Periphery+and+Centre

Periphery & Centre: German Musicians in the Early Cold War

The article started by clarifying that Germany, although geographically in the centre of the cold war, was as a whole, a periphery in regards to the war and the 2 competing superpowers.

In the 1940's and 50's, as Germany was divided between the Communist Germany Democratic Republic and the Pro-Western Federal Germany Republic, its musical culture was also torn. The GDR claimed that their culture and music was superior to that of West Germany, and by extension stating that Communism was better than Democracy.

"We will defend our national culture against all destructive and divisive efforts of American imperialism" - GDR