Peter Nientied 

After WWII, former East Germany needed to build its industrial basis. In a then agricultural region a new steel mill was constructed; Eisenhüttenkombinat Ost (EKO), about 110 km South-East of Berlin. A new town was created for the workforce (up to 10.000 people worked for the mill). It was based on principles of Russian new towns – ‘a socialist vision for the future’ – and named Stalinstadt. When Stalin fell in disgrace, the name of the town was changed to Eisenhüttenstadt. It was planned initially for 25.000 people. Good quality housing in the first development sectors, various facilities and a lot of open space. At the time of the fall of communism in 1990, the town had over 50.000 inhabitants.

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After the fall of socialism in 1990, many people left the town. Nowadays it has less than 24.000 inhabitants. Housing and public spaces have been renovated and quite a few lower quality housing blocks were demolished. The big community spaces in between the apartment blocks were for joint community activities but have partly become parking lots. The steel mill still functions and nowadays employs 2.500 people. An informative short documentary on town planning  is from ‘East Germany Investigated’. 

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Eisenhuttenstadt celebrates its past as a socialist town and sees it as a tourism asset. The town was listed as cultural heritage meaning that the built environment is protected. However, few tourists come. Like elsewhere in former Eastern Germany, radical right-wing political party AfD is popular – it received over 42% of the votes in the 2025 Bundestagewahl national elections.

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In 2025 Eisenhüttenstadt reached the papers. In an attempt to stop depopulation and attract workforce, it offers two weeks of a ‘try-out residence’ (‘zwei wochen probewohnen’) to people who meet certain criteria (like a set level of command of German language). As a response to the pr campaign, no less than 1500 applications were received. Two apartments are offered for the purpose so 4 stays can be awarded monthly. Jobs, affordable housing and schools are available, the town is spacious and green, and nature is close. Whether the successful campaign for the ‘probewohnen’ can stop the loss of population remains to be seen.