Archduchess Katharina, Archduchess Martin of Austria-Este

At the table

The iconic West German Toast Hawaii

In West Germany during the 1970s, Toast Hawaii became a popular, iconic meal consisting of sandwich bread topped with ham, a canned pineapple ring, and processed cheese, often garnished with a maraschino cherry.

What people wore

Expensive blouse for a special trip

In 1986, a woman paid almost half a month's salary, about 200 DDR-Mark, for a petrol-colored blouse for a special cruise ship voyage.

Getting around

Shifting from bicycles to mass motorization

In the early postwar years, people primarily relied on bicycles, buses, and trains, with motorcycles becoming a popular initial step toward mass motorization. By the mid-1950s, affordable small cars like the BMW Isetta and the Volkswagen Beetle made individual car travel increasingly common for ordinary people.

What it cost

Consumer electronics costs in East Germany

In 1989, East German consumers paid 2,300 Mark for a fully automatic washing machine and 4,900 Mark for a color television.

Music

Rare records and fragile needles

Shellac records were so rare that customers had to trade in an old disc when buying a new one. The needles used to play them often wore out after only two or three uses.

Daily life

Affordable school lunches in the GDR

Eighty-five percent of children received a warm lunch at school, with parents typically paying 50 pfennigs per meal. Popular choices included Spirelli pasta with tomato sauce and Jagdwurst.