of germany is such a stable and secure country i think it's amazing when you look back at german history over 100 years germany went through from a monarchy to a failed democracy to a dictatorship to a communists system to a successful democracy inventor unifications a reinvention as the real headline for german history regardless of the differences we unify germany is often seen as an example of a stable and democratic country. i'm joined now by florentine schmidt mann historian from the like need center for contemporary history in parts of them germany she's a specialist on communist east germany as well it's nice to have you here on the set and let me start by asking you this what significance does you we unification have for younger germans today. i think that the younger generation takes the

reunification for granted so it's simply not possible to imagine this division for 40 years and so i think reunification is. a celebration to do but it's nothing that. really impacts us it's you always have to imagine how could it have been 2 to 2 knocks be able to maybe study in eastern germany or to live in west germany so it's always a big part of imagination i suppose you could argue the young germans are not unlike young people in any country in that regard i suppose 30 years after the event would you say that the east in the west or on equal footing in other words would you say that they've been able to realise equality. well in terms of equal pay and. like. job i

think it's not it's not the same you can still really you have the difference between west and east if you're for example the public sector. but on the other hand i think that especially young the young generation has the same chances so i think yes in a way it is and we still have a little bit to go to really make it equal to equal pay but i think we're on a good good way to go would you say that there's some resentment still however on the part of these germans. sure sure and also on the point of west germans i mean it's 40 years this is not not a very short time and it's a it's a whole generation maybe even 2 generations of people and those people are still working and now most of them. they're going to be retired one day and but they didn't have a lot in common i mean now for me now it's clear that they are germans both but

a long time it was and was not it was different it was 2 states co-existing in. everyday life obviously for the typical east german radically transformed after reunification but i'm curious about how west germans perceive this is sort milestone. that's an interesting point because i think that people in west germany you really have to. to make a difference if they were in contact with german people for example if they had relatives they. maybe they they went on a regular basis there to visit with family and they really had understanding of how life in the g.r. is but if you didn't have any contact with those people most of the west germans were not really interested so i think reunification for most of the people came

very very surprising and as well we have the solidarity tax so there are some points where people say ah well money goes to the east so it's a lot of. like just some thoughts that are not really. on the mind with with with substance it's just something that you heard of and there are even people that have a visit to germany say place even though it's beautiful yeah so i think. you made it very clearly florentine schmidt it's a pleasure to have you with us thanks so much. one of the most serious but less visible challenges now facing germany's east is d. population young qualified people have been leaving the region in droves to seek

their futures in west german cities or father feel it's a key reason why even after 30 years of stimulus payments totaling well over a trillion euros the region still remains economically far behind the old west germany visited one town that's been grappling with an exodus of much of its female population with surprising results. a small town in an idyllic lakeside setting pen kuhn in the far north east is marking the 30th anniversary of the end of communist east germany or not term of the 3rd public holiday either before and it's something to celebrate i'm glad i experienced it then and that i can live like i do today things are much better now ph. d. w. last reported from paying khun 13 years ago at that time young women were leading the d. population of the region leaving the older men behind the women always wanted to

move west. or hamburg someone like that. definitely going yes i'm out of here. it's rubbish here. in the whole of the northeast seemed then to be in terminal decline to date appears at 1st that most of the residents are still men but in fact there are young women with children living here as well the mass says there's no more talk of the town dying on its feet. what is it and as always you know how many things have changed young families are moving here from berlin and the stettin area. some of polish families bringing a breath of fresh air to our town or. life in pen can began to improve in 2007 when the border opened between poland and germany paying khun is not far from the polish city of state teen

a lot has changed since then the school was on the verge of closing but is now thriving thanks to its polish pupils. new homes are being built and more are planned people can also grow old here young people are moving to paying khun to work as carers in this retirement home as investee guides we need staff both in the care home and to support the family has so we are so glad that young families are buying property and having houses built there coming back to our region here and once a week you want so we can. not everything in pink or in is perfect ironically a building called unity house is an i saw it will soon be converted into a medical center other buildings are empty the last 2 shops in the market square have closed and you won't find anything to eat and drink but paying coon is not on its last legs there are just as many women as men again here and their numbers are

growing. see you get so quick yeah i'm moving back to my hometown why now it's absolutely great you only realize how nice it is here once you move away. there celebrating german reunification 30 years on i'm not shedding any tears for the end of communist east germany. so what did german reunification mean for the rest of the world we've asked it to abuse global correspondents how this is stored event is viewed in the countries they're covering it was here in this moscow hotel that the bolts were to finally end in 1990 the leaders of both germany's west and east along side the usa great britain france and the soviet union signed an agreement that established a central europe border once and for all paving the way for german reunification it

was to be known as of the 2 blasts for agreement that the records of that momentous day even tell us that after the high diplomacy was over the leaders began the banquet with a festive partridge soup. margaret thatcher wanted to prevent german reunification at all costs the former british prime minister believed a united germany would become too powerful well her efforts failed and the rest is history these days britons look with admiration at germany they're asking themselves how germany handled the cold at 10 demick so much better and how they can learn from their neighbor on the continent. at the time some israelis were concerned at the thought of a reunited germany dominating once again the center of europe in light of the memories of the holocaust others said there was nothing to fear from a reunited germany. the fall of the iron curtain opened the borders and allowed

jews people from eastern europe and russia to immigrate to israel in the years after reunification israel and germany became close on many levels they do have to differences when it comes to the israeli palestinian conflict their relations are often described as a special relationship between both countries. here in brussels how does the european union this piece of the berlin wall is a reminder for turning point in german and european history 30 years on a reunified germany has bolstered his position as a driving force in the european union but some member states are critical of germany's dominance at a time when the e.u. is facing some of its biggest challenges migration the corona pandemic and backs it . german reunification is widely viewed as a success here in south korea and for some an inspiration for those that pursue engagement with the north former president kim dae jiang made his birdland

declaration to reach out to north korea resulting in the 1st enter korean summit in 2000 and current president mungy and also chose burley in to lay out his peace strategy toward north korea resulting in a series of summits the reduced tension in the region i'm here in washington d.c. at the 2nd world war memorial many american soldiers if their lives to fight nazi germany thousands of g.i. sue served investor money became ambassadors of what we used to know as the transatlantic relationship but the reliability of this partnership has changed dramatically under the current government the narrative of president trump the german who doesn't pay its fair share it's terminating the discourse american 1st means for many to get out of not to lead our commitments and promote a very nationalistic foreign policy. and

a reminder of our top story u.s. president donald trump is being treated at a military hospital after testing positive for code 19 his doctor says he's doing very well and his team has started therapy with the antiviral drug rep desa via. you all caught up on d w i'm like a local here in berlin up next is our show check in pottstown sturdy years since german reunification we'll see you for more news at the top of the out.

the. prussians kings used to come here to chill. out stuff as being themes of restoring the town is really looking its best. is germany's reunification konstam hasn't aged and it's quite the contrary. a day full of beautiful palaces history

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