Victor Sebestyen

The GDR was not the Stasiland of grey monotony we imagine

Katja Hoyer evokes the tears and anger – but also the laughter and pride, as citizens raised their children, went on holidays and joked about their politicians

A young boy plays at being a member of the Volkspolizei, the GDR’s police force, East Berlin, 1961. [Getty Images]
  • Comments

  • Beyond the Wall: East Germany 1949-1990

    Katja Hoyer

    Allen Lane, pp. 465, £25

Already a subscriber? Log in

This article is for subscribers only

Subscribe today to get 3 months' delivery of the magazine, as well as online and app access, for only £3.

  • Weekly delivery of the magazine
  • Unlimited access to our website and app
  • Enjoy Spectator newsletters and podcasts
  • Explore our online archive, going back to 1828

Read next

Trending

Steerpike

Transport Secretary caught in £1bn ferries row

Steerpike
Back to Labourland, where there’s more trouble afoot. It emerged today that some rather careless comments made by a Cabinet Minister have cost the government an, er, one billion-pound investment deal. Ouch. Transport Secretary Louise Haigh delivered some stinging remarks this week about P&O Ferries, after it emerged that the company had let go hundreds

Also in Book Reviews

Also by Victor Sebestyen

Latest

Comments

Join the debate for just £1 a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in