“The vibrant life that used to be here in this city just isn’t there anymore”

Friedrich Schwarz: Eisenhüttenstadt is not a town you can simply grasp at a glance. It was planned – as an industrial town, as a home for tens of thousands, as a promise: work, security, and community. Today, around 24,000 people live here – less than half the number who once did. And yet, Eisenhüttenstadt is not standing still. The town is trying to attract new residents – for example, through the ‘trial living’ project, which received so many applications that a second round in 2026 is already being considered. At the same time, the old heart of the town is still there: the steelworks. It continues to operate – modernised, integrated into the global economy, but much smaller than it used to be. In this podcast, I want to find out: what does structural change feel like when you experience it not through statistics, but in your own life? How does a town change – in everyday life, in its streets, in its atmosphere? And why does Eisenhüttenstadt seem more dreary to some people today, even though events, projects, and community initiatives are working to counteract this? My name is Friedrich Schwarz, and I’m now speaking with Mr Eggebrecht. He has spent many years in Eisenhüttenstadt, living and working there. And he says quite openly: things haven’t got better – not for the town. Mr Eggebrecht, first of all, thank you very much for taking the time to speak with me about this. When we talk about cities with a unique origin story, Eisenhüttenstadt quickly comes to mind. What, in your view, makes this city so special?

Peter Eggebrecht: Well, if I understand correctly, you’re interested in planned cities. And that naturally brings Eisenhüttenstadt into the picture – so perhaps a brief word on its history. Steel was needed – both as reparations, and for the founding of the GDR, and for production within it. And if I remember correctly, in 1950 the decision was made to build the steelworks on a greenfield site. There were woods and meadows there, nothing else – and a body of water to supply the cooling. And alongside the steelworks, the town itself began to grow: Eisenhüttenstadt – which was then called Stalinstadt. And yes, you could say that over the decades, as the plant grew, so too did the town. Everything needed for the solid infrastructure of a town of that size had to be created – and in the end, it was all there. Starting with jobs that offered attractive wages. This was part of the industrial sector, with the corresponding social facilities provided by the companies. Yes, everything you could wish for – especially if you came from somewhere in the Uckermark and didn’t know where you were heading. You went there, learned a trade, and could spend your whole life there. That’s really how this town came into being. And then after reunification, of course, many people quickly made the decision to leave, because it was clear to them what was coming – that things would go downhill. And I think that downward trend has continued to this day. Back then, life was bustling – with local transport and everything that belongs to a proper town: nurseries, schools, theatres, cinemas, all of it. Today, it’s extremely difficult to keep any of that going – and in some cases, it’s already disappeared altogether. To what extent exactly, I couldn’t tell you.

Friedrich Schwarz: What reasons did people have back then for coming to Eisenhüttenstadt in the first place? What drew them there?

Peter Eggebrecht: What drew people to the town wasn’t just the attractive jobs and good wages – in some cases, they’d actually started and completed their training there – but the fact that the town developed alongside the factory itself, and you could find everything – and I really mean everything – you needed for a good life in the provinces. Good housing, solid social benefits, shops. And on top of that, when it came to supplies, Eisenhüttenstadt was given preferential treatment compared to, let’s say, the surrounding countryside or nearby villages. And that more or less only came to an end with the political transition. That’s when the special status this factory – and the town itself – had effectively ceased to exist.

Friedrich Schwarz: Could you go into that in a bit more detail? Perhaps paint a clearer picture? Please, feel free to speak openly.

Peter Eggebrecht: Perhaps a brief word on the history. The Allies had decided on the partition of Germany and agreed that each occupying power would extract reparations from its own zone. The reparations the Soviet Union wanted and needed – as well as the steel production we ourselves required – simply weren’t available. And that is precisely why the decision was made to build this plant on a greenfield site, to found a town there, and to bring in and construct everything that was needed ourselves. That, really, is the background to the creation of this town on a greenfield site. Otherwise, the idea of building something there would never even have occurred to anyone.

Friedrich Schwarz: When you think back to the period around the fall of the Berlin Wall – or even just before – how did life in Eisenhüttenstadt change? What was happening there at the time?

Peter Eggebrecht: After the political transition, it became clear that Eisenhüttenstadt in its existing form – and the steelworks in particular – would struggle to survive. There was excess production capacity in the West. And over time, the EU also intervened with regulations, setting steel quotas below what could actually be produced there, which naturally led to a significant exodus. Those who remained in the town either found work in secondary sectors. Although there was – and still is – a steel industry, it is nowhere near the scale it once was. So people began to leave of their own accord, heading West to earn Western wages, or to explore entirely different paths in life and work. That’s really how things started after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Friedrich Schwarz: When you walk through the town today, what strikes you? How does it feel? What are your thoughts on it, Mr Eggebrecht? Please, tell us a bit about it.

Peter Eggebrecht: If you ask me today what strikes you when you walk through Eisenhüttenstadt, then yes – you’re overcome by a certain sense of foreboding. The vibrant life that once existed in this town – if you’ve seen the photos and films from that time – simply isn’t there anymore. The many shops that used to be here have disappeared. There is still a shopping centre in town, but the small shops, the corner shops – they’re all gone. It’s disheartening. It’s sad. And it affects, above all, those who once made this town what it was. Because this town was an economic powerhouse in the GDR. And not just in the GDR – steel was exported as well. To the West, too, incidentally.

Friedrich Schwarz: And are there particular places or spots that stand out to you as having become a bit emptier? Which ones have changed the most?

Peter Eggebrecht: Well, there are certainly many places that used to be much busier. I’m thinking of playgrounds. I’m thinking of the places where older people used to go for a walk. There were lots of children, because there were many young families, and of course they would spend time there. None of that really exists anymore. A sense of desolation has taken hold – you really do have to say that.

Friedrich Schwarz: And now that you’ve witnessed – or observed – the exodus of the population, how would you describe it? How did things unfold? What exactly happened in Eisenhüttenstadt?

Peter Eggebrecht: Of course, people realised that the political transition would bring economic change, and that jobs there would decline. But the decline was systematic and gradual. This also had to do with the fact that the state government, led by the SPD at the time, poured a great deal of money into the steelworks to keep it going somehow. Until, however, that was no longer possible on that scale, and the EU stepped in with deregulation, effectively dictating where and how much steel could still be produced. And, of course, it hit the East German steel industry first and foremost. People moved away, and with them, naturally, the quality of life – that’s quite clear. So when shops no longer have customers, then… well.

Friedrich Schwarz: But could you tell us a bit more about those earlier, more prosperous times? What are your fondest memories? What stands out to you?

Peter Eggebrecht: You have to imagine that pretty much every artist of note in the GDR went there. And on top of that, whatever the GDR could afford with its foreign currency was brought into the country and presented there to the people – and to the working class. I’m thinking of David and Igor Oistrakh, the great violinists, who performed there. The major orchestras of the country were there, and the choirs as well. None of that exists anymore. The municipal theatre now has four stages – they even have an open-air stage, which many theatres didn’t have. But it’s simply difficult to stage events there now, because there just isn’t the audience. Something has really been lost – including in terms of quality of life. And that, too, has contributed to people reorienting themselves and moving away.

Friedrich Schwarz: What do you think of the ideas that are now emerging – or have already been implemented – to attract new residents or make the town more appealing again?

Peter Eggebrecht: If you’re asking me about the attempts to breathe new life into the town, I can only offer a limited perspective. Things are happening again. For example, at the former EKO site they’re trying to attract small businesses. But even there, some have already left again. And apart from that, it’s often more secondary things – cultural events, town festivals, and so on. But that won’t save the economic structure of a municipality. That’s my assessment.

Friedrich Schwarz: And what do you think of the idea of sponsorship?

Peter Eggebrecht: I have my doubts as to how far sponsorship can really revitalise the area. In the end, sponsorship depends on functioning economic structures. The money has to be generated somewhere – it’s not enough just to break even. There has to be a profit, otherwise you can’t cover the costs of that kind of support. And given how the economy there has declined, I can’t say much about it. But there won’t be many people with money to spare for sponsorship – certainly not to the extent there once was.

Friedrich Schwarz: How do you view the prospects of the ‘trial living’ project?

Peter Eggebrecht: Whether the ‘trial living’ project will succeed in attracting people, I don’t know. I have my doubts. It’s not just about having a roof over your head, but also where that roof is – and whether there’s a good quality of life there. I don’t want to make Eisenhüttenstadt sound worse than it is. But I just don’t see it. I wouldn’t move there myself.

Friedrich Schwarz: Can anything still come of this town? Is there still hope?

Peter Eggebrecht: When I’m asked whether Eisenhüttenstadt can grow again, then certainly not to its former size. Those days are over. But what might develop there instead – I honestly don’t know. I lack the imagination for that as well.

Friedrich Schwarz: So when it comes to optimism, things look rather bleak from your perspective.

Peter Eggebrecht: As for what needs to happen, I don’t think that simply adding more everyday life – more small shops, more young people, and so on – will be enough either. Unless we can tell people what they can actually make a living from there, how they can build a life for themselves, and make the town seem worthwhile enough for them to put down roots again with their families. That’s where I see the issue. I suppose you could say I’m cautiously realistic about it.

Friedrich Schwarz: Mr Eggebrecht, thank you very much for the conversation and for sharing your insights into the history and development of Eisenhüttenstadt. It’s been fascinating to hear how the town has changed from a planned city of the GDR to what it is today. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. All the best to you – and finally, your closing thoughts.

Peter Eggebrecht: Finally, I’d just like to say that I think it’s commendable that you’re addressing this topic at all. Because many people in this area feel, in many respects, that they’ve been left behind. Personally, though, I’ve met many good and thoughtful people there. When it comes to the people, it would be worth it. And it’s already a step in the right direction if we don’t forget this area and continue to take an interest in it. That, I think, is something to be grateful for.

Friedrich Schwarz: That was my conversation with Mr Eggebrecht about the origins and development of Eisenhüttenstadt. I found it very insightful, because perspectives like this help us better understand how a city came into being – and how much its life can change over time. Eisenhüttenstadt is an example of how planned cities in the GDR were deliberately built with a clear economic function – in this case, centred around the steelworks. At the same time, its history shows just how profoundly political and economic upheavals can reshape people’s lives and the character of an entire town. It is through personal memories like these that we see that behind terms such as ‘structural change’ or ‘planned city’ there are always real human stories. And perhaps looking at this history can also help us better understand the challenges these places face today – and recognise that there may still be prospects, and hopes, for their future. My name is Friedrich Schwarz – thank you very much for listening.