Aftermaths

Despite being politically taboo, Prussia remained a significant and persistent influence in post-war East Germany. This study reveals how the German Democratic Republic (GDR) grappled with its Prussian legacy, which complicated efforts to construct a coherent historical narrative for the state. Through case studies of key Prussian architectural sites—such as the Berlin Schloss, Potsdam City Palace, and Potsdam Garnisonkirche—the research demonstrates that while the SED sought to erase or repurpose these symbols, they could not fully eliminate Prussia's presence from the collective memory. The chapter employs historiographical analysis to show how theoretical frameworks in GDR historiography both reflected and resisted this erasure, highlighting the enduring tension between political ideology and historical reality.

Colla, M. (2022). Aftermaths. Prussia in the Historical Culture of the German Democratic Republic, 19–77. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780192865908.003.0002