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Ostalgie is a German term (the English equivalent would be eastalgia) referring to nostalgia for life in the former East Germany. It is a portmanteau of the German words Ost (east) and Nostalgie (nostalgia).

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, and German reunification in the following year, most reminders of the old socialist regime were swept away as former citizens of the German Democratic Republic rushed to embrace their newfound political and economic freedoms. However, with the passing of time many East Germans missed certain aspects of their old lives. Ostalgie particularly refers to everyday parts of life in the former GDR that disappeared after reunification, overwhelmed by capitalism and Western culture.

Many businesses in Germany cater to those who feel Ostalgie. Now available are obsolete brands of East German foodstuffs, old state television programmes on video and DVD, and the previously widespread Wartburg and Trabant cars. Even though everyday life in the GDR was almost a taboo subject, it has now become the subject of several films, including Wolfgang Becker's internationally-successful Good bye, Lenin! (2003), Leander Haußmann's Sonnenallee (1999), and Carsten Fiebeler's Kleinruppin forever (2004).

The term Ostalgie is occasionally used to refer to nostalgia for life under the socialist system in other former communist countries of Eastern Europe, most notably Poland.

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 After the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]] in [[1989]], and [[German reunification]] in the following year, most reminders of the old [[socialism|socialist]] regime were swept away as former citizens of the [[German Democratic Republic]] rushed to embrace their newfound political and economic freedoms. However, with the passing of time many East Germans missed certain aspects of their old lives. ''Ostalgie'' particularly refers to everyday parts of life in the former GDR that disappeared after reunification, overwhelmed by [[capitalism]] and [[Western culture]].
-Many businesses in [[Germany]] cater to those suffering from ''Ostalgie''. Now available are obsolete brands of East German foodstuffs, old state television programmes on [[video]] and [[DVD]], and the previously widespread [[Wartburg]] and [[Trabant]] cars. Even though everyday life in the GDR was almost a taboo subject, it has now become the subject of several films, including [[Wolfgang Becker]]'s internationally-successful ''[[Good bye, Lenin!]]'' (2003), [[Leander Haußmann]]'s ''[[Sonnenallee]]'' (1999), and [[Carsten Fiebeler]]'s ''[[Kleinruppin forever]]'' (2004).
+Many businesses in [[Germany]] cater to those who feel ''Ostalgie''. Now available are obsolete brands of East German foodstuffs, old state television programmes on [[video]] and [[DVD]], and the previously widespread [[Wartburg]] and [[Trabant]] cars. Even though everyday life in the GDR was almost a taboo subject, it has now become the subject of several films, including [[Wolfgang Becker]]'s internationally-successful ''[[Good bye, Lenin!]]'' (2003), [[Leander Haußmann]]'s ''[[Sonnenallee]]'' (1999), and [[Carsten Fiebeler]]'s ''[[Kleinruppin forever]]'' (2004).
 The term ''Ostalgie'' is occasionally used to refer to nostalgia for life under the socialist system in other former communist countries of [[Eastern Europe]], most notably [[Poland]].

Revision as of 00:31, 26 June 2006

See also