[irrawnWab]

Too long and lot's of German words. I was hoping for some pics.

[amannddo]

Given the current state of our military we surely need a lot of faked equipment to not appear totally defenseless

[nvideoe]

Afaik there's been a difference between the officer corps and most of the rank and file. Most of the normal - so drafted - soldiers were probably just glad, since they hadn't been so keen on serving in the NVA (east german army) in the first place and went back to their normal lives.

The higher ranks otoh were professionals, considered themselves often ideologially close to the 'system' and felt it was their duty to go to the army. The majority of them was not taken over by the Bundeswehr. The reasons for this were in part political - belonging to a former communist state/army meant that they weren't seen as trustworthy and many of them also didn't like to serve in an army they regarded as their enemy for most of their carreer.

Other reasons were that troops were reduced after the cold war ended anyway, so there was simply no need for lots of additional soldiers/officers. So after 1990 most of the officers from the NVA were discharged AFAIK with only small pensions, which made them mostly bitter.

[Kinds Of Pain Meds]

yep, those army officers were the true losers in the cold war.

[12Jasoumemoobia]

Did that leave any bad blood in the east? That makes it seems less like reunification and more like the west just took over.

That is one of the issues that is quite hotly debated even after 20 years.

For those in the east who supported the former system it often was nothing more than a "hostile takeover". But even lots of those who went on the streets to protest the regime in autumn 1989 and finally brought it down (and who in general support the unification) often feel it has not been handled very well domestically (foreign-policy-wise all went well, of course).

If that feeling is always justified is another question. It depends to a good part on personal experiences. While the years of 1989/90 meant the end of the former regime (what most people wanted) the transition created also lots of problems.

Esp. unemployment became a big problem in the east since the old command style economy wasn't market-ready, so lots of companies didn't survive. Those which survived often did with money and expertise from the west, which also means the leading positions there became mostly 'westernized', so taken by guys from west Germany.

There are still lot's of conflicts and tensions between east and west over these and other issues, some maybe understandable and posing real problems, but personally I think lots of people also tend to lament a bit too much and forget what they gained from the unification. Probably many of those issues will disappear over time as things improve in the east.