Artwork miniatures crafted by Manfred Jendryschik, showcasing an obscure cultural aesthetic of the German Democratic Republic (GDR)
A Hidden Past Revealed: Manfred Jendryschik's Final Book Uncovers the Truth of East Germany
Manfred Jendryschik, a renowned German author, passed away on June 18, 2025, at the age of 82 in Leipzig. His final book, 'Whitewash for everyone!', is set to be released at the end of July. This intriguing title offers a glimpse into the world of secrets and manipulations that characterized life in the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
Jendryschik's book describes the time after 1990, including the revelation of secret informants and the early years of Jendryschik as cultural commissioner in Dessau. It presents a sea of stories about the aloofness and isolation of the powerful, who repainted ground floors of dilapidated houses for city visits to show a blooming country.
The book also includes anecdotes about socialist production, plan numbers, and production mismatches in a centrally managed country. It sheds light on feudal traits in the country, such as hunting grounds, special allocations, and vacation homes of functionaries.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Jendryschik's book is the story of a protest poster demanding "Whitewash for all!", symbolizing the divided world of art in the GDR. The book also collects curious anecdotes and bitter episodes about the DDR, such as the accounts of secretaries, cow trading, and showcase authors manipulated by the party.
Werner Braunig is an example of a showcase author manipulated by the party in Jendryschik's book. Jendryschik's last book, 'Deckweiß für alle!', offers an ironically toned farewell to the DDR and a life as an artist until the very end. It also includes anecdotes about Otto Gotsche, Kuba, and Erik Neutsch.
Manfred Jendryschik was closely connected to Mitteldeutscher Verlag for decades. He debuted in 1967 with the story collection 'Glas and Ahorn'. After becoming a publishing editor in Halle, he went on to publish some of the most significant works of East German literature.
Meanwhile, Trude Richter's memoir "Totgesagt" (which translates to "Declared Dead") faced significant obstacles regarding its publication in the GDR during the communist period. Although Richter completed the manuscript earlier, the book was not allowed to be published in the GDR before 1990 due to its critical perspective on the Stalinist period and the repression experienced by intellectuals and dissidents under the communist regime.
The GDR authorities deemed the memoir politically sensitive and potentially damaging to the official historical narrative, especially since Richter had been an opponent of Stalinist policies and had suffered persecution herself. As a result, the memoir was effectively censored and suppressed, preventing it from reaching readers in East Germany until after the political changes culminating in the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent dissolution of the GDR.
Only after 1990, with the loosening of censorship and the opening of archives, was Richter’s memoir finally published in unified Germany, allowing her detailed personal account of persecution, resistance, and survival under totalitarian rule to be shared publicly.
'Whitewash for everyone!', published by Mitteldeutscher Verlag, Halle 2025, for 24 Euro, promises to be a riveting read, offering a unique insight into the hidden world of the GDR.
Manfred Jendryschik's last book, 'Whitewash for everyone!', delves into the fashion-and-beauty and lifestyle aspects of East Germany, showcasing the extravagant lifestyles of powerful figures and the manipulation of artists, such as Werner Braunig. In addition to this, the book features 'Totgesagt', a memoir by Trude Richter, which explores the suppression of books critical of the communist regime, specifically her memoir that was deemed politically sensitive during the GDR period. The publication of 'Totgesagt' after 1990 highlights the entertainment value of uncovering these hidden truths about the past.
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