Weeks one and two

The Wende and the Unification of Germany  

Extracts to read

The official appraisal of the GDR: The Enquete-Kommissionen

Required reading: extracts from Bericht der Enquete-Kommission “Aufarbeitung von Geschichte und Folgen der SED-Diktatur in Deutschland” 

further reading

Weeks three and four

The crisis amongst intellectuals the Literaturstreit

Required reading: Christa Wolf Was Bleibt 

further reading 

Weeks five and six

East German challenges to Western readings of the past: The Stasi scandals  

Reiner Kunze, Deckname Lyrik. Eine Dokumentation

Valeri Scherstjanoi, OPK »Futurist« (Hörspiel- to be provided)

further reading

Week seven 

The changing nature of East German   Selbstverständnis: 

1) Die Mauer im Kopf and Ostalgie

Required reading: extracts from Der Mauer fiel die Mauer steht; extracts from Daniela Dahn, Westwärts und nicht vergessen

further reading

Required surfing: number of GDR/Ostalgie internet sites  

further reading

Week eight

2) Political instrumentalisation of East Germanness

Required reading: Ulrich Eith, ‘Politisch zweigeteilt?’, in Wehling, Deutschland Ost- Deutschland West, pp. 132-155; Dan Hough, ‘Eastern German Identity and Party Politics’, in Cooke/Grix, East German distinctiveness,

further reading

Guest speaker: Dr Bill Niven (Nottingham Trent University)