I've read about former aristocrats reclaiming their lands in the former East Germany where people have abandoned rural areas for the west and the cities. They're investing in them again to reclaim their heritage. Who knows if they'll just be broke again in 20 years, but it's nice that someone's taking an interest in these godforsaken regions.
They better be getting their wives pregnant because the land is more or less useless without people. I know in many rural towns (both East and West) the sewerage system is not working because the population decrease has been so severe that the water flow is now not adequate in the sewers to operate the system!
I read in some of thoses areas wolves are back after 100 years.
I did some exploring by car and train in the far eastern parts of Germany last summer, those "God forsaken" parts you mentioned. It's very beautiful territory, the landscape reminding me very much of the hillier parts of New York or Pennsylvania.
It is true that there is a depopulation going on...as there are very few jobs (20% + unemployment in the country and small towns) but the villages are gorgeous.
Lots of "Fachtwerk" (timber-frame) houses, with unique patterns, depending on the region. This was the most Lutheran part of Germany, Saxony being its center.
Probably a majority now, due to the heavy hand of Communism (they were after all the most strict communists next to North Korea 20 years ago) are atheist or agnostic...but there are a few Christians around. Everyone too is very proud of their Christian heritage...and you better not say anything bad about Martin Luther to anyone on the train!
Eastern Germany is being depopulated, but, unlike the Western side of Germany, it is not being filled up with immigrants, Turkish or from any other Islamic people. There really are so few jobs, so its not attractive to immigrants, and it just reminds one of the American rust belt times 10..... When you travel by train for instance it's common for something like 1 in 5 train stations of small towns to be closed and covered in graffiti, a really sad thing, especially given that the countryside is so pretty.
Thuringia the state next to Saxony, has huge timber resources....with a higher percentage of trees than any other German state. Wartburg castle is here, where Luther hid out...its supposed to be one of the best preserved castles in Europe--having never been successfully conquered.
In any event, it's a beautiful country--and folk were universally friendly to this American. I'd encourage people to visit this part of Germany, the regions around Leipzig and Dresden, as its a bit off the beaten path of typical tourism.