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GDR charm in danger: Rügen company holiday camp is fighting for survival!
The operation of the GDR holiday resort Gera on Rügen is facing challenges due to new requirements. There is a risk of fines.
GDR charm in danger: Rügen company holiday camp is fighting for survival!
Amidst the picturesque backdrop of Thuringia, known for its forests, castles and the distinctive bratwurst, a piece of history comes to life. The “Gera company holiday camp” on the Baltic Sea on Rügen has been attracting holidaymakers from all over Germany for decades and is particularly popular with Thuringians. Here, guests can stay in original GDR bungalows and enjoy traditional dishes such as solyanka. But the future of this nostalgic holiday paradise is in jeopardy. According to the East Thuringian newspaper The use of the popular sanitary building has been banned because the authorities classify it as a “new replacement building” and thus invalidate the existing protection.
Operator Candy Dassler, who acquired the facility in 2017 and restored it with great commitment, is now faced with massive difficulties. The old toilets were in an unsustainable condition, resulting in the need for modernization. But the renovation measures are now becoming a problem: the popular snack bar “deli Ost-Seekiosk” and the Trabant warehouse with the nostalgic “Sachsenruh” roof tents are also planned to be closed. The Vorpommern-Rügen district has threatened to impose fines of up to 20,000 euros if the concept is not redesigned accordingly.
History as a catalyst for enthusiasm
The Gera holiday camp is a legacy of the former VEB Rationalisierung Gera and impressively shows how tourism worked in the GDR. In the GDR, vacation was considered important for citizens' relaxation, but also for strengthening socialist values. The Baltic Sea, especially the island of Rügen, was a popular destination for GDR vacationers. Travel to Western Europe was often rare and was generally only permitted to socialist countries. Great freedom in holiday planning was unthinkable, which is why many people appreciated the advantages of holiday camps such as the Gera camp, which still offers an insight into everyday culture back then. Wikipedia describes that large parts of GDR tourism were organized through state institutions, with a number of holidaymakers taking advantage of the wide range of leisure activities.
The “Gera company holiday camp” is not just a place for relaxation, but has captured the hearts of many people through its authenticity and the experiences it offers. Fired up by the nostalgia and support of fans, including the GDR Oldtimer Club, over 400 signatures have already been collected for a petition to preserve the location. Dassler sees his vision of an authentic GDR experience at risk if the official requirements are enforced without compromise. He fears that if the sanitary building is demolished, the entire facility will be unrentable. Against this background, it will be exciting to see how the responsible authorities deal with the situation and whether the holiday camp will continue to preserve the tradition and character of bygone times. People's voice highlights that the fate of the site is not only a legal question, but also represents an emotional link to the memories of many visitors.