West Germany

Parliament buildings over looks the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland, Oct. 28, 2022. 

State reformation: Part I

This week's Critical State, a foreign policy newsletter by Inkstick Media, takes a deep dive into what might happen should Ireland and Northern Ireland fall under one government again.

State reformation: Part I
A sign with the written word nazi in black appears near the blue lights of a police vehicle

Misusing culture in international politics: Part II

Misusing culture in international politics: Part II
A large group of people are shown climbing on the Berlin Wall on the night it was opened.

Love, friendship, protest: 3 former East Germans reflect on the fall of the Berlin Wall 30 years later

Love, friendship, protest: 3 former East Germans reflect on the fall of the Berlin Wall 30 years later
Women hold bags and signs that read: "Same pay for same work" at a rally for equal pay in Berlin, Germany, 2015.

Women in Germany's east earn close to what men do. Can we thank socialism for that?

Women in Germany's east earn close to what men do. Can we thank socialism for that?
David-Jon

This is a story about the origins of Antifa

This is a story about the origins of Antifa
People walk under the "Lichtgrenze" installation along the River Spree in Berlin on November 8, 2014. A part of the inner city of Berlin was temporarily divided with a light installation to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

This Berlin friendship began over the radio and in the shadow of the Wall

In 1989, Leslie and Cornelia were two young Berlin students living on opposites sides of the wall. But when the border opened, a shared love of radio brought them together in a friendship that is still alive today.

This Berlin friendship began over the radio and in the shadow of the Wall
A part of the inner city of Berlin will be temporarily divided from November 7 to 9, 2014, with a light installation featuring 8,000 luminous white balloons to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Here a woman walks in front of

During the Cold War, buying people from East Germany was common practice

East Germany never had a lot of cash on hand. What it did have was political prisoners, and plenty of them. So during the Cold War, the communist regime ransomed hundreds of thousands of people to the West in exchange for much-needed hard currency.

During the Cold War, buying people from East Germany was common practice

West Germany Doping Study Shows Widespread Abuse

West Germany Doping Study Shows Widespread Abuse

Anniversary prompts memories of German teen who landed private plan in Red Square

At the height of the Cold War, a German teen decided he'd fly his single-ending plane deep into the Soviet Union to build a metaphorical bridge between the Germans and the Soviets. He landed in Red Square — and was arrested and sentenced 25 years ago last week.

Anniversary prompts memories of German teen who landed private plan in Red Square

New documentary looks at development of skateboarding culture in East Germany

During the Cold War, all things Western were either forbidden or held in deep suspicion among officials east of the iron curtain. Yet, somehow, the culture of skateboarding that cropped up in California made it into East Berlin, where it thrived. A new documentary looks at that evolution.

New documentary looks at development of skateboarding culture in East Germany

George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' resonated with Ukrainian refugees

After World War II, millions of Ukrainians became refugees when the Soviet Union began ethnic cleansing. George Orwell's novel "Animal Farm" became popular among Ukrainian refugees, as it reminded them of the hardships they endured under Stalinist rule.

George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' resonated with Ukrainian refugees

German author wins Nobel prize for literature

The Romanian born author Herta Müller is renowned for her books based on life under the harsh regime of the dictator Ceausescu.

German author wins Nobel prize for literature