1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Russia's war in UkraineIsrael-Hamas warIndia elections

Generation 25 - Children of German Reunification

September 14, 2015

It’s been 25 years since German reunification. What unites the generation born during the transition period in 1989-1990? What values, attitudes, dreams and fears do they share? And what’s their vision for the future?

https://p.dw.com/p/1GNM6

Generation 25 - the children of unity

While some people achieve great success by age 25, others are still finding their way. Despite reaching adulthood, many don’t yet feel settled. This documentary delves into the lives of “Generation 25”, Germans who grew up after East and West were reunified; those who only know the separation through stories and history books. These young men and women were born into a country in the midst of great change in 1989 - 1990. They don’t know their country divided, nor did they experience the Cold War. Each of them has taken their own individual path and can reflect on how they came to be where they are now.

08.09.2015 DW Doku Generation 25 01
German unification, taken for granted by “Generation 25”.
08.09.2015 DW Doku Generation 25 04
Hendrik and Gloria grew up in different parts of Germany, but they say it has no effect on their lives.

The East-West Couple

Gloria Jasionowki and Hendrik Kober are just one example of many. Gloria was born in 1990 and comes from Oldenburg in the west of Germany. Hendrick was born in East Berlin in 1989. They’ve been together for three years and now live in Berlin. They were young when they decided to spend their lives together. By their mid-twenties they already had two children, Linda and Paulina. While today not many people their age are already parents, it was quite typical in former East Germany.

08.09.2015 DW Doku Generation 25 06
This generation is growing up in a globalized world. Maybe that’s why “home” means so much to Philipp Wesemann.

Political activist

In March 2015, Phillip Wesemann (born 1989) became the mayor of Forst and the youngest mayor in the state of Brandenburg. He’s been a member of the SPD party for more than seven years, is openly gay and one of the few young East Germans in his hometown of 19,000 who have remained loyal to his roots and returned after completing his education.

08.09.2015 DW Doku Generation 25 05
Editorial meeting for the online magazine Renk in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district. The magazine focuses on young Germans with migrant backgrounds.

Integrating cultures

Melisa Karakus grew up in Herten in North Rhine-Westphalia as the daughter of Turkish immigrants. Now she works as a graphic designer in Berlin and is the founder and editor of the online magazine Renk. Melisa still finances the magazine out of her own pocket. The writers and photographers from all over Germany contribute content for free. Most of the stories and photo essays are about remarkable members of German-Turkish community.

DW reporters Christine Bayer and Patricia Szilagyi follow these and other representatives of the “Generation 25”. The protagonists, who include a YouTube star, a mayor and a monk, talk about their identity, success, careers, love, family and life in the digital world, and reveal their own thoughts on unified Germany.


Broadcasting Hours:

DW

SAT 03.10.2015 – 19:15 UTC
SUN 04.10.2015 – 01:15 UTC
SUN 04.10.2015 – 07:15 UTC
SUN 04.10.2015 – 15:15 UTC
MON 05.10.2015 – 05:15 UTC
MON 12.10.2015 – 09:15 UTC
SUN 18.10.2015 – 03:15 UTC

Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3
Delhi UTC +5,5 | Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8
London UTC +1 | Berlin UTC +2 | Moscow UTC +3
San Francisco UTC -7 | Edmonton UTC -6 | New York UTC -4

DW (Amerika)

SUN 04.10.2015 – 09:15 UTC

Vancouver UTC -7 | New York UTC -4 | Sao Paulo UTC -3