ABSTRACT
The idea of German reunification suggests a general harmonization of laws and practices across the newly enlarged territory. Free movement of individuals and families would erase most of the old fears and suspicions fostered by the government of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the Stasi. The inability of returning families to acquire land from the government land trust is matched only by the obvious discrimination by land-trust agents. Land-trust agents have great latitude in determining or interpreting government policies. A number of land-trust agents did not honour their own contracts—often reversing a decision without explanation. Farmers often became impatient with land-trust agents. Land agents in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are considered 'red socks'—a derogatory term applied to individuals who, even after reunification, continued to employ the intimidating practices common in the GDR and by the feared Stasi operatives.
