Crossword Genius

One in fifty backing East German city overall (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

tennessee

'one in fifty' is the definition.
(one of the fifty US states)

'backing east german city overall' is the wordplay.
'backing' says the letters should be written backwards.
'east' becomes 'e' ('E' can be a synonym of 'east').
'german city' becomes 'essen' (I've seen this before).
'overall' becomes 'net' (I've seen this in other clues).
'e'+'essen'+'net'='eessennet'
'eessennet' reversed gives 'TENNESSEE'.

(Other definitions for tennessee that I've seen before include "Memphis's state" , "Williams, say" , "American state, capital Nashville" , "Teen sense observed in American state" , "Famous American playwright . . . . . . . . . Williams" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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