http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Sat, 25 May 2013 08:07:05 +0200 Sat, 25 May 2013 08:07:05 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/western-drugmakers-tested-medicines-on-unwitting-east-germans-a-899594.html#ref=rss Until the fall of the Wall, Western pharmaceutical companies conducted drug trials in East German hospitals. More than 50,000 patients served as subjects, often without their knowledge, and many died. The human experiments haven't been fully investigated to this day despite fresh evidence of wrongdoing. Tue, 14 May 2013 17:37:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/western-drugmakers-tested-medicines-on-unwitting-east-germans-a-899594.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/study-finds-alarming-increase-in-urban-poverty-across-germany-a-867209.html#ref=rss Germany is weathering the economic crisis across Europe relatively well in comparison to its southern neighbors. Yet the prosperity appears to be leaving a large section of the country behind, as a recent study finds urban poverty to be growing at an alarming rate. Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:34:51 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/study-finds-alarming-increase-in-urban-poverty-across-germany-a-867209.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/rostock-residents-dread-20th-anniversary-of-neo-nazi-racist-riot-a-851479.html#ref=rss This weekend marks the 20th anniversary of one of the darkest episodes in the history of postwar Germany, when hundreds of rioting neo-Nazis set ablaze an asylum-seekers' hostel in Rostock. Locals are tired of the onslaught of media attention, but many still live in fear of right-wing violence. Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:51:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/rostock-residents-dread-20th-anniversary-of-neo-nazi-racist-riot-a-851479.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/a-mayor-fights-to-stop-a-neo-nazi-summer-party-in-eastern-germany-a-848928.html#ref=rss Germany's far-right National Democratic Party plans to hold a "festival" this weekend in the eastern German town of Pasewalk. But locals, led by the mayor, are trying to stop the neo-Nazi event. It is the first time the area's population has stood up to the extremists -- and it may turn out to be a losing battle. Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:05:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/a-mayor-fights-to-stop-a-neo-nazi-summer-party-in-eastern-germany-a-848928.html Germany's far-right National Democratic Party plans to hold a "festival" this weekend in the eastern German town of Pasewalk. But locals, led by the mayor, are trying to stop the neo-Nazi event. It is the first time the area's population has stood up to the extremists -- and it may turn out to be a losing battle.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/northeastern-germany-struggles-to-preserve-its-architectural-heritage-a-837536.html#ref=rss The landed gentry filled the northeastern German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with magnificent castles, manors and estates. But hundreds of them are now abandoned and falling apart. Will dreamers from the West come to the rescue? Fri, 08 Jun 2012 12:31:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/northeastern-germany-struggles-to-preserve-its-architectural-heritage-a-837536.html The landed gentry filled the northeastern German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with magnificent castles, manors and estates. But hundreds of them are now abandoned and falling apart. Will dreamers from the West come to the rescue? ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/eastern-germany-hit-hard-by-the-solar-industry-crisis-a-830188.html#ref=rss The global solar industry has entered a brutal phase of consolidation and nowhere are the effects as dramatic as in eastern Germany. Several companies have already declared bankruptcy, leaving towns and cities in the region struggling with job losses and tax revenue shortfalls. The future bodes ill. Fri, 27 Apr 2012 18:26:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/eastern-germany-hit-hard-by-the-solar-industry-crisis-a-830188.html The global solar industry has entered a brutal phase of consolidation and nowhere are the effects as dramatic as in eastern Germany. Several companies have already declared bankruptcy, leaving towns and cities in the region struggling with job losses and tax revenue shortfalls. The future bodes ill.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/trend-sees-increase-in-eastern-germans-returning-from-west-a-829537.html#ref=rss Since reunification, people have been abandoning eastern Germany in search of jobs and a better life in the west. But many are now returning home. Homesickness is one reason, but improvements in the job market and quality of life are also attractive. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:54:28 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/trend-sees-increase-in-eastern-germans-returning-from-west-a-829537.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/west-german-cities-call-for-end-to-east-german-subsidies-a-822473.html#ref=rss Closed swimming pools, potholed streets, run-down buildings. Many western German cities, especially in the industrial Ruhr rust belt, are looking worse for wear after years of neglect in which they've had to transfer billions funds to help rebuild the former communist east. Now their mayors want to stop paying. Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:08:48 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/west-german-cities-call-for-end-to-east-german-subsidies-a-822473.html Closed swimming pools, potholed streets, run-down buildings. Many western German cities, especially in the industrial Ruhr rust belt, are looking worse for wear after years of neglect in which they've had to transfer billions funds to help rebuild the former communist east. Now their mayors want to stop paying. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/intolerable-stench-confronting-the-threat-of-industrial-pig-farms-a-810139.html#ref=rss Tourists are increasingly discovering the rural charms of northern Germany. But with industrial pig breeding operations moving in, that charm may soon be destroyed by the stench of swine slurry. Locals are up in arms -- but factory farming may be the region's last chance to create jobs. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:48:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/intolerable-stench-confronting-the-threat-of-industrial-pig-farms-a-810139.html Tourists are increasingly discovering the rural charms of northern Germany. But with industrial pig breeding operations moving in, that charm may soon be destroyed by the stench of swine slurry. Locals are up in arms -- but factory farming may be the region's last chance to create jobs.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/a-vision-in-concrete-photographer-captures-beauty-in-communist-architecture-a-777206.html#ref=rss The photographer Roman Bezjak spent five years traveling around Eastern Europe taking pictures of communist-era buildings. His images show grand gestures in concrete and weird constructions that could be in a science-fiction movie. His intention was not to judge the structures, but to show them from a new perspective. Fri, 29 Jul 2011 17:49:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/a-vision-in-concrete-photographer-captures-beauty-in-communist-architecture-a-777206.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/swapping-combat-boots-for-the-preppy-look-report-warns-of-neo-nazis-disguised-as-boy-next-door-a-771790.html#ref=rss The latest annual report on extremism in Germany suggests that neo-Nazis have swapped the skinhead look for a boy-next-door image, making it harder to identify right-wing extremists. Although overall extremist crime is down, the tendency towards violence is increasing -- within both the far left and right. Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:38:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/swapping-combat-boots-for-the-preppy-look-report-warns-of-neo-nazis-disguised-as-boy-next-door-a-771790.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/confronting-the-stasi-past-when-the-persecuted-and-the-persecutors-trade-places-a-763448.html#ref=rss Forty-seven former members of the Stasi now work at the agency charged with addressing its misdeeds. Agency head Roland Jahn, a victim of the notorious East German secret police himself, is on a crusade to get rid of them. But some think he's taking things too far. Thu, 19 May 2011 17:40:24 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/confronting-the-stasi-past-when-the-persecuted-and-the-persecutors-trade-places-a-763448.html Forty-seven former members of the Stasi now work at the agency charged with addressing its misdeeds. Agency head Roland Jahn, a victim of the notorious East German secret police himself, is on a crusade to get rid of them. But some think he's taking things too far.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/half-empty-the-slow-painful-demise-of-rural-germany-a-759377.html#ref=rss A massive exodus is causing cities across Germany to swell while draining rural areas of people, money and life. While funds are needed elsewhere, should more be done to save dying communities? <i>By SPIEGEL Staff</i> Thu, 12 May 2011 15:34:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/half-empty-the-slow-painful-demise-of-rural-germany-a-759377.html By SPIEGEL Staff ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/mass-pileup-in-northern-germany-sandstorm-causes-deadly-autobahn-crash-a-755945.html#ref=rss Up to 80 vehicles were involved in a mass pile-up on a German highway Friday which left several people dead and dozens more injured. The accident was apparently caused by a sandstorm after strong winds in the area. Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:18:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/mass-pileup-in-northern-germany-sandstorm-causes-deadly-autobahn-crash-a-755945.html Up to 80 vehicles were involved in a mass pile-up on a German highway Friday which left several people dead and dozens more injured. The accident was apparently caused by a sandstorm after strong winds in the area.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/second-class-victims-east-german-children-s-home-prisoners-ignored-a-747216.html#ref=rss Sexual abuse, solitary confinement and complete lawlessness -- children's homes in the former East Germany were hell on earth for many of the young people who passed through them. But unlike their fellow sufferers in the West, they are still waiting for a full reappraisal of the past. Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:21:52 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/second-class-victims-east-german-children-s-home-prisoners-ignored-a-747216.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/demographic-future-is-now-eastern-germany-confronts-skilled-labor-shortage-a-729597.html#ref=rss For years, demographers have been warning that Germany could face a labor shortage as its population ages. In eastern Germany, such scarcities have already become reality. Competition for talent is fierce -- and businesses are becoming more generous. Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:01:36 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/demographic-future-is-now-eastern-germany-confronts-skilled-labor-shortage-a-729597.html For years, demographers have been warning that Germany could face a labor shortage as its population ages. In eastern Germany, such scarcities have already become reality. Competition for talent is fierce -- and businesses are becoming more generous.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/canada-s-latest-oil-hunt-drilling-for-black-gold-in-eastern-germany-a-723375.html#ref=rss Could there be enough oil in the eastern German state of Brandenburg to start a small boom in black gold? A Canadian company believes there might and is about to commence test drilling. But will they have any more luck than the former communist government? Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:40:46 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/canada-s-latest-oil-hunt-drilling-for-black-gold-in-eastern-germany-a-723375.html Could there be enough oil in the eastern German state of Brandenburg to start a small boom in black gold? A Canadian company believes there might and is about to commence test drilling. But will they have any more luck than the former communist government?]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-s-disappointing-reunification-how-the-east-was-lost-a-703802.html#ref=rss July 1 marks the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the deutsche mark in East Germany in the runup to full reunification. But the economic benefits that West German politicians promised failed to materialize. What went wrong? Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:32:45 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-s-disappointing-reunification-how-the-east-was-lost-a-703802.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/landmark-ossi-discrimination-case-court-to-decide-if-east-germans-are-ethnic-group-a-688921.html#ref=rss A woman born in the former East Germany claims she was discriminated against on the basis of her ethnic identity when a company wrote "Ossi" on her rejected application. A labor court in Stuttgart will rule on this thorny issue of German identity on Thursday. Wed, 14 Apr 2010 12:22:20 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/landmark-ossi-discrimination-case-court-to-decide-if-east-germans-are-ethnic-group-a-688921.html A woman born in the former East Germany claims she was discriminated against on the basis of her ethnic identity when a company wrote "Ossi" on her rejected application. A labor court in Stuttgart will rule on this thorny issue of German identity on Thursday.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/when-less-is-more-eastern-german-project-provides-hope-for-shrinking-cities-a-688152.html#ref=rss Eastern Germany has seen its cities shrink since the fall of the Berlin Wall as people leave to find work elsewhere. But now a state-sponsored project suggests that "city islands," urban green zones and huge outdoor art could be part of the solution. Fri, 09 Apr 2010 18:46:47 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/when-less-is-more-eastern-german-project-provides-hope-for-shrinking-cities-a-688152.html