The sugar industry in the new German Lander has made enormous technica
l and economic progress since the takeover of the existing factories b
y German and Danish sugar companies and the restructuring of the indus
try. This article examines the reasons why this boom was not possible
in the previous 40 years. Starting with the structure of the sugar ind
ustry of East Germany (GDR), the technical equipment, investment, as w
ell as the manufacture of machines and installations in industry-owned
machine shops are looked at in detail. Also discussed are particular
aspects of the beet supply, sugar and animal feed production, energy g
eneration, and environmental protection. In this context, the reasons
for the high labour requirements and lack of economic efficiency of th
e GDR sugar industry become apparent.