Challenging binary narratives: Rethinking the history of the GDR through the lens of Alltagsgeschichte and translation practices

The historiography of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), like many socialist and communist countries, has been predominantly shaped by Western narratives, which emphasize censorship, repression, and state control. These accounts, often written by the victors of the Cold War, have reinforced the dichotomy between the “free” West and the “oppressive” East. The enduring prevalence of such dichotomies has long influenced the way history is told and still shapes our contemporary understanding of these regions and their histories while often marginalizing specific regions, perspectives, and people. However, such a one-sided view risks oversimplifying the complexity of life in the GDR and other socialist states and obscuring the agency of ordinary people who lived through these systems. By applying the concept of Alltagsgeschichte (everyday history), this paper understands historiography itself as a form of translation—a process shaped by power, interpretation, and omission and seeks to broaden our understanding of GDR history by highlighting the lived experiences of ordinary people. Using 27 oral history interviews with translators and interpreters in the GDR, this study amplifies the personal stories of those who navigated the ideological and professional constraints of the state, offering a more nuanced picture of life behind the Iron Curtain. These individuals, as part of a shared profession, provide an entry point into broader questions about how history is written and understood. Listening to their stories and experiences will serve as a starting point to reevaluate the way we conceptualize history, the East-West divide, and the role of translation in shaping societal narratives. Read the detailed SYNOPSIS.Find all available translations of the synopsis in the TABLE OF CONTENTS.Scroll down for the FULL ARTICLE.