Ossis and Wessis

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What are the differences between north and south?

Ossis and Wessis

When Germany was reunited in 1989, two different ‘tribes' had to get used to getting along with each other. West-Germans (Wessis) often view East-Germans (Ossis) as naïve, too nostalgic about their past and not used to the pace of a capitalist economy. East-Germans often regard West-Germans as arrogant, scheming and manipulating. A lot of tension is added by the still high unemployment rates, the vast difference in economic development between the ‘old' and ‘new' counties (Bundeslaender), and a lack of facilities for young people, especially in the former GDR. This rift in German society is a challenge which will take some more years to mend.

   

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