While reading chapter 4 of Berlin at War, it was nearly impossible not to notice the parallels (and differences) between the Berliners’ experiences in the Second World War and that of German citizens in World War I. According to Moorhouse, inadequate or nonexistent rations were the main issue plaguing German citizens in the capital. Starvation, however, seemed to be much less of a problem for Berliners during World War II, most likely due to the lack of a naval blockade of the German coast. This meant that while citizens’ diets were heavily (negatively) affected, shortages did not reach starvation levels. As in the the First World War, the ersatz products that replaced the genuine ones with the advent of war provided little nutritional value. Despite the state’s best efforts to promote a positive spirit among the German people, the poor quality of rations served to severely decrease overall mood. In both wars, food shortages proved to be a blow to civilian morale.
I have also begun to consider how these factors would affect my character for the field study. As an 18-year-old German male studying at the university in Berlin, he would have obviously been affected by the inclimate weather during the winter of 1940, which caused the university to close mid-day. Like any other Berliner, my character would also have been subjected to the numerous rations and restrictions discussed above. I am also considering the very real possibility that by this point in the war, my character may have been drafted, if he were not already serving the often mandatory military duty. This is an aspect I will have to research in more depth, but it is an experience that I would like to include in my narrative.