What is your definition of socialism and communism? “Socialism” is used with a very wide set of definitions. Both the French socialist party (which is at most center-left) and the East German SED would have described themselves as “socialist”, and surely the latter at least would have thought socialism was incompatible with capitalism and that communism was its end goal.
Communism was always the goal if we’re talking about those countries. We were “building communism” and socialism was just a temporary pit stop on the way.
What is your definition of socialism and communism? “Socialism” is used with a very wide set of definitions. Both the French socialist party (which is at most center-left) and the East German SED would have described themselves as “socialist”, and surely the latter at least would have thought socialism was incompatible with capitalism and that communism was its end goal.
Communism was always the goal if we’re talking about those countries. We were “building communism” and socialism was just a temporary pit stop on the way.