Doping alone would not have achieved all of that. Meanwhile, East Germans also enjoyed summer, sun, and beaches – often as practitioners of FKK (Free Body Culture – aka nudism).

These are 10 of Germany’s best swimming spots – from river shores and idyllic lakes to endless white sands stretching as far as the eye can see.

East Germany’s culture minister used the recent 300th anniversary of the Dresden State Theater to proclaim that there is no common German culture, and a Foreign Ministry officer recently ...