ABSTRACT
The ‘real existing socialism’ of the German Democratic Republic was notorious for neglecting environmental issues. The task of fulfilling the economic plan aimed at providing goods for people's daily needs took priority over effective environmental protection. Dangerous substances were often handled in inappropriate and negligent ways, waste was disposed of haphazardly and much-needed investments in environmental protection were neglected for decades. As a result of this it was no surprise when, after the peaceful revolution of 1989 leading to Germany's reunification, large amounts of pollution in the form of complex soil and water contamination came to light in the large industrial sites such as Bitterfeld and Leuna. A large number of these sites were immediately shut down after 1990 – not only because it proved to be uneconomical to keep them open but also in order to prevent any worsening of the environmental damage already done (Hentrich et al. 2000: 35).
