Outsider Experiences of the GDR: Vietnamese Students in Leipzig from the 1960s to the 1980s

Abstract

Throughout the history of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), migration and foreign communities have been a consistent presence. While Vietnamese educational migration continued from the 1950s onwards, it further diversified to include migrants who became apprentices, university students and laborers. Although the focus of historical research has been on contract workers (Vertragsarbeiter) and the GDR as a whole, this thesis will examine the daily lived experiences of Vietnamese students in Leipzig from the 1960s to the 1980s through the use of archival material, an analysis of space and oral testimonies. Despite coming into contact with locals, they were not expected to integrate by either the East German or Vietnamese governments. However, relationships and interactions still persisted. This raises the question what was the nature of the relationship between Vietnamese students and the local Leipzig population. This research reveals how global events like the Vietnam War, a pre-exposure to foreign cultures, top-down decision making and a carefully constructed framework of ‘socialist’ solidarity were influential in promoting or discouraging unwanted personal interactions. These conditions were later influential for alumni who returned to the GDR, who found that the sense of belonging created by these conditions had reached a limit. This research therefore links to present-day societal questions about the role of international students in contemporary society during and after their studies.