The Challenges of a Christian East German Childhood (344)

Cold War Conversations

Tilo offers an engaging and personal account of growing up in East Berlin before the fall of the Berlin Wall. He begins by describing his early childhood in a rundown building in Prenzlauer Berg before moving to a new prefab neighbourhood in Lichtenberg.

Tilo’s grandfather on his mother’s side was a pastor in the Lutheran church and second in command to a Bishop at the end of his career. His grandfather on his father’s side had been a teacher and had joined the Nazi party After the World War Two he was banned from working.

Tilo’s family faced educational and career limitations due to their religious and political background compounded by the pervasive influence of the Stasi and party loyalty in determining one’s future.

Tilo also recounts experiences of attending school with a strong military and ideological indoctrination, including paramilitary training and pressure to join the National People's Army (NVA). Despite these challenges, he describes a vibrant underground punk scene and moments of resistance against the regime.

The story reflects on the significant socio-political changes during Tilo’s adolescence, including the impact of Chernobyl, the introduction of Glasnost, and the unexpected persistence of Nazi elements in East German society.

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00:00 Introduction to Cold War Conversations

00:35 Growing Up in East Berlin: A Personal Journey

00:48 Family Background and Political Challenges

01:17 School Life and Ideological Indoctrination

01:44 The Impact of Glasnost and Political Changes

03:30 Navigating the Complexities of East German Society

23:01 Reflections on East German Education and Military Training

25:55 Facing the Draft and the Pressure to Conform

41:37 The Punk Scene and Resistance in East Berlin

46:35 Concluding Thoughts and the Legacy of the Cold War

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