regime. Yet he has something that many autobiographies written in East Germany do not have - the ability to directly compare life in East Germany to life in West Germany, due to his freedom to travel across the border. A book that can be read without prior knowledge of German history, Millar's work is certainly worth exploring if you want an accessible yet one of a kind insight into East German politics and life as well as the eventual fall of the Berlin Wall.
The Lives of Others
Directed by Florian Henkel
2006
Set at the beginning of 1984 all the way through to nearly a decade after the Fall of the Berlin Wall, The Lives of Others follows the life of the Stasi worker Wiesler and his newest surveillance case. The case turns out to be more complicated than it seems, and leads to disastrous consequences for both him and those under surveillance. Yet hidden behind the drama are clear references towards life in East Germany are made. This film is really worth a watch not only if you want to get a feel about day-to-day life in Germany, but also if you want to see the psychological effect that a Communist regime had on both it's victims and it's loyal workers. Whilst it could be argued that some films with a historical theme are over-dramatic and inaccurate, The Lives of Others is the exact opposite - it can only be described as a historical masterpiece.
So, how did I discover this fascination with a Communist regime which was not an entirely new phenomenon to the Western world? After all, their are so many books and sources documenting the creation of the Communist Regime in Russia in November 1917 by Lenin and the emergence of fascism in the form of the Nazi Party of Germany in the 1930's, yet there is a considerably smaller number of documentaries and primary sources regarding life in the German Democratic Republic. The answer in this case, surprisingly is German film, and perhaps more commonly, autobiographies of both East German citizens and foreign news journalists.
After much thought, I have managed to choose two note-worthy sources of incredible importance - one film and one autobiography - which shed so much light on life under the German Communist Regime. If you want a quick education in East German History, you have come to the right place!
1989: The Berlin Wall, My Part In It's DownfallPeter Millar
Arcadia Books
2009
As far as foreign perspectives go, Peter Millar's take on life behind the Berlin Wall, is one of the best. Working as a newspaper journalist for Reuters, Millar finds himself living in East Berlin, and consequently adapting to life under a Communist Regime. Yet he has something that many autobiographies written in East Germany do not have - the ability to directly compare life in East Germany to life in West Germany, due to his freedom to travel across the border. A book that can be read without prior knowledge of German history, Millar's work is certainly worth exploring if you want an accessible yet one of a kind insight into East German politics and life as well as the eventual fall of the Berlin Wall.
Directed by Florian Henkel
2006
Set at the beginning of 1984 all the way through to nearly a decade after the Fall of the Berlin Wall, The Lives of Others follows the life of the Stasi worker Wiesler and his newest surveillance case. The case turns out to be more complicated than it seems, and leads to disastrous consequences for both him and those under surveillance. Yet hidden behind the drama are clear references towards life in East Germany are made. This film is really worth a watch not only if you want to get a feel about day-to-day life in Germany, but also if you want to see the psychological effect that a Communist regime had on both it's victims and it's loyal workers. Whilst it could be argued that some films with a historical theme are over-dramatic and inaccurate, The Lives of Others is the exact opposite - it can only be described as a historical masterpiece.
