West and East Germany never unify

There were attempts to create a unique East German identity, although this was based more on Socialist ideology than on actual regionalism - hence why it disappeared so quickly after the fall of Socialism in Germany. Without that anchor, the East German national identity had little left to sustain it. It had been Socialism that mostly set them apart from their Western neighbor, but a stronger GDR would have been able to inspire more confidence and patriotism amongst its population. For example, Austria. "Austrian" culture really does not start until the early 20th century, but they have managed to remain independent from Germany proper.

If the East German government wants to forge a distinct East German identity to the population, I think they will use Prussian culture and identity (though I know that's so ridiculous, actually). Either with or without socialism.

I sensed that they'll use the Prussian identity in the mid-1970s, IF they're also serious of reforming the economy and opening it up (though limited) to the West. (but first, more reformists and nationalists in the East German government and second, contain the wrath of Kremlin).
 
If the East German government wants to forge a distinct East German identity to the population, I think they will use Prussian culture and identity (though I know that's so ridiculous, actually). Either with or without socialism.

Even though Prussia has been divided between Poland and Russia.
 
How would the lack of the unification affect west Germany? Would it be economicly stronger or not?

About that building an identity via the prussian past, I remember that in the 1980s or so the DDR approached the head of the Hohenzollern about returning the coffins of Friedrich Wilhelm I and Friedrich II to Potsdam. Louis Ferdinand however said that that would only happen after Germany is reunited.
 
How would the lack of the unification affect west Germany? Would it be economicly stronger or not?

Stronger in the short run, unless the GDR troubles start to cost the West. Also, it is well possible that the problems of the 1990s (currency overvalued, increasing real wages, a general tendency of laurel-resting) might develop further under the guise of a nominally richer Federal Republic until it leads to far more serious malaise further down the road.

But a lot depends on the rest of the world: does Western Europe unite? Will the ECU be introduced as new currency? Rise of China? Degree of globalization?

About that building an identity via the prussian past, I remember that in the 1980s or so the DDR approached the head of the Hohenzollern about returning the coffins of Friedrich Wilhelm I and Friedrich II to Potsdam. Louis Ferdinand however said that that would only happen after Germany is reunited.

The Prussian past, that was very much facade, if at all. The GDR and Prussia (rather the Prussian idealized image) had too little in common, IMHO, for that to succeed. Also, a good deal of the GDR-citizens were Saxons, which looked back to a distinctly Non-Prussian identity.
 

ingemann

Banned
If the East German government wants to forge a distinct East German identity to the population, I think they will use Prussian culture and identity (though I know that's so ridiculous, actually). Either with or without socialism.

Around 50% of the East German population lived in areas which have never been under Prussian rule. It would more or less if a forced union of Canada, New York and New England decided to build a identity on Canadianess.

The only thing East Germany had in common was that their ancestors was Saxons or had been under duchies named after Saxony and that they were Lutherans. So rename Saxony Obersaxen (Upper Saxony) and change GDR's name to the Democratic Republic of Saxonyand do it at least a before 1980 and better yet before 1970. That would be only way to build a alternative national identity.
 
Around 50% of the East German population lived in areas which have never been under Prussian rule. It would more or less if a forced union of Canada, New York and New England decided to build a identity on Canadianess.

The only thing East Germany had in common was that their ancestors was Saxons or had been under duchies named after Saxony and that they were Lutherans. So rename Saxony Obersaxen (Upper Saxony) and change GDR's name to the Democratic Republic of Saxonyand do it at least a before 1980 and better yet before 1970. That would be only way to build a alternative national identity.

This, but it's going to be easier if the Communists have control over the entirety of Berlin.
 
The only thing East Germany had in common was that their ancestors was Saxons or had been under duchies named after Saxony and that they were Lutherans. So rename Saxony Obersaxen (Upper Saxony) and change GDR's name to the Democratic Republic of Saxonyand do it at least a before 1980 and better yet before 1970. That would be only way to build a alternative national identity.

That is just the same thing as Prussia the other way round. Anybody in and around Berlin would find it hard to identify as Saxon.
Especially Ulbricht's accent didn't help it; since then, the Saxon dialect was, AFAIK, identified as "the language of the system" outside of Saxony.

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For a partition of Germany with a distinct identity, so the "smaller bit" might survive, one needs to start with a less arbitrary partition. Make Bavaria the Soviet Zone and they might end up as a second Austria (which has been thoroughly cured of the Anschluss idea). Or OTOH, make the GDR more Prussian by giving Saxony to Poland and add Pomerania and Eastern Brandenburg to the GDR.

But that would go against the strategical interest of 1,2,3,4 of the Allied powers.
 
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