Interview with Katja Hoyer about her bestseller 'Beyond the Wall'

The book 'Beyond the Wall' by Katja Hoyer covers the full history of the GDR from the beginning till the end.
In this video I talk with Katja about the book and its background, but of cours also about East Germany.
The book is available in many languages.
Link to the English version of the book on Amazon:
Beyond the Wall: A History of East Germany - amzn.to/3RboaZb
Katja's other book, about the history of Germany 1871-1918:
Blood and Iron: The Rise and Fall of the German Empire - amzn.to/3T4wlaW
(When using the links and ordering, I will receive a small commission. You don't have to use the links of course, but many thanks if you do!)
Sources:
- Fernsehturm - By Christian Wolf (www.c-w-design.de), CC BY-SA 3.0 de, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
- Sigmund Jähn - By Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-T0709-148 / Peter Koard / CC-BY-SA, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...

[@mfaracing]

This was one of the highest quality interviews on KZbin so far.

[@thehealingmentorwenkelangh8842]

Thank you Katja for a great video and for writing this book. As a former East German now living in the UK it’s the historical account I’ve been longing for for the past 3 decades. It’s also a great reminder to all of us, that history and lived experience often don’t look the same. Thank you for showing a perspective that so many outside of the lived East German experience never got to see and for helping to move people away from the stereotype and caricature image of the GDR that to this day prevails in so many Western European minds.

[@petebondurant58]

This is an outstanding interview on the part of both participants.

[@bkreed27]

During my military service I was a member of one the US Cavalry regiments helping secure the German Interzonal Boundary. It was very interesting duty and left me with an enduring interest and curiosity about life in the DDR. I have made few friends in the ensuing years who were members of the NVA and Volkspolizei and have learned a lot from them about everyday life in the DDR. I really appreciate this channel, always interesting, and I never miss an episode. Thx!

[@jean6872]

*_Beyond the Wall_** is on my Christmas list for myself.*

[@elkigirl123]

Stasiland by Anna Funder is excellent and so is The File. Wouldn’t want to buy this writer’s book, she appears to be peddling a revisionist propagandized version of history.

[@ProleCenter]

@@elkigirl123 An anti-communist propaganda version, that's for sure.

[@kirstyhatton1857]

A great interview with Katja. You both manage to highlight the good and bad of life in East Germany

[@UAuaUAuaUA]

It's an interesting discussion by two persons who have studied the GDR in detail and for a long time. I think older people have a more emotional connection to that state. It is related to personal experience, but they have never bothered to study that part of German history.

[@stretch9952]

This is one of my favorite You Tube channels. Your presentations are fascinating, well structured and informative. I have visited Germany and its evolution is most interesting.

[@evelk5233]

💯

[@emjackson2289]

Does anything say more about the evolution of the DDR like the evolution - and sadly - decline of the sides from the very final season of the DDR Oberliga? But yet, compare that to the fact that one of the currently successful - whilst admittedly controversial - sides in the Bundesliga is also from the former DDR, Red Bull Leipzig? An interesting contrast I think.

[@johntamlyn6383]

Thank you so much, really interesting. I have both of Katya’s books and have listened to a number of her other interviews which are fascinating on the topic of East Germany and German history generally. Bizarre that as a historian she’s attracted criticism for interviewing Krenz. If the guy is alive and happy to be interviewed that seems a perfectly reasonable and worthwhile thing to do. I live in the UK and over the years there are numerous politicians who’ve been interviewed for tv and radio programs etc.

[@marks_sparks1]

It's good she talked to Krenz as I'm not interested in listening to just the West German view of East Germany. A balanced assessment requires all input.

[@johntamlyn6383]

Absolutely, very much agree, and thanks for replying. Your channel is genuinely interesting.

[@emmcee662]

Very interesting interview, thank you 😊 It was also fascinating to hear the strong English influence in her accent

[@More-than-ladyboys]

Looking forward to reading this book. Travelled through East Germany and visited East Berlin on numerous occasions whilst living in west Berlin during the 80’s. A fascinating time.

[@clangerbasher]

An important topic that deserves more attention from the Anglosphere.

[@elkigirl123]

There is a vast amount of public record on the former DDR. It’s well documented despite them doing the best to destroy records. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@ap9970]

I purchased the audiobook, when it was released but only got around to listen to it last week. The book was also recommended to me by one of Katjas former colleagues(?). Having listened to a few books on life in the GDR, I found this book very interesting as it covered a lot of things going on in the back ground. On my first visit to Berlin (in 2002) the guest house I booked was at Majakowskiring 28, at the time I had no idea of the history of the address, but had a feeling they was something about the building (I know it was replaced) and the area around it.

[@wertywerrtyson5529]

I think I’ll check this book out. I always like to learn about the daily lives of people. You only hear about the big things but most people probably just led normal lives. Went to school and work, met their love and had kids.

[@grimaldispa7139]

It's good to read positive reviews on her book as I've just ordered it!. I, too, have a fascination with the DDR, I was always interested, but after I had a long relationship with a woman (also from Jena, i think she got tired of me constantly asking her questions and i think its a period of time she had no interest in and clammed up a little) It just spiralled!. This will be a good addition to my book collection methinks. 😊

[@elkigirl123]

Definitely read Stasiland if you haven’t already.

[@grimaldispa7139]

@@elkigirl123 will do, cheers! 👍

[@clazy8]

Great interview! That book is going onto my reading list.

[@SvenBollue]

Many thanks for this really excellent interview!

[@brianhapeman9262]

As a non-German speaker who has a strong interest in the DDR, I was thrilled to have another English language book added to East Germany’s historiography. Her book was a great read.

[@ProleCenter]

It's very biased against socialism.

[@brianhapeman9262]

@@ProleCenter I disagree. There were several instances in the book where the author praised the socialistic aspects of the DDR. To your point, however, it was critical of Marxist-Leninism and in general skewed towards social democracy versus outright socialism. I’m glad you commented. I believe in differing discourse and respectful commentary.

[@ProleCenter]

@brianhapeman9262 Social democracy has proven to be very accommodating of fascism. The CIA happily supported such "center-left" parties, individuals, and movements.

[@elkigirl123]

@@ProleCenter What? She sounds quite biased in favor of and an apologist for the communist regime in interviews, whitewashing the actual history.

[@ProleCenter]

@user-bf5kd2tn4j You must be pretty far right-wing then.

[@baseballfan99]

I will definitely read this book as I love post war European history. Excellent interview so thanks for covering.

[@emjackson2289]

Dear Both, but especially Ms Hoyer, Katya if I may? You mentioned the fact that the National Volksarmee (NVA) was allowed to retain a uniform that was akin to the 1933-1945 Armee des Heer der Wehrmacht which was, also, somewhat similar e.g. "coal-scuttle-helmet" minus pickelgrube (sp) & Feld Grau, of the Imperial Army c. 1914-1918. Yet, there was a distinct difference within the Force that became the Air Force of the NVA as that was named "Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee" as opposed to say "Luftwaffe der Volksarmee" (or some such similar term). Admittedly some of those titles were due to technicalities and command infrastructure & military and political philosophies, but do you think that something else was at play herein? That is to say, there was a far greater echo of Prussia in the DDR than many may well imagine? For example, the BRD/FRG had their Lander, the DDR/GDR had their Bezirke & such like. Of course, the DDR contained Saxony, even now a very distinct place, Thuringia with its rural make-up but Mecklenburg, Pomerania, they're parts of the Prussian landscape I'd say, whilst I understand you may well disagree with me on that matter. My theoretical however for you both is this, how different would the DDR have been had the DDR been able to lay claim to Konigsburg, now Kaliningrad? Anyway, enough of my pontificating. Thank you for a very informative & interesting video. I'm off to Waterstones to see if they have it in stock. Thanks for the channel also - I was trying to get some of those DDR sweets you had on (whose name has slipped my mind, late night last night LOL) but then found out they had non-vegan ingredients in them. Hey-ho. I suspect Honnecker and Co. probably weren't thinking of vegans in 2023 when trying to keep the DDR economy afloat in 1983! Have a great weekend!

[@Ah01]

These videos are pure platinum. I always think that it takes too long `til the next one comes out, but as long as the quality is like this you can take your time between the videos. Fascinating stuff for a person with history as a profession.

[@Z20900]

Thank you so much for this interview! I'll definitely order Katja's book! Every time when you upload something I'm learning so much.

[@jyryk4623]

I've been thinking of reading this book!

[@ProleCenter]

It's very, very biased, but that's no big surprise.

[@dm4life90]

Very interesting interview, thanks a lot and will check out Beyond The Wall.

[@neilwalsh4058]

Fascinating lady , she's got another sale of her book after listening to that as I shall be adding it to my Christmas list 👍

[@rogerallum5633]

I'll gladly visit with the timemachine. Proud owner of very big DDR flag from trade with my homeport (Danke an die Schiffsbesatzung) Will get the book to read about the financial reforms of theWest that created the wall. Katja hints at this in her interview with the wages clerk in Berlin. Please Please Please a duel languge text so that if we get stuck with the German, we can look across and see the English? Big thank you! Could write loads more For example Mrs 'T's objection to reunification and why is Essex Uni dropping its Degree?

[@TotalFreedomTTT-pk9st]

I agree DDR does not look horrible to me - Just need a fair comparison to the "West" now - I've seen color video of Auto Racing in the early 70's and it looked pretty normal - you can go to prison for thought crimes in the Germany of today - just write the 'wrong' facts or dare to put up another Flag - not the DDR Flag although you might be careful with that

[@thestreakpodcast]

Excellent interview!

[@officerpulaski1946]

Great work!

[@anarcho-pingu]

Hi, thanks for your work covering this part of German history that is often overlooked. I have a question, if you should choose to answer it. How was the first world war covered and taught about in the GDR? Many of the men who fought in that conflict went on to fight in the interwar period and also in the second world war, and some definitely ended up living the end of their lives in the GDR. I can't find anything online that talks about this. Thanks 🇩🇪

[@kevanhubbard9673]

I shall have to order her book on the DDR.

[@evelk5233]

Great expansion on the type of content on this channel.

[@aadoosterhof476]

Dank voor dit interview. Ik volg Katja al een tijdje en ben erg geïnteresseerd in haar werk. Dit is echt een goed interview. Mooie vragen. Dank!

[@EmilePoelman]

Great interview! Guess what: I am going to buy the (e)book in Dutch after sending this post :-) Looking forward to the Weimar book too...

[@rochesterjohnny7555]

"Behind The Berlin Wall : An Encounter in East Germany" is one of my favorite books, it is the story of college student now Professor Steve Kelman going to East Germany in 1971 and they try to recruit him to work for the Stasi after giving him a guided tour of various cities in the DDR that lasts 3 weeks , incredible story

[@rochesterjohnny7555]

I saw in a documentary about the fall of the wall, that when the protests were raging in East Germany to open the border, Honecker wanted to unleash the army and violence on the protestors. Egon Krenz ordered a helicopter to take them both for a flyover of protests and convinced Honecker not to use any violence on the protestors. This seems to have escaped mention down through the years , that Egon Krenz was actually a hero at that moment in time and probably saved hundreds if not thousands of lives.

[@josephwaters4815]

Speculation.

[@elkigirl123]

I think Honecker wanted back up from Moscow and didn’t get any. It was over. Both countries were going bankrupt of course we know now.

[@rochesterjohnny7555]

@@josephwaters4815 I have a pretty good memory , wish I could remember who said it and where it was in a professional documentary, it could have been Krenz himself

[@jasongarufi8187]

Thanks for the great interview, did you watch Deutschland 83, 86 and 89?

[@ccjelley2390]

Fascinating discussion. I travelled in the DDR and mixed with people who got on with their lives there. My experience was in stark contrast to what was written in the English press and fronted in the visual media about the country by people who were one step removed from being CIA or MI6 assets with an axe to grind.

[@elkigirl123]

😂😂😂 The West never had an axe to grind with the East German people, just the system that trapped them in and shot them if they tried to escape. As Kennedy said, “Democracy isn’t perfect but we have never had to build a wall to keep people in!” Quite the opposite.

[@angus7278]

If you’re looking for a REALLY interesting and good book on the subject I’d highly recommend “Stasi State or Socialist Paradise?: The German Democratic Republic and What Became of It” By Bruni de la Motte

[@LondonHistory1977]

Thank you Katja for referencing how Ireland being separated as a nation...and would love see it united again and free of foreign interference.

[@ProleCenter]

Amen.

[@marks_sparks1]

​@ProgressiveGoldbug never going to happen. The English like to tell the world and kid themselves that the Irish are their lost children but in practice, face to face, the English let the Irish know they're not English, no matter how many cups of tea and Coronation Street the Irish watch.

[@ccjelley2390]

Has she taken a side here, as did most of the writers in English about the DDR?

[@rosesprog1722]

My interest for Germany'"s history began a few years before I retired, maybe 10 years ago when, thanks to the limitless possibilities of the internet and the constantly growing databanks available, particularly here on YT, I realized that only Germans had been tried at Nuremberg. Being yet unaware of the complex events, the true motivations and the hidden instigators that caused such a monstrous moment in human history, characterized for Germany by a passage from the injustice of Versailles, to the ecstasy of the Third Reich, to end up in such complete destruction, starvation, plunder and humiliation, brought on by the proud representatives of freedom and democracy on this earth but blamed on a single individual, a hero in his time and his people, know as a nation of artists and poets, and the everlasting hatred, shaming and punishment, inflicted on a single nation, which, in times of war, is not justifiable nor logical... my curiosity grew intense, and turning back, impossible. So, of course, eventually I got to the brutal occupation, and then the strange reunification, the Basic Law, the hidden foreign hands, the promises that were made, and then broken and the situation Germany finds herself in today, where, at least from here, far away in Canada, the politicians and administrators of the society always appear to work for external forces, but certainly not for the German people. So there I am, in the middle of a strange controversy, about a strange country, involving foreign countries, secret agencies, a continuing military occupation, no constitution of her own, articles 53 and 107 of the UN charter and the May 23rd 1948 conspiracy theory, all of which that in reality should be of no concern of mine... but I just can't help it, and although I am aware of the terrible suffering and I sympathize all the way, your story is just too interesting. And for your courage and resilience, you get my most humble and profound respect. Cheers.

[@Albert-Arthur-Wison225]

Thank you so much for providing us, the community of DDR ‘fetishists’, with interviews of such pertinence ! I’m certainly looking forward to purchasing this book !

[@Oberschutzee]

"DDR ‘fetishists" yikes

[@arthurvane3901]

I enjoyed the book me and my dad listened to it in my dads are on audio book. I did enjoy it but there where a couple of things that I feel she did not mention. First she very fairly mentions the Stazi and how brutal abs how many lives they ruined and his they tried to make money by any means like selling books or stolen art or how they purgery on people’s deaths and how many people they secretly killed and how they are shown in all three Deutschland 83,86,89. Second she says life in the GDR in the 80s was not that bad but what I’ve read I other books and talks I had with other people who lived and went on holiday is that it was very bad.

[@kropotkinbeard1]

Did she ever interview Victor Grossman?

[@whistlingdiesel]

Too bad the German reunification is a bad example for Ireland or even Korea. Here the lack of participation of the east German people created a huge damage. But after all it is 'one' example. Good to have her on the show! Excellent.

[@Ac_a]

East Germany was plundered by West German Capitalists. Like Russia in the 90s. Capitalist Shock Therapy = The Rich Take Everything and Screw Over the common folk.

[@josephwaters4815]

Just because the faces at the head of the state change more frequently doesn't make the Western capitalist countries any less dictatorial. At least the socialist dictatorships didn't try to misrepresent themselves and they made sure everyone had a home and a job with free healthcare and education.

[@briandelaney9710]

At the cost of many freedoms

[@ProleCenter]

​@@briandelaney9710You could say the same about the capitalist West on the flip side. I guess it depends on your values and class allegances.

[@josephwaters4815]

Yeah, travel and other bourgeois freedoms that workers in the capitalist West couldn't afford. And East Germany likely would have allowed that freedom if the CIA didn't try to recruit every single GDR citizen who traveled to the West. Btw, travel to other socialist countries was permitted.

[@elkigirl123]

Important to remember: when the wall came down and the Stasi state ended the Stasi didn’t disappear. They are still with us. Not a commentary on this channel which is excellent. Just a commentary on some apologists/revisionists. Some people in the free world who don’t remember the reality of totalitarianism are very easily taken in.

[@elkigirl123]

Love your channel and have recommended it widely. But I’ve heard this author in a few interviews and she appears to be a revisionist/propagandist, and reviews have pointed out that it isn’t a scholarly book . Not that there weren’t some actual ideals in the Soviet style system, but it’s important to not whitewash the reality of that system. Couldn’t believe her comment about her version of DDR history being more “rational” or “complete” than the existing historical record !!! which she clearly feels has been dominated by those pesky actual facts that are a matter of public record and those people who are still alive and remember the actual DDR. LOL She disparages the opposition that put their lives on the line for all the freedoms she takes for granted. She even tries to downplay the Stasi surveillance. Highly recommend the Stasi Museum and Archives for facts on this subject for example. Some excellent books include Stasiland by Anna Funder, and The File. Good movies: The Lives of Others, Goodbye Lenin, (Night Crossing is a good family oriented movie.) She mentioned some people entrusting their Stasi files to her for her “research”, did she also publish her family’s Stasi files in the book? Also her strange comments about other Soviet occupied and annexed countries belonging more rightfully to the Soviet Union? LOL It’s really hard to believe someone with one or more degrees in the subject could make any of these comments.

[@alanstrong55]

Life in East Germany had to be downright dreadful. Living under the threat of imprisonment or even death would pull anyone down. The collapse of the GDR did not carry a better economy for the liberated East Germans. They got shorted. Sorry that there was not a replica of the Marshall Plan to provide for fixing the damage down by communism. Putting Honecker out of power was a big start.

[@ProleCenter]

28:10 Why is this funny? The plans for the Empire State Building in NYC were changed 15 times to make sure it was the tallest building in the world.

[@ProleCenter]

Now interview Victor Grossman, if he's still alive.