The BBC has a nice article on the young Vlad Putin's early KGB years in East Germany. He and his then-wife were stationed there when the wall came down.
The Beeb believes understanding Putin's early years is useful in picturing how he conceptualizes patriotism, governance, etc. It is good to be reminded that during the Soviet heyday, the standard of living was higher in East Germany than in Russia.
Although Communism never worked terribly well anywhere, it did function somewhat better in East Germany than in Russia or Ukraine. German culture is more pro-work and less alcohol-sodden than the Russian version.
