Just another day in East Germany?

Yesterday, we embarked on our journey home from Buchen. It takes about ten hours and four trains. I don't mind it because I am one of those creeps who can fall asleep on moving objects (Except planes when I'm alone) Anyway, we arrived in Erfurt, which is East Germany. A few years ago, it was in the news because of the Erfurt Masscare, where a kid shot a bunch of his teachers. It's also where the neo nazi's tried to hold some demonstration, and it's where we found ourselves surrounded by several dozen swarms of police and hundreds of punk kids dressed head to toe in black. Some wore sunglasses and had scarves wrapped around their faces. It seemed like a party for them as they shouted loudly to each other and spread themselves all over the station. Some sat together, cross-legged, on the floor of the Bahnhof, others held each other and whispered in each others ears while laughing at the cops who stood at the ready with riot gear on their hips. 

After an uncomfortable visit to the bathroom, Anna and I made our way upstairs to the platform. We tried to stay as far away from the ever expanding crowd of punks but we were enclosed by a circle of Police. Anna pointed out that the whole station was surrounded by them. I looked out onto the street and sure enough four or five police cars stood waiting with their lights flashing. 

Our train finally pulled up. As it did, the cops made their way closer to the crowd. One woman cop had a camcorder affixed to a stick so she could record whatever was about to happen. My heart was smashing itself against my chest screaming at me to get the fuck out of there. 

Anna and I boarded our train, along with several punk kids, and two cops. The cops left after ten or so stops but the kids remained. Everyone got off the train except me, Anna, and the punks. They shouted at each other, kicked seats, and lit cigarettes, but they left us alone. 

When we got to Berlin, they were still everywhere. They seemed even more rowdy. Three of them were on the S-Bahn with us back to Spandau, yelling slogans about Erfurt and "The man who parts his hair on the side" 

I've searched the news for any sign that some riot broke out--nothing. Perhaps the cops succeded in keeping the kids at bay. 

Why you got to be so scary, East Germany?