15

Interlude

In 1950 the “Sterngesellschaft GmbH” was nationalized and in 1951 the name was changed to VEB Oberlausitzer Stern- und Lampenschirmfabrik (Upper Lusatia star and lampshade factory). Among the items produced were bird cages, not in a nostalgic fashion but in the style of the 1960s and 1970s. Countless budgies in the GDR lived their lives in these cages.
When manufacturing – and even worse, the production of stars – no longer seemed to befit socialist industrial production, decision was taken to get rid of it. What happened was highly unusual for the era – the production was given back into the hands of the United Brethren. The economic situation remained precarious as the new business was subjected to stately production schedules.