East German identity in transition: influencer Olivia Schneider reports

East German identity in transition: influencer Olivia Schneider reports

In recent years, the discussion about East German identity and political developments in East Germany has intensified. A notable voice in this debate is 29-year-old Olivia Schneider, who caused a sensation as an Eastern influencer in 2023 with her viral reel “La Ostdeutsche Vita”. On her Instagram account @tumvlt she provides insights into her everyday life, which ranges from visits to her grandmother in Pirna to her passionate mustard celebrations. Growing up in picturesque Saxon Switzerland, she moved to Dresden to study art, where she later also studied social work.

Olivia has always dealt with the political situation through her studies. During her art studies, she founded the Dresden Police Class collective, which critically examines the police law in Saxony. In her final thesis on social work, she dealt with unemployment in East Germany. Today she works as a social worker with mentally ill people and travels through East Germany in her free time to document both the positive and negative sides of this region.

A controversial image of identity

East German identity is a controversial topic. It is often seen as an expression of resistance against West German dominance, or its very existence is questioned. Olivia Schneider speaks out clearly against the use of the term by right-wing groups and emphasizes how important it is to make other perspectives visible. Their message about the need to listen to the voices of those who have traditionally been pushed into the background resonates in a society where right-wing populist ideologies are on the rise. Loud Youth strategy Elections in Thuringia and Saxony showed that the AfD received well over 30 percent of the vote there, further increasing concerns about political division.

Historical and economic reasons are central to the shift to the right in the East. The Treuhandanstalt played a crucial role in the economic transformation, with over 85 percent of former public property being sold to West Germans. High unemployment and low wages are still pressing issues today. This regional inequality increases vulnerability to radical ideologies and causes a deep-rooted loss of identity. A significant part of the population identifies strongly with the region, especially among older citizens, showing that the question of East German identity remains relevant, even if younger generations are increasingly distancing themselves.

Olivia in the digital world

Olivia Schneider also uses the podcast “And what is the university doing?” to share her experiences in Dresden and give tips for the summer in East Germany. Moderators like Christoph Farkas and Charlotte Köhler support you in painting a diverse picture of the region. The next podcast will be released on July 8th. It also becomes clear here how social identities in East Germany are shaped by the past and the trials of the present. The media portrayal of East Germans is often negative and often leads to a feeling of devaluation, as a study by Federal Agency for Civic Education explained.

Although there are challenges, Olivia Schneider brings a breath of fresh air to the discussion about East German identity. It shows that the view of East Germany is complex and characterized by contradictions. Her voice is not only a reflection of her own experiences, but also a call for reassessment and a change of perspective in the current debate.