If you had to live in an Eastern Bloc country during the Cold War, which would you choose?

[Alben Barkley]

Not including Yugoslavia due to the Tito-Stalin split and subsequent breaking away from the Eastern Bloc.

For me it’s probably Poland or East Germany. I heard they were generally the least awful.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Not including Yugoslavia due to the Tito-Stalin split and subsequent breaking away from the Eastern Bloc.

For me it’s probably Poland or East Germany. I heard they were generally the least awful.

Um...who said that? To put it mildly it's very VERY much not true. Largely because East Germany was the most tied to the Soviets, and thus also had the most repressive and efficient secret police (Stasi) with direct funding and support from them.

I voted for Hungary, which is generally considered to be the least awful.

[Mr. Smith]

Probably Czechoslovakia.

Not including Yugoslavia due to the Tito-Stalin split and subsequent breaking away from the Eastern Bloc.

For me it’s probably Poland or East Germany. I heard they were generally the least awful.

Um...who said that? To put it mildly it's very VERY much not true. Largely because East Germany was the most tied to the Soviets, and thus also had the most repressive and efficient secret police (Stasi) with direct funding and support from them.

I voted for Hungary, which is generally considered to be the least awful.

USSR and East Germany also had really high living standards too, for what that system was.


As for most repressive, and with the lowest-living standard that award goes to Albania, which given how it switched to China, then Yugoslavia, is a dubious example for Eastern Bloc as we know it.

[Pouring Rain and Blairing Music]

East Germany. Their cars were terrible, but at least they had character. Other eastern bloc cars are just rubbish *and* boring.

[Mr. Smith]

East Germany. Their cars were terrible, but at least they had character. Other eastern bloc cars are just rubbish *and* boring.

Ladas and Skodas have plenty character, especially Ladas.

[Storr]

Poland: no postwar invasions by the USSR, lots of free land after millions of Germans were expelled from Silesia, Pomerania, East Prussia, etc., and beautiful beaches on the Baltic.

[Blow by blow, the passion dies]

Bulgaria, as it was fairly rich and was known as the "Silicon Valley of Eastern Europe"

[Santander]

East Germany, obviously. I don't care about freedom.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Czechoslovakia because it had the most beautiful women and Prague is one of the most picturesque European cities.

[PSOL]

East Germany and it isn’t even close.

[Del Tachi]

Hungary.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Stupid question. Not having choices was the whole point, so you do not get choices.

[Alben Barkley]

Stupid question. Not having choices was the whole point, so you do not get choices.

Well obviously you couldn't choose if you were actually around back then. This is more like if you had to go back in time today and live in one of those countries, and could pick one. It's a theoretical thought experiment from the perspective of the present day, not a theoretical thought experiment asking you what you would have chosen at a time and place when no choice existed.

[Pouring Rain and Blairing Music]

East Germany. Their cars were terrible, but at least they had character. Other eastern bloc cars are just rubbish *and* boring.

Ladas and Skodas have plenty character, especially Ladas.

Not sure if agree about most about Ladas having character (granted, the Niva was solid and it’s impressive that Egypt made the Riva through 2012).

Skodas though? The 110 R looks hella cool.

Tatras are also pretty nifty tbf. So maybe I’d have to consider Czechoslovakia as option 2.

[TDAS04]

Without Yugoslavia as an option, this is a tough choice. Voted Bulgaria, because I’ve heard their food is good.

[Santander]

Without Yugoslavia as an option, this is a tough choice. Voted Bulgaria, because I’ve heard their food is good.

Most Balkan food is very similar. (and quite good)

[TDAS04]

Without Yugoslavia as an option, this is a tough choice. Voted Bulgaria, because I’ve heard their food is good.

Most Balkan food is very similar. (and quite good)

But the rest of the Balkan region is excluded from the poll, except for Albania and Romania, which were the most oppressive.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Without Yugoslavia as an option, this is a tough choice. Voted Bulgaria, because I’ve heard their food is good.

Most Balkan food is very similar. (and quite good)

I lived in Romania for five years and the food wasn't particularly good. Mostly soups, porridges, and cooked vegetables.
The only meals I enjoyed were when I went to the Carpathians (Brasov and Peles Castle) and ate bear meat (bacon and steak).  

[Dr. MB]

No love for Hoxha?

[PSOL]

No love for Hoxha?

The poll seems to define the “eastern bloc” as synonymous with Soviet-aligned erroneously; Romania cannot be defined as Soviet-aligned in any measure of the word as it was arguably more pro-western than Yugoslavia.

[RINO Tom]

If I'm going to be a miserable subject of Communists, at least let me do it in Prague.