Reunification: Re-Absorbing East Germany After the Fall of the Berlin Wall

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[@megaprojects9649]

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[@acceptablecasualty5319]

Reminder to Link your "Berlin Blockade" Video.

[@unculturedweeb4240]

Margaret Thatcher the milk snatcher.

[@jacobryan4569]

I didn't know that Vsauce enjoyed the sponsorships of Squarespace

[@badluck5647]

North and South Carolina could never have a similar unification. The difference in mustard-based and vinegar-based BBQ sauces is too vast.

[@thebiggianthead8364]

Why anyone would ruin good BBQ sauce with mustard is just beyond me!! Well..., I have to admit that Carolina sauce makes for a great change of pace on a burger sometimes so I guess it isn't so bad. But I just don't understand why anyone would want mustard on their rack of ribs. Regardless, BBQ, worlds best food!!!! Never having been to the Carolina's though I had no idea this was such a contentious issue between the states, but being such an important issue (because BBQ is) I understand. I assume they must have their own jokes about the north vs. the south much like Missouri/Kansas have towards each other.

[@harrietharlow9929]

@@thebiggianthead8364 Uh-oh. This definitely doesn't bode well for unification lol. But hey vive la difference!

[@vrod665]

This unification will never happen. The NC style vinegar bbq is far superior to that SC mustard bbq. Another place where the “great American mixing pot” has big cultural differences.

[@matthewvanburen6415]

The NC SC Cold War has begun.

[@harrietharlow9929]

@@matthewvanburen6415 LOL

[@GexMax]

(West)Berliner born '81 here, I don't remember too much about it to be honest but travelling to our relatives in Southern Germany was always, shall we say interesting. I remember being stuck on the Autobahn for ages and ages waiting to go through the checkpoint on our way back and forth. And how when you made it through after hours and hours in the car you came around a curve and saw the Berlin Radio Tower (not the TV Tower with the Ball) coming up through the trees and felt like "finally, we're getting home". I was living way up north in Berlin back then and there wasn't actually a Wall so much as more of a fence with the death strip and the guard towers behind it with their one-way-windows (@simon that might be a worthwhile episode too: the Inner-German-Border fortifications including Berlin Wall etc) and how we sometimes had fun as kids interacting with them while out with the dog. Sometimes we had a flashlight with us and "morsed" (even though we just flashed at random i'm sure) with them, sometimes they did it back, sometimes you had somebody yell at you through the megaphone. When the Wall fell I remember sitting on the couch with mom and dad while the TV was running and my dad being in tears and me asking mom why dad is crying. He was brought up in the East and fled to South Germany eventually but I'm sure this was incredibly emotional for him - sadly I could never ask him as he died only a few months later. Anyhow, I remember actually visiting the "proper" Wall in the days after and hammering away at it as best I could being 8 years old and all that, actually got a big mason jar of Wall pieces which I had for years but I'm not sure what became of them, either I had eventually thrown them away or they're still all the way in the back of some basement cupboard :) Anyway, this episode brought back a lot of memories and I'd say you did a good job Simon explaining, thank you :)

[@highpath4776]

Thanks for telling of your experiences

[@SevCaswell]

Thank you for sharing, and if you do still have those wall pieces they might have some value, I can remember seeing a pice of the Berlin Wall on the Antiques Roadshow once, and if not of monetary value they would be of educational value.

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

I'm from the US and grew up during the cold War. I too have a piece of the Berlin wall. Mine is a single chunk of cement with some blue spray paint on it. When the wall 'ended' it was like every square inch of it got spray painted on with words, names, graffiti or 'art'. It was a funny thing how many hammers were laying around. People came to the wall to get a part and left the hammers behind. Ya'll Take Care and be safe, John

[@charleswomack2166]

I have been told that the South of Germany is the Texas of Germany- where everything is a lot bigger. At least in Bavaria.

[@markrossow6303]

saw W. + E. Berlin in August 1989 And Inter-German Border fence ~ 1974 +~1978, at Outpost Alpha

[@Aoskar95]

I remember visiting the stasi prison in Berlin. Our guide was a former prisioner and told a story of how after reunification he went to buy cigarettes only for the clerk to be one of the interigators/torturers at the prison. They both recognized each other but just ignored it.

[@rjfaber1991]

This is arguably the biggest megaproject of our day... Imagine the scale required for doing the same with the two Koreas, if that ever happens. Even reuniting Romania and Moldova would be a mammoth task.

[@DefinitelyNotEmma]

Reuniting Korea with that other "country" would ruin us financially

[@rjfaber1991]

@@DefinitelyNotEmma In the short term, definitely. In the long term, you'd see the benefits of a much larger population, much greater natural resource availability and a land border with a major trading partner. Of course we're conveniently forgetting that unless some regime change happens in Beijing, that major trading partner will also be the one country that will fight to the last to keep the north separate, but we'll gloss over that for now. 😂

[@DefinitelyNotEmma]

@@rjfaber1991 Koreas population is big enough and the economy is doing great, the only benefit of the North would be space for more buildings and low wage workers that are not foreign.

[@jessclark2082]

come on man! get your head out of your ass, we're talking about peoples lives here! What the hell do Mammoths have to do with anything!??? lolol jk jk

[@bobfg3130]

@@DefinitelyNotEmma A bigger population is better. There's tonnes more advantages than just space for buildings.

[@Chalky.]

Interesting but we all know it was David Hasselhoff that single-handedly united the east and west.

[@monkeydank7842]

Everyone knows that only Chuck Norris could do this. ;-)

[@Zuemmel]

Mic in one hand, burger in the other

[@davidchicoine6949]

Now he sing for online casino s ...wheel keep spining lol

[@hgicey5274]

Actually it was David Holdfelder

[@waikatowizard1267]

Seeing the berlin wall falling on tv is one of my earliest memories, mostly because of the emotions that came with it. My Opa had died shortly before, and I remember mum being upset that he never got to see it happen (Opa had worked in West Germany in the early 1950's helping to rebuild after the war), and he had always said that the majority of Germans he met after the war were decent people and he knew alot of his workmates whose families were split by the east/west border, made him realise how important family was, and valuing that bond. Makes me feel old joking with my younger friends that I remember communism and the end of the cold war, when most of them were born in the mid 90's, but it really was one of those moments in time where people will remember where they were and how they saw it. Thanks for another great video Simon, seems like my youtube feed is full of your channels these days, you must run on pure caffiene to get all these videos done.

[@TestingPyros]

I remember when the wall fell, as well. It was a bit shocking because my family doesn't watch the news, so while we were aware that Russia was having problems, we weren't aware how complete it was. As far as Simon and his videos, he has a small, but effective, team. Amazing story on this video!

[@ernestpaniagua1210]

I was stationed there and there were great people there I had more German friends then GI's 12/88 1/93

[@barstoolentertainment]

I remember sitting in a geopolitics lecture in Berlin about how reunification would never happen in my lifetime (I was 17 at the time), five years later the wall came down. Now there is a generation of people whom only know Germany was separated into east and west, as a point of history.

[@irispark1381]

I also remember sitting in school learning how north and south reunification will never happen in my lifetime....oh wait....

[@SPLfish88]

Im from east germany and i think this video is very objectiv and factuly correct. You (or your employes) did your research. Well done.

[@Greatblue56]

I remember taking the train from Frankfurt to Hamburg to Berlin. When we crossed the border, everything was covered in grey ash and dust. We rolled through train stations long abandoned. It was surreal coming from pristine West Germany. While in Berlin, we made a trip to the museum which was in East Berlin. I remember there still being rubble and bullet damage all around East Berlin. Lots of soldiers and their funny dome shaped helmets. We stopped at a hamburger stand and had lunch. The burger tasted super funny. It was a relief going back into West Berlin where it was modern and repaired and the food was much better. The experience was an eye opener. When the wall came down, I watched it on TV and I was sooo happy. Later the news started talking about the cost of unification but having seen the division and the differences, I remember thinking that whatever the cost, it was necessary for the people to be whole again. Thank you Simon for this video. 🤗

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:55 - Chapter 1 - A divided nation 4:25 - Chapter 2 - The rise & fall of the wall 6:25 - Mid roll ads 7:55 - Chapter 3 - Early days 9:50 - Chapter 4 - Formal reunification 12:30 - Chapter 5 - Restructuring & reconstruction 14:55 - Chapter 6 - Unified germany today

[@davidhoman3807]

4:15 - “…Soviet’s intention to remain in West Berlin.” I think he meant to say East Berlin.

[@wizzotizzo]

Thank you.

[@davidneufeld26]

My first trip to Europe was the year after the fall of the wall. Berlin was amazing. The energy from Roger Water's performance of "The Wall" six weeks earlier still echoed in the wall's concrete. East Germans literally capitalized on dismantling the wall by selling bits of it to tourists. Or renting hammers and stone chisels for tourists to smash off their own souvenirs. I did my bit and broke off 2kg of graffitied wall, which I lugged around for the remaining weeks of my trip before bringing it home. In the years since, famous Berlin Wall demarcations have been architecturally erased. A shopping mall sprawls where Checkpoint Charlie once loomed.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

I worked on a military base several years ago, and a house there had a Checkpoint Charlie sign in one of the windows. I was by that same house more recently and it was still there, however, it looked like the house was being demoed.

[@davidneufeld26]

@@jed-henrywitkowski6470 The Checkpoint Charlie museum is one of my favorite museums in the world.

[@ritaloy8338]

As someone who has been in Berlin in the Fall of 2005. I saw how East Berlin was building like crazy. West Berlin was very well kept and older. Walking by the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate, Tor in German, and seeing where the Berlin Wall was. It was a great experience to say the least.

[@Alex_Plante]

One very key point that was glossed over, was the acceptance by West Germany of East German Marks at par with Deutschmarks. This was important, because in East Germany, since there were price controls and a shortage of goods, people had no choice but to save their money instead of spending it, and therefore had large savings in East German Marks. By accepting parity, East Germans could go on a spending spree, buying a large amount of consumer goods in the West, but the unfortunate side of parity, is that with the East German Mark at parity with Deutschmarks, there was no way that East German industry could be competitive. Parity is why the East German economy completely collapsed, and why East Germany could not really negotiate the terms of reunification with West Germany. Essentially, West Germany bribed the East Germans into absorption by the West.

[@andrewhrichardson]

I was waiting for him to mention that. A very key point indeed.

[@THall-vi8cp]

Why would the East German Marks being at parity with the West's prevent East German industry from being competitive? Is it because East Germans stopped buying East German goods?

[@Xelianow]

The huge problem emerging from the reunification is that it was not realy a reunification, but more of a buy-up for western investors. Due to the socialist economy system in the east most properties are not in private hand, but belonged to the state. So with the reunification all of that was evaluated to be "worthles" and sold to investors to pay of east germanys debt. The problem here was, that east germans did not have the money to buy anything, while it was pretty cheap for western investors to just buy factories and stuff and just scrap it. So basically half of the industry in eastern germany was sold to western germans, while the other half was scraped entirely. That lead to even higher deindustrialisation than after both world wars - which is kinda impressive considering that the Soviet Union scraped basically everything they could after WWII as reparations... All of that means that nowadays eastern germans usually don't have the financial backup western germans have, they usually don't inherit that much, not one single DAX (german equivalent to the Dow Jones) listed company has its seat in eastern germany, most eastern german politicians are usually western germans and not a single university rector is east german. It became less of a reunification, and more of a eastern extension of western germany as a playground for their already established wealth, structures and connections. That is why quite a lot of (older) eastern germans are not as fund of the reunification or democracy in general^^ They lost their jobs, their few possessions were suddenly almost worthles and they had to compete with the MUCH more efficent and advanced economy and products of the west, which - suprise - did not go well...

[@geoffroyfalot3583]

Very interesting, thanks mate

[@Botato2008]

Yep, it was a cash grab. Pretty much glossed over in this video…

[@benerval7]

I was stationed in Nurnburg during the fall of the wall. That first night we had no idea what was going on. alert status was up...but we were not drawing weapons from the armsrooms yet. Over the following months we saw many East German people around town, on the subways/trains, etc. They were all very nice and excited to see everything. One of my last parties prior to the end of my tour was reunification day. What a wonderful time...but some skinheads had to march right thru the middle of a fest tent. It soured the mood, but the locals just ignored them. Polizei quickly showed up and removed them.

[@richardcheeseman6330]

I was on border patrol in coburg w 2/2 ACR when all this happened. it was crazy seeing people streaming through with everything they could carry packed up on the little Trabant cars....

[@djzrobzombie2813]

You where I the Merrell barracks in nuernberg?

[@DiabloDBS]

I was 3 years old and i still remember the moment the fall of the berlin wall was shown on TV. It was around 19:00 a time at which i would've been already in bed but this day i was allowed to stay in the living room with the TV running and with my father standing in front of it crying out of joy. My 3 year old self, yet unaware of people crying out of joy ran up to my mother and telling her that daddy had hurt himself. He picked me up and explained that people sometimes cry because they are happy and then explained that the next time we would visit my uncle working "in"[1] the salt mountain we wouldn't be stopped by the people with the guns. That was, to this day, the only time i remember ever seeing my father cry, as he usually keeps sad tears to himself and rarely is so overflown with joy that tears manage to slip out. And still remains one of the most vivid memory in from that far back in time. [1] Back then i believed that when they said that my uncle and grandpa worked "underground" to mine salt that they were working inside the salt mountains that are actually just the unused leftovers dumped above the ground.

[@calebkrochalk8286]

This reminds me of a 20th Century US foreign policy class back in college. One of our class activities was a mock Yalta conference. I was assigned to represent the UK. My objectives were to: 1. Stop the USSR delegates from gaining a hold in Germany, 2. Create the UN, 3. Get France a seat at the security council table. I was unable to get the US and USSR delegates to give France a spot, but I convinced the USSR and US players to make a united Germany a protectorate of a newly created United Nations. In my make believe world I united Germany 45 years early. Highlight of my (academic) college career.

[@highpath4776]

Can you solve the Palestine problem ( probably needs a Post WW1 dividing up and a strong League of Nations after 1920 to have done that) .

[@calebkrochalk8286]

@@highpath4776 that's tough. I feel like there were even less nations with the will or even in the position to influence the world after ww1. I honestly think the declaration of Israel as a nation was rushed. It could have waited for more negotiation between the peoples of the area.

[@highpath4776]

@@calebkrochalk8286 I cannot figure out if the aim was deliberate permanent de-stablisation while the US and The UK (mainly) made money on the oil in the rest of the Middle East

[@calebkrochalk8286]

@@highpath4776 I don't think it was so sinister. More just a couple hundred or so years and mismanaging a territory and misunderstanding the deep history of the people who lived there. The Ottomans, Brits, and US all had a hand in that. Then there's hardliners on both sides that have instigated the conflicts we've seen in the 20th and 21st century. I believe the opportunity for the best solution was lost a long time ago because of ignorance and entrenched ideology from leaders.

[@FonicsSuck]

Watching this episode, with my foot on the coffee table. Inside that coffee table are two pieces of the Berlin wall passed down to me from my grandfather. Makes for an interesting connection to the subject matter. 🇩🇪🇨🇦

[@kellenpatton7001]

My family’s from Bavaria and this makes me feel so enlightened about my heritage my father went to the Berlin Wall when it fell down and my grandmother cried seeing her cousins who had been living in east Germany for so long

[@JakeSezz]

The Berlin Wall fell a little more than a month before my 8th birthday. Growing up in an American household where both parents served in the military, I remember asking why it was such a big deal that a wall was being hammered to pieces while people celebrated. It’s remained as my earliest memory of a huge worldwide cultural touchpoint and has certainly played a part in my fascination with history and anthropology. Brilliant video!

[@Beryllahawk]

Wunderbar und vielen Danke - Thank you for such a wonderful video

[@nicholasharitonidis8170]

this is one of the most touching and thoughtful content I have ever seen on youtube bringing a tear to my eye even though im Australian. We are truly lucky to live in such a world that we all can change if there is the desire to do so dispite the pain it may cause us.

[@mingming9604]

When will we ever see this ever in our lifetime for Korea? If that ever happens, a megaproject video is surely deserved!

[@avrahamvidal4255]

I Hope 🤞 To See Korean Reunification Happen In My Lifetime, And For There To Be A Unified Free Democratic Just Korea Under The Present Day South Korean Government

[@KristinaSummersportfolio]

During the late 1980's travel, especially by train was a nightmare. I have vivid memories of being told to get off the train bc it was splitting and as Americans we couldn't stay because it was going to East Germany and we'd be in trouble. The guys had guns... As a kid I couldn't understand the political conflicts but I really enjoyed your video.

[@loafer1989]

Actually, the problem for East Germany began in May when Hungary opened it's border with Austria. East Germans started seeking asylum in Austria and West Germany. I crossed Checkpoint Charlie on July 1st 1989 and walked around East Berlin, boy what a depressing part of the city. Later on I took a bus tour of East Berlin and I went to the Soviet War memorial in Treptow and Museum Island. I saw The Gate Of Ishtar. The outside of the museum still had WW2 bullet holes. I have video and some pictures from the trip. Just a bit over 4 months later, thus was on the way to reunification.

[@DarkZenith]

Simon, I simply want to say Thank You for all the work you put in between MegProjects, side projects (could use a couple side projects for aspects of German reunification, like why did it take 10 years to merge the Berlin rail lines. Also for your other channels, always interesting, and eye opening. Thank you so very much

[@Bubbaist]

South Korea watched the reunification closely. They realized that the cost of reuniting Germany was nickels and dimes compared to reuniting with North Korea, which was about 70 times poorer. These days the South Koreans fear a collapse of the North, which would force reunification, like the plague.

[@irispark1381]

It's a ticking time bomb. Why do you think south Korea spent so much money on "sunshine policy" they thought maybe if their economy improved a little bit by themselves the gap wouldn't be as bad. Well....

[@daveharrison84]

South Koreans businesses could make a ton of money by expanding into the north.

[@yasir0ful]

Hey Man!! I missed you in visualpolitik!! Love the way you explain stuff.

[@christeamhound]

This is the third time this has happened recently, I’ve been wondering something and within a few days you have a video explaining the subject 😇😇😇. Crazy!

[@mgabrysSF]

One of the East Berlin govt buildings was turned into an art project prior to being demolished - where it was flooded and visitors were provided with 'gondola boat ride' tours.

[@HingerlAlois]

France, UK, USA in 1990: You can’t have a strong military! France, UK, USA in 2020: Why don’t you have a strong military? Go spend more money on defense.

[@HingerlAlois]

@@somercet1 The treaty signed in 1990 drastically reduced the size of the German military. In 1990 West Germany alone had half a million active soldiers and a planned combat strength of 1.3 million soldiers by mobilizing 800.000 reservists. More than one million further reservists were available to replace losses etc. East Germany had about 173.000 active soldiers in 1989. The treaty which obviously also the USA signed limits the German military to a maximum of 370.000 (maximum of 345.000 for the army and Air Force), thus it significantly decreased the German troop strength.

[@marcoosvald8429]

As always Simon, You knocked it out of the park. Another great vid brother. Thank You

[@pierremainstone-mitchell8290]

Thank you Simon. A very good summary of a complicated subject. I remember getting the news of the Berlin Wall coming down via an early edition of an afternoon/evening paper here in Melbourne, Australia. At the time I genuinely had doubts whether I would've seen the Wall come down though I hoped that my children would've and I definitely thought my grandchildren would've. And then it was down just like that!

[@Pete4000uk]

It's amazing how things have changed in my lifetime. I remember West/East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, but had never heard of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

[@JohnDoe-jq5wy]

GREAT DETAILS AND INTROSPECTION.... THANK YOU

[@garyleibitzke4166]

I remember watching the news films of the Berlin Wall being built and JFK's speech there. When I saw the live feed of the wall coming down on TV I sat on my couch and shed tears of joy.

[@harrietharlow9929]

Me and my family as well. I wish my uncle from East Berlin would have lived to see that day.

[@thomasnieswandt8805]

While reunification is a very long process, there are also some people who had their own motivation for the reunification. The east german protestant priest and civil rights activist Rainer Epplemann (born 1943 in the 3rd Reich) was ask about his "personal wish within the reunification" and he said "I only have one wish left! I want to keep a clear mind and live until im 93. Because at this point i would have spend more years living in a democracy thn dictatorships"

[@HannesHace]

I suggested this a couple of weeks ago in the comments. Amazing That it actually happened. Very nice Video, as always.

[@twocvbloke]

The mother lived in Berlin in the early 80s for a time (army wife), and while they had plentiful food being supplied cheaply (which she often reminisces about, such as plentiful amounts of cheap beef to the point she was using prime cuts to make basic stews), the difference from going West to East was night and day, the other side of Checkpoint Charlie was just horrible to see apparently, poverty everywhere and children looking thin and amaciated, of course she'd sneak in food and sweets for them (usually hidden in my late brother's pushchair at the time) when visiting, but there was only so much that she could take given that anyone passing though were under the watchful eye of the eastern military and their snipers, not people you'd want to piss off...

[@noth606]

I went to Berlin just after the wall came down, it was quite an odd experience, the west side was broad boulevards and glitzy shops and tbh a bit ostentatious, the east side was all grey, brown and dirty, potholes everywhere and just depressing. Gigantic difference between them, was quite an eyeopener for what communism is like and what it does.

[@harrietharlow9929]

Yes it was. I had family on the East side of the Wall and you're so right (My family lived on Kopenicker Landstrasse near Treptow Park if you are familiar with East Berlin). It was horrible.I remember visiting with my mum and five of our seven suitcases were filled with food for my uncle and his neighbours. I was surprised that they let them go through but they did. I remember seeing bombed.out buildings still in rubble all three times we visited. I remember each Christmas the ritual of going down with my mum to a German store in Detroit to order a Christmas box destined for Ost Berlin. We knew how much that box meant due to the much lower standard of living in the East. It was certainly a whole era, one that is thankfully ended though sadly scars still remain.

[@Neko141212]

@@noth606 ostentatious was probably what they were going for. After all, Berlin was a great place for the West to show off wealth to the Eastern people - the whole Capitalism vs. Communism thing.

[@charleswomack2166]

I went to Berlin in 2016 along with the city of Dresden and the only thing that really seemed quite different was the crossing lights.

[@ernestpaniagua1210]

It was night and day almost like a time warp in contrast to West Berlin I got there a little late 12/88-1/93 had a lot of German friends from both sides of the wall . Went to the east all the time after the wall came down with my friends

[@FCT8306onTwoWheels]

great video and so much history, excellent work Simon. New subscriber

[@mschaefer4656]

I toured Germany as part of an American children's choir the year before the wall came down. An East German tour guide took us through Checkpoint Charlie to the East German side. One of my 11-year old compatriots piped up and asked "Do they still shoot people who try to get over the wall?" The tour guide told us that while they still shoot, "they don't aim at them anymore." I believed that for many years until my future ex-MIL, a Berliner, laughed in my face when I told her the story. On a side note, I went back to Berlin around 2008. My MIL at the time took us to a memorial to the people who had died trying to get over the wall, if you could even call it a memorial. If I remember correctly it was literally just laminated pictures of people with their stories taped to a fence. I hope that there was something more done, and we just didn't know where to find it. Or more has been done since then ...

[@PornopietistgeilimBe]

While a bit late as an answer maybe, but there are a couple of "border" museums along the former inner-german border. And the laminated pictures have been replace with descriptive posts or even movies.

[@hansstromberg5330]

Brilliantly narrated, easy to understand and making me remember the things that happened sooo many years ago. I cannot remember he Berlin blockade, I was only two when it begun, but THE WALL! It struck fear in me in 1961 but eventually it became "normal". Its fall was a revelation, a signal that democracy had a chance even with the Soviets resisting. I visited Berlin, east and west in 1976, and in the east the attitude was "They pretend to pay us, and we pretend to work". Most people I met in "Berlin, die Hauptstatt der DDR" seemed disinterested in providing service to visitors. In 2000 the scenario was quite different: Möcht ich Ihnen helfen?, Can I help you, was the standard opening phrase in shops, hotels and what have you. Of course, the difference between east and west was still stark, as was to be expected, and evidently still is. But once "Ostalgia" has become but a memory, things probably will be all right. A final note: Lovely to hear someone on You Tube speaking educated British English in lieu of the American variant. Soothing to my ears! Hans Strömberg, aged 75, Sweden

[@Nightstalker314]

The finishing conclusion is really well done!

[@Mrgunsngear]

Thanks

[@hateeternalmaver]

What I learned from working with people from many different countries, living here rn, there's a stark difference with the inclination towards more tight-knit communities between Berlin and the rest of Germany. It's so weird because The Wall didn't just divide Germany but also Berlin itself as a city-state so you were seperated from your literal neighbours.... Today I'd say Berlin is much, much more re-united and modernly open to the world ("weltoffen" as we like to say) than Germany itself. This delta gets even higher the more rural you get (and we have *a lot* of rural...^^).

[@MLK_Sold_Black_america_out]

Things like this take time.its only inevitable that it does.hopefully we all learn lessons from this and we better ourselves forwards

[@dools23]

Thanks for doing my suggestion! I met some environmental campaigners from Germany the other week who told me the line between East and West is now a massive nature reserve!

[@cyberfutur5000]

Being german myself, I love those videos, talking about things I'm -so to say- familiar with by default, from an out side perspective. Like your 'how is WW2 told in Germany' or (and this may be my all time favorite youtube video) your Business blaze on the Berlin Airport... It's quiet interesting to hear someone, who isn't bias and or has never heard about this stupid airport (Really if you havn't seen it, go watch it!). I am from west germany, but I lived in former east berlin for some years. For what I've seen, east Berlin came out very lucky, this (east Berlin) is why Berlin has affordable rent, which is the reason, why all the artists and folks can afford a life there. And so on, you get the Idea... But the rest of the East, maybe except the bigger citys like Leipzig or Dresden, especially the rural places have some real trouble with NeoNazis. What Simon said about hard left leaning people, it's the olden folk (and Berlin, that place is all left wing). They are gone soon, the young people there often grow up in poor, hopeless situations and flee into the warm knife of their NeoNazi Kameraden. But as you've said, it's just 30 years. And thos Nazi shitheads are still a minority, but a loud, violent and more than unpleasant one, indeed.

[@highpath4776]

Unfortunately a loud minority in other eastern and western european countries too.

[@DasVideoArchiv]

Hey, former East German here. I can really relate to what you've written, but I'd like to add to the idea of the travesty of the Neue Bundesländer being a hotbed for radical left/right ideologues. Since its ignoring the north/south divide, which I experienced growing up in the north (MV), where the economy recovered way quicker and thus having much more moderate political climate than saxony in southeast germany. Which probably accounts to the driving industries in the regions. Agriculture and Tourism in the north (even though prevalent in the south as well), while heavy industry, chemical plants and coal mining dominated southern regions. All of which using outdated technology thus becoming uncompetetive in a unified germany (especially considering the Strukturwandel of industry being phased out in germany) and thus closing or being merged into west german companies (in effect leaving hundreds of former employees.. well.. unemployed). Causing much higher unemployment rates than in the north and feeding into the cycle you described. And causing many other issues ranging from higher crime rates to higher mistrust of vaccines. Its a really interesting aspect which rarely gets brought up. (Why am I even writing this even in English, Scheiße)

[@highpath4776]

@@DasVideoArchiv I think that most of western europe had an oversupply of technical industry - basically a few workers can now provide the needs of a many. This effectively means that profits need to be socially shared, and the labour allocated out, which brings us back, it seems, to Communism (or unemployment).

[@andersjjensen]

@@DasVideoArchiv Thank you for writing it in English. While I was taught German in school it's "a little rusty" to say the least. And it was an interesting read for sure. I thought I knew German history and politics fairly well (being neighbours sparks a natural curiosity) but there are obviously always new perspectives to find.

[@andersjjensen]

@@highpath4776 Having things socially shared via government regulation does not equal communism. I'd just like to get that out of the way. "Seizing the means of production" and "(tax) regulating an otherwise free and need/opportunity driven market" are the key concepts of communism and social(ized) democracy respectively.

[@therese369]

I had no idea. Ive never even thought about what happened after the wall fell. Such an interesting video, one of the best Ive seen👏👏👏

[@JackDecker63]

Right after the Berlin Wall fell, a high West Germany official came and visited my college (University of Wisconsin - Platteville) and gave a presentation about the fall of the Berlin Wall and what lay ahead. He said it would take a very long time and might never happen. During the Q&A session after his talk, I approached the microphone and said, "You've got to be kidding. You honestly think that once given the chance that West and East Germany won't rush and embrace each other after be forcibly separate for decades?" He said he had his doubts. I thought he was an idiot. Time proved me right.

[@mikeyoung9810]

I think he was being realistic and honest. It's still an ongoing thing that you are taking credit for while labelling someone who lived it and was burdened by it, an idiot. It sometimes helps not having too much information to be burdened by.

[@JackDecker63]

@@mikeyoung9810 No, it was him thinking that humans are rational and will move cautiously when the outcome is uncertain and/or the cost is great. Humans aren't like that and have NEVER been like that. When North Korea eventually falls, North and South will rush to become one again. Damn the cost. Damn the reservations. Damn the intellectuals. A family forcibly divided NEVER cautiously unites. That is reality (a.k.a. realistic) and what would honestly happen.

[@Ilogunde]

@@JackDecker63 As someone who grew up in East Germany (before and after the Reunification), I totally agree with you. This man was an idiot. From the day the Wall got its first cracks and the first major demonstrations went through the East German streets, there was only one possible outcome: reunification. That was what the people wanted! And in a few decades the differences between East and West will hardly play a role anymore. Many young people only see themselves as Germans. Not as "Ossis" or "Wessis". There is still much work to be done before all differences are resolved, but we are well on our way.

[@JackDecker63]

@@Ilogunde I wish you and all Germans a bright future. Keep your eyes on that horizon and do what needs to be done to achieve it. Good luck!

[@knotsochice]

Simon's enunciation is so crisp and perfect, I can comfortably view at 1.5 speed. So learning historical events so much faster. Try it!

[@mho...]

I was Six when the wall fell & ill never forget that day, it was the only time i saw my grandma cry, watching TV!

[@jasoneganis]

Thanks Simon!!

[@WasabiSniffer]

definitely a megaproject of (some of) our lifetimes. makes me wonder how/if a reunified korea would go

[@naphackDT]

Gigaproject...

[@MichaelZieschang]

Wow, what a documention. Very well researched. (Born in the G.D.R. and finished school in untited Germany.)

[@Fizz-Pop]

I can remember seeing the Berlin wall come down on TV when I was a kid. I think a school friend even managed to snag themselves a piece of it somehow. I'm an Englishman and I rather like the Germans. I'm not surprised they are doing better than people thought they would. I've visited their nation a couple times and found them to be pretty cool and friendly.

[@matsv201]

And the SJW teacher crying for the horrible thing that happened, at least in my school.

[@Fizz-Pop]

@@matsv201 I went to school before SJW's and snowflakes was a thing. I left school in '98. We had the net but it was..a learning experience. You needed to know what you wanted and how to get there. Bit like the deep-web today really. Everything beyond 2005-2010 kinda went tits up.

[@matsv201]

@@Fizz-Pop SJW have existed for a long time. I had a SJW teacher between 1987 and 1989. While true they where rare, in about 1991 they exploded in numbers. But really they existed prior. The teacher i had, my sister also had 6 years prior. So they certainly existed. There was probobly quite far between. My teacher had some SJW friends in California, and i'm from Sweden, so that is pretty freaking far. Some day she just dispeard, it turned out she traveled back to California again. Then my sister told me the exact same thing happened when she had here.

[@matsv201]

@@joer8854 sounds like heck of a lot of projecting. How did you get from my teaxher cryed when the wall fell to what i tjink of anything. Dumbass. . Im not even amercian... If you read my poast you would know that.

[@Fizz-Pop]

@MusicMaster1987 Well I love FF8 bro. Not sure what comment you wanted to make? I still have the ps1 Discs, but I play on Steam these days. Send me a msg if you need some old-fart friends ;)

[@amaccama3267]

Guys that was bloody terrific. 👍🤘

[@padawanmage71]

Thanks for this, Simon? I remember watching the news and seeing the wall going down, but I never stopped to think ‘Well, what happens now?’

[@hateeternalmaver]

Oh cool, something I know more than every tiny little detail about because I grew up exactly here during exactly that time... ;D cheers

[@route2070]

This will be a good watch. I have been wondering about this, but not with Germany, but Korea.

[@climeaware4814]

I was in the USAF and was at Travis AFB. I was on a military hot and met a Army Soldier who just came from Germany and witnessed the wall coming down and it was historic!

[@Galadonin]

My grand mother and I often talked about Germany, and it's relation with France (our home country) and in the 70s, most of the people did not want Germany to be a close allie, she feared German domination. Now she still have some reticence about it's place in the EU, she thinks that the union is dominated by Germans, whereas I truly believe that we are stronger together and the close relationship is key to keep our way of live in the future. So the destruction of the wall gave more, the birth of my generation as children of the unified Europe, and we are proud to stand with Germany whatever happens

[@danicalifornia505]

Would you do a video on the reunification of Vietnam?

[@tempest411]

I remember watching this unfold on CNN. One of the strangest stories that comes to mind was a drag race held at a East German air base with various cars, including some 60s-70s vintage American 'muscle' cars racing East German Mig-29s down the runway. Security for the event was handled by the West German chapter of the Hell's Angels motorcycle gang. This is no joke...I'm sure CNN has it in their archives somewhere...I also remember seeing a particular girl I'd had a HUGE crush on all through high school. While talking with her on the phone one day I mentioned I'd been watching the news of Germany's reunification, and asked her if she realized what an amazing things this was, that it was a momentous time in history. She said she didn't care at all, at which time I was sure this was never going to work out.

[@ballistics343]

Just watched the Maginot Line video and it made me think that the DMZ would be a great megaproject subject if it hasn't already happened

[@paulrouth5997]

'circling the drain'; love it. 11:23

[@GoodVideos4]

It was in August, not December, 1961 that the Berlin Wall was constructed - more specifically the night of the 12 - 13 August.

[@AeroGuy07]

My brother's best friend was in the USAF and was stationed near Berlin when the wall came down. He went to experience what was happening and said it was the most powerful moment he'd seen/heard/witnessed. He brought a piece of the wall home with him and gave it to my dad.

[@rickj6348]

At 9:48 there is a panning shot of the Brandenburg Gates. If you look at the bottom of the shot, there is a double row of bricks on the ground...that is where the wall once stood. During my visit to Berlin, I had no idea what this was until someone pointed it out...and there there I was, a tourist standing in the middle of the road, almost in that exact spot staring at what was once The Wall.

[@nickandersson4165]

There were some technical achievements in the GDR that lagged behind their counterparts in the West, but were still impressive in their own right. For example, the only sports car built in the GDR (Melkus RS 1000). The first German jet airliner (Baade 152) was also developed in the GDR, although only three prototypes were built and never went into production due to a lack of operators. Finally, there was the 1-Mbit DRAM microchip (U61000), which was manufactured in the GDR and used in computers such as the K 1820, the K 1840 and the EC 1835. It can be said that the GDR was technologically far ahead of the other Warsaw Pact countries at this time.

[@Styxswimmer]

Yes. I heard somewhere that East Germany was the Eastern Bloc's showcase state while Romania was the worst and poorest. Romania was absolutely miserable under Nicholai. It's very sad that East germany was their "show model" despite the economy being about 1/4 the size of west Germany.

[@williamjones7163]

I remember watching Tom Brokaw describing the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989. I actually cried thinking I would never see this in my lifetime. I visited West Germany in 1985.

[@michaelmckinnon7314]

Germany is the only country where you can still hear Cold War Era insults, that said Germany had a mix of Russian aircraft and American and British designs in service when reunited

[@hiigara1]

Go figure he forgets the link to the other video. Never change Simon 😆

[@jamesoverholt878]

I'm shocked you didn't mention the actual event that marked the beginning of reunionification. That of course being David Hasselhoff singing, "Looking for freedom, " at the Wall.

[@BeansShadow999]

I swear, everytime I watch one of his videos I learn of a new channel he has. Haha

[@harrietharlow9929]

I had cousins living in East Berlin. I can remember very clearly going through Checkpoint Charlie from West to East when young and how my mum cried with happiness when she saw video of the Wall being torn down. I still cry myself when seeing video again. I can remember flying down the air corridor into Berlin. My family lived about three blocks from Treptow Park and a couple of years ago I saw pictures of it since reunification and it looks much the same yet different since I was young. My uncle died a few months before the Wall was torn down and I know he would have been very happy to see that happen. Mum's side of the family are Berliners so to some extent I was raised as one right down to the German I spoke when young being Berliner German. Simon is so right about the differences being so stark between East and West. It was like day and night. On the West side it was a modern city with bright lights but when we crossed to the East, it was largely dark with little traffic even in early evening hours; this was true even in Alexanderplatz. I would love to visit reunified Berlin and see a free East Berlin for myself. I think Germany has learned the lessons of WW II and I wish her people well. Well done overview, Simon. Thank you so much for this episode!

[@milk-it]

Great video, Simon. I lived in Berlin and I studied the history and reunification of Germany at university. There's a lot to cram in over 20 minutes, but I think you and your team have recapped this well. I would add, that the resolve of the East German people, as demonstrated through the Montagsdemonstrationen, demonstrated the iron will of the East Germans to stand up for their rights, which became a social catalyst for reunification.

[@pottyputter05]

Idk what channel , or if you've already covered it, but a similar story topic is Italy post war as its not widely covered for obvious reasons

[@shivvashishthabhargava4600]

Brilliant! As always. :)

[@HomesteadDreaming]

Fascinating. I'm half German. Born in Germany during this time (1988). My mom grew up during this entire time of division. My grandparents grew up during the wars. Yet bc I grew up in the states, I learned all of 0% of this in school.

[@frasermackenzie7275]

Yeah education books truly need to be rewritten so that people know what actually happened

[@ArmchairMagpie]

The video hints that West German education was higher than in the East. This couldn't be far more away from truth. The East German one was based on a unified approach and although it was quite heavily impregnated by ideology, pupils were measured much higher by their achievements and performance, to the point that each class had to endure public shaming if they lagged. Grades were published on paper wall, and we had only five grades available. Achieving the two higher grades took more effort than it takes today. In addition, at least on my school, there were quite heavy disciplinary measures dished out to those who didn't live up to behavioral standards. Anyway, the reunification brought a quick boom for some region, like the one around Eisenach where I lived before, while others lagged by quite a lot, to the point of regions becoming absolutely deserted due to emigration to the West but also because some communes were inexperienced when dealing with public offers, so they often took overpriced or overdimensioned deals which turned out either to be foul or come with great debts. Also, some regions hinged on one big employer who got sold out later for one symbolic Deutschmark for huge promises only to be relocated elsewhere, or have its patents grabbed and the whole compound torn down later. Moreover, a few other tidbits, since I could fill books with life pre- and post-reunification, the Stasi didn't lose any influence for another ten years at least. A few high-ranking party officials, police and Stasi officers maintained informal relationships which they used in issues they had a personal interest, corruption, coercion and blackmailing were the norm. The ruling party still paid large handouts before the monetary deal between the East and West, and guess what, they didn't come out poor and used that again for things that ordinary people couldn't afford. Justice for Stasi victims also came late, my grand uncle who spent years as a political prisoner in a Bautzen prison, got lucky, but many did not. On a sidenote: It is said, that one reason why France agreed was that the West German officials promised to cooperate with France's plans to introduce a unified European currency system one day.

[@jojo-pk]

As someone who doesn't live in Germany but nearby and has had a lot of work colleagues from east and west Germany: The two most remarkable things that stand out about East Germans is the rate of highly educated engineers and the number of women among those engineers. As a woman in very male dominated engineering jobs I've experienced my share of sexism but never coming from East Germans.

[@lhaviland8602]

@@jojo-pk Almost like this video doesn't give the whole story and portrays East and West in as negative and positive a light as possible. Hmmmm, maybe there's much more you aren't being told.

[@jojo-pk]

@@lhaviland8602 actually I think the video is pretty accurate. What do you mean by what "I'm not being told"? Do you think I got my history education on TV? Or KZbin? I'm old enough to remember the Soviet Union. I grew up not far from where the iron curtain used to be. Of course nuance and background information gets lost when you try to pack half a century in a 15 minute video. Not terribly surprising. But all in all it's not bad.

[@thestrum71]

Anyone seeing this should take the opportunity to go and visit Berlin. Althoug some differences remain they're mostly in balance with eachother. There's a real 'in the middle' experience going on when visiting that city. Like what you'ld get from going to NY, but in Germany....

[@paulyb7267]

How did people in Europe (particularly in Britain, France, and USSR) react on the day that Germany reunited (especially given that Germany had won the World Cup that same year)? Also, how did World War veterans (both Allied and German) react when Germany was reunited?

[@thoorwulfn9z383]

can only speak for the German veterans: Thank you for meeting with me Herr Scharf, it is a pleasure to meet a Knight's Cross winner. Can I start by asking how you feel about German re-unification? Heinz: Yes my new found friend. It is a good time to be alive and to be a German. Something we have yearned for going on 40 years now has happened. Gone are the Russians and their rule over us by the puppets of Moscow. So there you are, only the most dedicated communists are sad. Can I ask how the East German government viewed the former soldiers of the Wehrmacht? Heinz: It was with indifference I would say, much so like the west, as we have discussed. The former soldiers of the Wehrmacht have been shamed since the end of the war. Many have just retreated and dedicated ourselves to living in peace; we have seen enough war and hate. Did they honor any national days for former soldiers? Heinz: Oh heavens no, that was only saved for the Soviet dead. Some in the east did secretly honor our fallen on the old heroes' Remembrance Day but it was much frowned on to do so. Only our former enemies could be remembered and honored. Any mention of Soviet crimes like the rape of Berlin was forbidden. What happened to all the old party faithful and defenders of Hitler in the east? Heinz: Well if you did not keep your mouth shut or get away I am afraid their fate was not enviable. We heard stories about the Soviets rounding up anyone who was even suspected of party loyalty. They were never seen again. It was quietly said that about a quarter of the East Germans disappeared. I can say I believe that, and even though many did flee to the west and beyond, many did not get out and were taken away. Whole families disappeared into the abyss, the children were taken to Russia and given to communist families to raise as good Marxists. I know first hand a family here who had a child taken and the mother sent to a camp for hiding a copy of Mein Kampf and other forbidden books. This story is one of many I am afraid to say. The vengeance that the Russians brought on Germany was severe and some of it is just starting to come out. However whenever someone wants to point out the crimes of the Russians, which are vast, we have people who come out claiming German crimes were far worse. You can't argue with them I should remind you, it is unlawful even now with the new laws. When a survivor wrote a book about the mass rapes committed by the Russians, not just in Berlin, but all over the east, someone attacker her. They pointed out that the only reason the Russians resorted to these terrible acts was because we did the same thing to them. This is nonsense and a lie. I see it as blaming the victim for the crime saying they asked for it. I reject that and think it is a childish argument. If it was wrong when German forces supposedly did it, then it is likewise wrong when the Russians do. People see this too, they just know to keep their mouth shut or they get trouble from the police, media, or communists. I heard all about these crimes after the war, and met people who went through it. My wife lost her best friend who was raped by those animals and then taken away to a camp after she reported it. There are numerous stories like this, but you never hear of them. But let me rest, I am sorry, you came to talk about the east not my politics. I am sorry. Oh no, you are fine, I actually like to hear about these experiences and what people recall. What do you think of Honecker and Kohl [East German and West German leaders]; did they do anything to defend Germans from Allied retribution? Heinz: So Honecker certainly did not, he liked to take credit for working with the Soviets early on to bring the prisoners home after 10 years of mistreatment. He was an old communist who pretended to help the people, yet lived a life of luxury as so many in the party did. They mocked the Goebbels, Görings, and Leys as being fat cats who fed off the people and enriched themselves, but they did the exact same thing. They thought the people would not notice or see, but they did. There were strikes and riots due to this at times, with many getting shot down or taken away. Honecker did nothing to help the German people; he was only a servant of Moscow and did their bidding. I do not think you could expect any less, we were a conquered people in both east and west. Kohl I believe did a little more in regards to reconciliation and understanding. This visit of your president Reagan was a step forward in that regards. There was outrage by the Jews here and those who want to paint the picture of mass German guilt. I was never in the SS and there was always a sense of animosity towards them at the time, but they were good soldiers. For a sitting American president to lay a wreath in their honor is huge for us, it shows a semblance of respect. I think that's really all any of us former solders have asked for. We did our duty for our nation in a time of war, many not having a choice. For us to be labeled as criminals and scoundrels is wrong. Kohl was there in the war so he knows what it was like, and I believe I have read that his wife was one of the countless who were raped by the Soviets. He has to be careful in what he says, but I think he knows the truth. There has been more progress in the west regarding the honor of our war service and fallen. (so pretty positive but with some obvious disappointment)

[@Cryodrake]

This was a great video simon, two sides fusing together to become one. You know what elses fuses together? *snaps finger guns* that's right the ITER fusion reactor which I think you should cover.

[@user-ce8nl5xb5y]

In 1990 I was in what was East Germany. On the day after the D Mk arrived I went shopping. Sadly some nice well made East German children,s clothes were thrown onto the floor by sales staff. Nobody wanted GDR products but I bought a number of items which the children thought were great. It was sad that East German consumers deserted all East German products quite regardless of their value and this was a key cause as to why the Economy in the East went into such a down swing after 1990.

[@revngr7874]

my suggestion got made into a video lets gooooooooo

[@markborn5293]

Funnily enough, the best parts of Berlin to visit are all in the former Eastern section of the city (unless you like that large shop).

[@claudehall7889]

A close member of my wife's family was from West Germany and was still living there when the wall fell. She said she fully supported reunification and was even understanding when the government took money out of every West Germans bank account and gave it to the people from the East but after a year she said told everyone to build back the wall and make it 3 foot higher. She said they had a "you owe me attitude" while being ungrateful for them not fighting the government over taking their personal money instead of the government printing cash like we are now. She also said they never heard about skinheads until the wall came down and she always says don't get me started on their cars how you smell them before you see them. Some might not like her opinion but I find it interesting to hear a unvarnished opinion from a viewpoint I'll never have.

[@andersjjensen]

This is what a cultural clash looks like... This is what it looks like when you take an idea from your own head and watch it get met with disdain/suspicion/protest in the minds of people who have a world view you cannot even begin to comprehend. The reaction/mechanism is, apparently, completely normal in humans.... And probably the cause of every major conflict in history.

[@michaeladolph7134]

Greetings from eastern Germany.... There are still so many differences between the east and west.... As example hospital salaries... I owe much less in a eastern german hospital then my friends at a western hospital. Because ppl keep saying cost of living is cheaper in eastern germany (which isn't).....

[@krystalbrooks6869]

Before covid, I worked for a German company, Lufthansa. I love hearing about how different it is here for them.

[@turboaviation1307]

Pls make a Vedio on MIG-1.44 PROJECT

[@ArcaneCannonChey]

Simon: It was like changing teams midway through a match. Italy: ...

[@dwchen1]

Megaprojects on modernisation of China since 1978 would be a nice topic to cover.

[@nicolek4076]

Simon misses the point that much of the development activity in Berlin following the fall of the Wall was caused by moving the capital from Bonn to Berlin.

[@--_--IMP--_--]

He didn't miss that point. He specifically mentioned that much of that development was new government buildings and embassies and housing for government employees and such.

[@zebedep]

Interesting video.

[@johnmorey8107]

Yes when comparing the two you can definitely paint like that.

[@hebneh]

I have read that the government in South Korea has studied the German reunification very thoroughly as a guide for what they will probably go through some day when North Korea finally collapses. I think that situation will be much more dire, however, since North Korea is so much worse off economically, to where there are regular famines.

[@charleswomack2166]

When I went to Eastern Germany in 2016(Berlin & Dresden) the only real difference that I could see was the crossing lights in Dresden. They are of a German goosestepping when it is your turn to cross the street!

[@marconiemeyer4754]

Another great video, Simon 👍🏻 I lived 25 km away from the iron wall when it came down at the age of 15. Remember it all very well. I was simply lucky to be born in West Germany (with Star Wars, Levi’s 501, coke and Top Gun 😉

[@highpath4776]

We always got as Stamp Collectors in the UK cheap packs of world stamps, most came from East Germany and other USSR etc states - I assume they sold them cheap for western currency !