Katja Hoyer and her GDR book: How normal was this state? Event for SPIEGEL subscribers

Enlarge imagePhoto: Andrea Artz; Caren Detje / DER SPIEGEL

Today, Wednesday, May 31 at 20 p.m. You can register here.

Only for subscribers – and anyone who wants to try out a SPIEGEL subscription.

With her book »This Side of the Wall«, Katja Hoyer sets high standards: she wants to offer a »new history of the GDR 1949–1990«, at least that's what the subtitle of the work says.

The historian conducted a number of interviews with former citizens. She wants to portray socialism from their point of view – and show "that the other Germany was more than the Wall and the Stasi," as it says on the website of her publishing house.

But shortly after its release in Germany, there was a hail of criticism: Hoyer trivialized the dictatorship. Errors in craftsmanship were criticized. Hoyer's colleague Franziska Kuschel accused the author in SPIEGEL that the book was "not only disappointing, but a veritable nuisance."

At this event, Hoyer discusses this harsh criticism and also the question of what GDR historiography can and should look like with Eva-Maria Schnurr, head of the history department at SPIEGEL.

As a subscriber, you can follow the conversation in the livestream – and also ask your own questions.

We look forward to seeing you there!