Germany’s Rustbelt Revival

On location in the former steel and coal region of Germany, historian and author Katja Hoyer reports on the remarkable transition cities such as Dortmund and Essen have made abandoning the old heavy industries for an economy reliant on high tech and startups. The cities have cleaned up environmentally but there have been social and political costs as the old jobs disappeared.

Produced by Susan Marling

Broadcast: 24th October 2026