That might be debatable, and I think it depends on the particular communist, and the particular location. Greece, Romania, and Yugoslavia, didn't seem to be better under National Socialism than Communism. If you're going to be trapped under Communism, Tito's probably a better bet if Gorbachev isn't available.
Meanwhile, Poland is less murdered, but only after Stalin is dead, same with Ukraine. So long-term Poland is better off under Communism maybe? Just don't be born in the wrong decade? Ukraine starts off worse with the Holodomor, doesn't get better under the Holocaust, but DOES get better under Kruschev, then stops getting better, and gets irradiated with Chernobyl. Offsetting penalties I guess, but we can see why Azov has appeal. Czechoslovakia is kind of a mirror version of this where neither Germany nor the USSR were particularly bloodthirsty in Czechoslovakia. Certainly nobody seemed to want to go back to the days when the NatSocs were in charge, when the option of a liberal democracy was available.
I suppose the fact that nobody really went back to explore Fascism or National Socialism after the fall of the USSR is kinda telling what people thought of it. You'll probably have more fans of Monarchism than Fascism in Eastern Europe.
That might be debatable, and I think it depends on the particular communist, and the particular location. Greece, Romania, and Yugoslavia, didn't seem to be better under National Socialism than Communism. If you're going to be trapped under Communism, Tito's probably a better bet if Gorbachev isn't available.
Meanwhile, Poland is less murdered, but only after Stalin is dead, same with Ukraine. So long-term Poland is better off under Communism maybe? Just don't be born in the wrong decade? Ukraine starts off worse with the Holodomor, doesn't get better under the Holocaust, but DOES get better under Kruschev, then stops getting better, and gets irradiated with Chernobyl. Offsetting penalties I guess, but we can see why Azov has appeal. Czechoslovakia is kind of a mirror version of this where neither Germany nor the USSR were particularly bloodthirsty in Czechoslovakia. Certainly nobody seemed to want to go back to the days when the NatSocs were in charge, when the option of a liberal democracy was available.