During the Cold War, the Trabant was referred to as the “people’s car” throughout Eastern Europe. The automobile, which was produced by the Communist Party-controlled state monopoly HQM Sachsenring GmbH, served as a symbol of life behind the infamous Iron Curtain. The cars were, to put it mildly, unreliable, frequently smoking and having burned-out engines. However, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, they turned into a well-known kitsch image of a united Europe, as demonstrated by their usage by the Irish band U2 on their albums Acthung Baby and ZOOTV Tour.