Drywall already existed in the late 1950ies here too, but just didn't come into fashion until the late 1960ies or early 70ies. Don't kno about the GDR, maybe it didn't exist there at all. I have a strong dislike against that stuff since it's extremely easy to kick in. Until around 1880 Austria only knew rock, brick and logs as building materials, resulting in pretty solid construction. Around that time gypsum panels came up - 2 or 3" thick solid gypsum panels, 24x36" put up like brickwork, made of gypsum and scoria. Not as solid as brick but still quite substantial it was used until after WWII for non load bearing walls. Another drywall substitute is aerated concrete block.
For woodwork like finished attics for a long time Heraklith boards have been used, wood shavings pressed with cement. Since it's a full inch thick it's noticeably more substantial than drywall and due to the rough surface it can be plastered over with conventional plaster. Also to some extent thermal insulation.
The French and Italian style of just clipping a rats nest of cables to the facades has always amazed me. Compared to law-and-order Germany Austria has always been considered somewhat a balcan country, but no Austrian would do that even in his wildest dreams!
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