The current crisis in fuel prices is hitting many drivers in Germany hard. Despite several measures taken by the federal government, such as limiting price increases to once a day and the upcoming tank rebate, fuel prices remain high, averaging over two euros per liter. This article takes a look back at the fuel situation in the DDR (East Germany) and how it differed from today's situation. In the DDR, fuel prices were state-regulated and remained stable for years, with prices for normal gasoline, super, and diesel set at 1.50, 1.65, and 1.40 marks per liter, respectively. This was due to the DDR's ability to produce its own fuel and a lower gasoline consumption rate compared to West Germany. The article provides two examples of fuel consumption for the Trabant 601 and Wartburg 353, showing that a full tank of fuel would cost around 39 and 63 marks, respectively, and would provide a range of around 370 and 450 kilometers. The article also mentions that Minol was the primary fuel brand in the DDR, with around 1,300 fuel stations in the 1980s, and discusses the difficulty of accurately converting DDR marks to today's euro values due to the fixed exchange rate at the time of reunification. The author concludes by reflecting on the fact that, despite state subsidies, fuel prices in the DDR were still higher in relation to private monthly income compared to today's prices.
