Germany has been marking the 35th anniversary of reunification between East and West. Over three decades later, stark economic disparities remain, fueling a sense of being left behind for many in the East.

Leipzig

Thirty-five years after German reunification, significant disparities remain between the former East and West. In Leipzig, once home to a major railway crane factory employing thousands, only a fraction of jobs remain, reflecting broader trends of smaller businesses and less political influence in the East. Many successful companies in the region are branches of Western firms, and economic divides persist in wages, wealth, and home ownership.

The legacy of reunification is also seen in property ownership, with most of Leipzig's housing stock now owned by Western buyers, resulting in low local home ownership and profits leaving the city. Social and political gaps endure, with few East Germans in top federal positions and only a minority feeling a sense of national unity. Local groups and political parties are calling for stronger representation and investment to address these ongoing challenges.

Germany: 35 years after reunification, disparities remain

Johannes Rüve was born in 1990, the year of German reunification. Today he runs a rare success story, a company that managed to survive the de-industrialization of the former GDR. The blue crane dates back to before the fall of the wall and the yellow one is a modern version. Before 1990 this railway crane factory in Leipzig employed 3,000 people. Today only 150 remain. In the East, companies are significantly smaller than those in the West. That means East German businesses don't have much influence in politics. And very often, when a company grows in the East, it's a branch of a firm whose headquarters are in West Germany. 35 years on, the economic border between East and West persists. It shows up in wages and in wealth. Back then, East Germany's housing stock was bought up by private buyers and corporations from the West. The result? Today only 13% in Leipzig own their own homes. Roman Grabule and his friends set up a housing cooperative to reclaim their city. The rent Leipzig residents pay doesn't stay in the city. It flows out, making the city poorer. The money isn't reinvested. These profits are spent in Munich's fancy restaurants. A gap between East and West that exists at every level of society. In Leipzig, the radical left party Die Linke is pushing for stronger representation in both business and politics. In the federal ministries, very few top officials are East German. This is a structural deficit and one we need to address. And we'll only succeed if there's genuine political will. 35 years after reunification, unity between East and West remains unfinished business. Only 23% of East Germans feel they belong to one nation.

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