BERLIN • "If we catch a cold," Mr Holger Wachsmann says with an ambiguous smile, "the city is getting pneumonia".
The 51-year-old locksmith, who was a teenager when he joined the local steel mill EKO Stahl in Eisenhuttenstadt - 100km east of Berlin and bordering Poland - displays a mix of pride and concern.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you