GDR holiday resort on Rügen in great danger: authorities threaten to demolish it!

GDR holiday resort on Rügen in great danger: authorities threaten to demolish it!

In Thuringia, the land of forests, castles and delicious bratwursts, there is a lot of discussion about the past. In particular, the memories of the GDR are unmistakable, be it in museums or in certain places that keep contemporary history alive. The focus is on the “Gera company holiday camp” on the Baltic Sea, which has been attracting holidaymakers from all over Germany, especially from Thuringia, for decades. Visitors can live there in original GDR bungalows and experience the everyday culture of a bygone era. But the future of the popular holiday camp could be at risk, as Thüringen24 reports.

The holiday camp, which was taken over and lovingly restored by Candy Dassler from Zeulenroda in 2017, is now facing a massive problem. The authorities in Western Pomerania-Rügen have ordered the demolition of a sanitary building, which they view as a “new replacement building”. These measures could significantly impact the occasional holiday paradise for many Thuringians and other holidaymakers, as they face high fines of 17,500 euros or even more if the official requirements are not met. For Dassler, this not only means a financial burden, but also the threatened loss of the facility's unique GDR character.

Culture and nostalgia under pressure

The “Gera company holiday camp” is much more than just a place to stay overnight; it represents a piece of GDR history and the memories associated with it. At a time when tourism in the GDR was heavily regulated, citizens were able to vacation primarily through government institutions and programs. Within a few decades, a very unique holiday and travel culture emerged in the socialist system, which included, among other things, the popular travel destinations of Rügen and Usedom. The Wikipedia article about tourism in the GDR highlights that up to 60% of trips were organized through small company holiday camps, which shaped a significant part of people's lives.

Even today, many nostalgic holidaymakers flock to the holiday camp to experience the atmosphere of the GDR. The initiative to preserve the holiday camp conditions is now also an appeal to the public: The GDR Oldtimer Club has launched a petition to draw attention to the importance of preservation. So far over 400 signatures have been collected. Holiday camp operators have a keen eye for guests' needs, but the fate of the renovation project is still uncertain. If the sanitary block is demolished, the rentability of the bungalows could be at risk, which not only means an economic loss for the company, but also a cultural one.

At a time when modernization has priority in many places, it remains to be hoped that a middle ground can be found that ensures both the preservation of the historical substance and the satisfaction of official requirements. The charm of the GDR and the everyday culture associated with it should not disappear into oblivion - after all, it is places like these that fill our history with life.

The discussion about the holiday camp is another example of the ongoing confrontation with Germany's GDR past and shows how important it is to preserve places of remembrance. Whether and how the “Gera company holiday camp” can continue to open its doors remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the nostalgia and connection to the past are strong and effective, and many hope that the regulatory hurdles can be overcome.