The mood within the city of Berlin shifted with the changes in the war for Germany in 1940. There was a depressing atmosphere because of strict rationing, enduring blackouts, and lost loved ones. Berliners tried to distract themselves through entertainment, such as theaters. By 1941, from the Berliners’ perspective, Germany seemed to have won the war, with both France and Britain severely harmed.
It seems that Berliners had mixed reactions towards the war. I found it particularly interesting that the German communists felt relieved when the Nazis attacked the Soviet Union. My initial reaction was that they would be fearful, but the author explained that the attacked essentially chose their side for them. To make matters worse for Berliners, they experienced one of the worst winters in European history in the 1939-1940 season. This affected all modes of transportation for the city. I found it crazy that the harsh winter essentially shut down the entire city. Berliners ran out of coal, leaving businesses to close and people without heating.