If you had to live in Franco's Spain or Eastern Europe...

[Ethel mermania]

Wrong. Outside the USSR it was actually the GDR that was most prosperous.

East Germany was much more industrialized and had a far stronger economy than Yugoslavia.

But people in Yugoslavia could buy stereos, Nikes, blue jeans, and Pink Floyd.

And has beautiful beaches.

[Greed and Death]

Franco's Spain. I can leave if it gets bad which means it was at least decently ran from an economy point of view.

[The New California Republic]

East Germany was much more industrialized and had a far stronger economy than Yugoslavia.

But people in Yugoslavia could buy stereos, Nikes, blue jeans, and Pink Floyd.

And has beautiful beaches.

Berlin has beaches too.

[Tsarus]

Franco's Spain, simply because I agree with him far more than I do communism.

[Kaltovar]

I'd choose Eastern Europe, because there was an act by the US Congress allowing anyone who escaped it to join the US Army and then become a US Citizen after 5 years of service. I'd slowly build up my rations and take them in a sack down to the Greek boarder then walk into a US Embassy and ask for asylum. I'd end up with a steady job, an education, and ultimately a pension because I would stay in the Army.

[Thermodolia]

And has beautiful beaches.

Berlin has beaches too.

But Yugoslavia is better

[Ethel mermania]

And has beautiful beaches.

Berlin has beaches too.

Not on the adriatic.... anymore.

[Rojava Free State]

And has beautiful beaches.

Berlin has beaches too.

Yugoslavia has beautiful Albanian beaches, and not the kind you go swimming on.

[Thermodolia]

Berlin has beaches too.

Yugoslavia has beautiful Albanian beaches, and not the kind you go swimming on.

Albania isn’t Yugoslavia. Those are two very different nations

[Portals]

I would live in Franco's Spain because I feel like he wouldn't have as tight a grip as the Soviets

[Thermodolia]

I would live in Franco's Spain because I feel like he wouldn't have as tight a grip as the Soviets

Soviets =/= Eastern Europe. Technically Yugoslavia, Albania, and Greece are all Eastern European

[The Archregimancy]

I currently live in al-Sisi's Egypt.

I'm not sure that's too different from either of the scenarios in the OP, except we have better ruins.

[Vivolkha]

Some of my relatives fled Francoist Spain for South America in the 1950s.

Honestly, both are horrible, horrible places to be in. By the 1950s Spain was nearing an economic boom, whereas the USSR was through its best years and heading towards slow stagnation beginning in the late 1960s. But then again I would probably be safer from persecution and closer to the regime in a communist than in a fascist state, and by the 1950s the Eastern Bloc was past its harshest (politically) years.

Also, keep in mind that in both Spain and the Eastern Bloc (East Germany aside, kind of) you needed an exit permit to get out of the country. It was usually denied outright and tied to political criteria in the Eastern Bloc, whereas Spain had quotas for emigrating workers (and it was tied to political criteria as well).

[Czechoslovakia and Zakarpatia]

This. But many here choose Spain simply because of a knee-jerk reaction against the Soviet Union.

Or because in Spain they could actually leave.

You could leave the east through Yugoslavia, or through East Berlin before they actually start building the wall. Historical resources on the subject covered this. And Franco's Spain is just as repressive as the USSR in 1957, so there is no tangible difference to you as a citizen if you lived in there.

[Czechoslovakia and Zakarpatia]

Berlin has beaches too.

Yugoslavia has beautiful Albanian beaches, and not the kind you go swimming on.

Albania was unfortunately not part of Yugoslavia, as Bunker Enver firmly refused nearly all contact with the outside world asides from Mao's China.

[Ethel mermania]

I currently live in al-Sisi's Egypt.

I'm not sure that's too different from either of the scenarios in the OP, except we have better ruins.

How are the beaches?

[Sundiata]

Spain, not much would change pertaining to how I live my life and express my faith.

[Mirial Magna]

Spain, not much would change pertaining to how I live my life and express my faith.

Assuming you're an American who doesn't already know Spanish, all you'd have to do is brush up on the language and you'd be good to go.

I said this before, but things would be a bit difficult for me as a Calvinist.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Spain, not much would change pertaining to how I live my life and express my faith.

Oh boy, I’m going to laugh at the bold.

Catholic grandparents. Very devout. Still had to leave Francoist Spain.

[Mirial Magna]

Spain, not much would change pertaining to how I live my life and express my faith.

Oh boy, I’m going to laugh at the bold.

Catholic grandparents. Very devout. Still had to leave Francoist Spain.

What'd they do?

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Oh boy, I’m going to laugh at the bold.

Catholic grandparents. Very devout. Still had to leave Francoist Spain.

What'd they do?

Mainly being Catalonian.

[Bear Stearns]

By the 1950s, Spain was basically a wealthier version of some Latin American dictatorship. Not that bad if a place if you were an American businessman.

[Rio Cana]

Spain. I could live with the religious aspect if I had to, and besides. I can leave. Also, I rather do like a decent working wage as opposed to being funnelled into the Red Army, Navy or Airforce. Or y'know, dying from a disease after the vaccination was filled with water or saline.

Spain had compulsory military service which lasted 230 years. It was officially ended on 2002. They had to serve for nine months.

[Tokora]

If you simply want to leave ASAP, Yugoslavia is also a good choice, because, like I said, their border security with the west was quite weak, and it was the reason many refugees fleeing from the East passed through Yugoslavia to either Italy or Austria, as Tito didn't really bother maintaining a air-tight barrier after he broke up with Stalin and the USSR in the late 1940s. Yugoslavia was effectively a secret passage and a hole through the Iron Curtain.

If Yugoslavia was an option I'd choose it in a heartbeat, but didn't the op cleary state Eastern Europe while Yugoslavia is Southern Europe?

[Rio Cana]

Remember, during Franco times Spain had Spanish Sahara, Equatorial Guinea plus the two major enclaves that border Morocco.