East’s negative view of West

The majority of eastern Germans regard their western compatriots as “arrogant” and mostly interested in money, according to a new survey that highlights distinct east-west identities.

More than 22 years after the reunification of Germany, a major study by the Allensbach Institute showed that easterners held strongly negative views of westerners but high opinions of themselves.

The study found that 71 per cent of easterners believe westerners are “arrogant”, 57 per cent see westerners as interested primarily in money, and 45 per cent believe westerners are 
“shallow”.