Eastern Europe Since World War II

Through the 1950s and 60s, the economies of Eastern European countries, like those in the West, experienced rapid growth. Citizens in these countries enjoyed even better welfare benefits, such as a guaranteed salary, education, health care, housing, and retirement benefits.

In Eastern European countries, the governments, rather than private industry, controlled this economic growth. The wealth generated was focused heavily on building up the military, rather than producing more consumer goods. So quality of life did not improve for most Eastern Europeans, as it did for those in Western Europe. Those who did benefit from this growth were members of the Communist Party, who lived much better than ordinary people.