Food difficulties in Nazi Germany
Extent and Medium
2 online resources (1, 26 pages)
Scope and Content
The files contain information about the shortage of food in Germany before and at the beginning of the Second World war, and the measures taken in order to cope with the situation. The first intimation of food difficulties appears in the Nazi press in 1934. It begins with fodder and cattle shortage. Maximum prices are fixed for butter and offenders are threatened with fines. In December 1935, butter hoarders are threatened with confinement in Dachau concentration camp. The press refers to these hardships as temporary but they just increase as the years pass by. In 1936, the first card system for food stuffs is introduced and immediately after the outbreak of war, a stringent ration card system, with changes made for children, is introduced for the principal food stuffs like bread, meat, fat, cheese, milk, eggs, sugar...The reports also mention distribution difficulties and the attitude of the people. in April 1940, the whole German press publish the Ten Commandments for the Consumer.
Note(s)
Detailed dates of materials: 1934-1939, 1939-1940
Details of bibliographical references are in the content file.
Type-scripts, quotations from newspapers and books
Also available on microfilm reel 109 : frames 112-137
Subjects
- Consumption (Economics)--Germany--History--20th century.
- World War, 1939-1945--Economic aspects--Germany.
- Food supply--Germany--History--20th century.
- Agriculture--Germany--History--20th century.
- World War, 1939-1945--Food supply--Germany.
Places
- Germany--Economic conditions--20th century.