The Long History of Heimat in the “Long History of 1989”

Abstract This article examines notions of Heimat among older people in post-unification East Germany. Through the lens of the two long histories (of Heimat and of 1989) it takes into account the before, during, and after of critical life events encountered by older people during that period. The article presents the cases of two older women who stayed in place after 1989 and scrutinizes how they countered the master narrative of a (perceived) loss of Heimat . It turns out that both women opposed the idea of older people as “losers” of the transformation. Regardless of the radical right-wing views on Heimat that were emerging, they developed a concept of their own that was based on empathy, solidarity, and tolerance. The article discusses the two cases as examples that encourage approaching Heimat as a social practice of caring for other people and the environment in which they live.