Teuteberg: 'East German identity was invented afterwards'

Linda Teuteberg, the Deputy Chair of the FDP, has addressed identity issues between East and West Germans ahead of the anniversary of the Berlin Wall's construction. She stated that East Germans typically presented themselves as Germans in a divided Germany before reunification. Teuteberg attributes this development to the subsequent politicization by the PDS and the AfD.

In her statements, Teuteberg views the emergence of a so-called East German identity as a construct invented retroactively. She emphasizes that many political debates often highlight the divisions between East and West and sees this as a 'political business model.'

Teuteberg expresses concerns that the decades-long division between the two parts of Germany continues to have an impact. In her opinion, existing differences are often instrumentalized to promote political narratives.