Umkämpfte Zone

Where does the great anger in the East come from? Xenophobia and hatred towards "the state": Are we losing East Germany? This book seeks answers to the reasons behind radicalization without catering to the currently dominant victim narrative since 1989. It tells of the silence imposed after the end of the Nazi era, the distortion of history in the GDR, and the political redefinitions following German reunification. Repression and denial shape society even in private life, as the author impressively illustrates through her own family history.

"A truly magnificent book. Not a word too many, and every single sentence hits the mark. One of the most important books of the year." Markus Lanz, ZDF - Markus Lanz, April 11, 2019

Since 2015, the political coordinates of our country have changed significantly – especially in East Germany. What has enabled the widespread support for Pegida, AfD, and far-right ideologies? Ines Geipel traces the political myths of the newly founded GDR state, its imposed silences, lies, and its system of fear that harshly attacked anything ideologically inappropriate. Serious coming to terms with the past could not take place under these circumstances. Instead, a targeted policy of forgetting became effective, which was also reflected in families – paradigmatically visible in the author's family history.

Together with her brother, whom she accompanied in his final weeks, Ines Geipel descends into the "crypt of the family." The repressed and denied within the family corresponds with the collective loss of memory. The traces lead to our national crisis in Germany.

"The book 'Contested Zone' impressed me greatly – through the abundance of insightful observations and sharp analyses [...]. In particular, I find the discussion of the Buchenwald myth, the AfD, and the blockade of the East German path to a responsible society to be spot on. And how right Ines Geipel is: '50 years.