No it was not. A Lada was basically unaffordable, most people owned Trabants and Skodas, Wartburg etc. You had to wait at least 3-4 years (in the early days of the GDR), and some colors were sparce, so it could be that a random car would be assigned to you, regardless of what you filled in on the formular. You also still had to wait for other cars from the socialist foreign countries. A used car market did not exist, but if you had good connections you could transfer the waiting list from another person to you, if they wanted. (sry for bad english)
Did people care about the colour thing? Almost everyone I know can only afford second hand cars, which means the colour is less important than the engine history, etc. Then again, most cars only come ina shade of black, white, grey, blue, and red. So much for choice under capitalism.
I did not live during the GDR, but from what I have heard, people made do. I personally dont find it bad, it is way more resource friendly. If you are conditioned to the illusion of choice in a capitalist system, this will sound bad to many, even if it isnt. A car is a car. A means of transportation. Who cares if it is green or red.
btw i have my knowledge of the gdr's history mostly from people that grew up there, that's how i first noticed how the portrayal in the history books is not accurate to say the least
I would reckon that part of that picture also was that socialist city planning meant that people had less need for a car than in the west. If you can walk, bike or take a bus anywhere you need to go then having to wait for a car is less of a nuisance than if you live in a city designed by car rains.
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No it was not. A Lada was basically unaffordable, most people owned Trabants and Skodas, Wartburg etc. You had to wait at least 3-4 years (in the early days of the GDR), and some colors were sparce, so it could be that a random car would be assigned to you, regardless of what you filled in on the formular. You also still had to wait for other cars from the socialist foreign countries. A used car market did not exist, but if you had good connections you could transfer the waiting list from another person to you, if they wanted. (sry for bad english)
Nothing wrong with your English.
Did people care about the colour thing? Almost everyone I know can only afford second hand cars, which means the colour is less important than the engine history, etc. Then again, most cars only come ina shade of black, white, grey, blue, and red. So much for choice under capitalism.
I did not live during the GDR, but from what I have heard, people made do. I personally dont find it bad, it is way more resource friendly. If you are conditioned to the illusion of choice in a capitalist system, this will sound bad to many, even if it isnt. A car is a car. A means of transportation. Who cares if it is green or red.
btw i have my knowledge of the gdr's history mostly from people that grew up there, that's how i first noticed how the portrayal in the history books is not accurate to say the least
I would reckon that part of that picture also was that socialist city planning meant that people had less need for a car than in the west. If you can walk, bike or take a bus anywhere you need to go then having to wait for a car is less of a nuisance than if you live in a city designed by car rains.