Generation Ost: Author Reflects on East German Identity Ahead of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Election

An author born in 1991 in Wolgast and raised primarily in Greifswald reflects on East German identity ahead of the state election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. He describes the dread he feels when West German newsrooms begin analyzing election results on Monday morning, a recurring sentiment tied to past votes. The two towns of his childhood are about a half-hour drive apart, with Wolgast often known only as a gateway to Usedom. He notes that in Vorpommern everything is roughly half an hour away, citing Jarmen, hometown of the band Feine Sahne Fischfilet, whose frontman Monchi is currently explaining nationwide what life is like beyond the Brandmauer. The author grew up after the Wende and recalls job fairs where he was repeatedly told to avoid any breaks in his CV. He expresses frustration with evaluations of the East made by West Germans, particularly in the context of the upcoming election. The piece is a personal essay published by Der Freitag.