I think Barkley has a point, regardless how we view the issue of war
reparations and GDP. Level of development is a function of industrial
infrastructure, organization, urbanization, human capital and know-how -
and Germany was a leader in all these aspects - as opposed to Russia, which
largely emulated the German models (thus being a developing country - see
for example Gershenkron's relative backwardness theory of development).
>From that point of view, the imposition of the Soviet-style central
planning, which was for a large part emulation of the late 19th century
German cartel organization, was indeed a set-back for E. Germany and, I may
add, Czechoslovakia. OTOH, it was a blessing for the backward Poland,
whose early attempt of modernization after the 1926 Pisludski's coup was
not very successful. IMHO, Poles should elevate central planners and their
Soviet sponsors to sainthood for bringing that oasis of backwardness to the
European level of development.
In short, the following x-Warsaw bloc countries can be considered developing: Bulgaria, Poland, and Romania, I would also throw in Slovakia even though it was not a separate country until 1992. Of course, x-Soviet republics that gained statehood are also developing, as their "mother" Russia.
Countries that can be considered developed are: Czechoslovakia (esp. Bohemia), and GDR, whereas Hungary was perhaps a borderline case.
wojtek