Upon beginning reading Berlin at War by Roger Moorhouse, I was inspired by the details of the festivities associated with the celebration of Adolf Hitler’s birthday on April 20th in 1939. Throughout reading the prologue, I could not help but notice the similarities between the morale of the German city on Hitler’s birthday and that…
Berlin Morale
If chapter four (“Marching on their Stomachs”) focused on the rationing, chapter two (“A Guarded Optimism”) highlighted the effects of the blackout upon the Berlin residents. It is interesting to see how both affected people’s morale but the rationing was immensily more effective (militarly speaking). The advent of radar technology made the blackouts innefective yet…
My Character in Berlin
My character is a German man, age 25 in 1939 living in Berlin. He comes from a wealthy family and is a member of the Nazi party. I chose this character because he is my polar opposite and I believe it will be an interesting experience to delve into such a different perspective. The Berlin…
(More) Rations and Restrictions
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,…
To Ration or Not To Ration – That is the Question
In times of war and natural disaster, rationing may play a major role. In Nazi Germany, citizens were given ration cards for food, clothing, coal, and other basic necessities. The government proclaimed that “Nobody shall hunger or freeze” (75). In contrast to the situation of World War I, the Nazi Party was able to adequately…
Crime Gone Wild
As the Second World War began, many restrictions were placed on the citizens of Nazi Germany. Blackout regulations were one of the major necessities that the government imposed during the first day of warfare. The reason for this was to limit the possibility of being bombed by their opposition, such as by Great Britain or…
A Half-Century Celebration Like No Other
Adolf Hitler’s 50th birthday was celebrated on April 20th, 1939 in Berlin. A large-scale parade helped kick-start the occasion. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, as would be the case in Nazi Germany when celebrating their Führer’s birthday called “Führerweather”. This whole concept of celebrating a leader’s birthday in such a style seems very foreign to…
Angst. (Fear.)
Simulated diary entry from my character, a 22-year-old German woman living alone in Berlin. Es gibt keine sichere Beförderungsart für eine Frau in Berlin. Mit dieser Verdunkelung werde die ganze Stadt eine freie Arena für die Kriminalität. Nach der Arbeit muss ich eine Taschenlampe mitbringen aber mit einem roten Farbglas. Ich würde die Bahn nehmen, aber es ist…
Berlin and Propaganda
To me, one of the most interesting aspects of studying Nazi Germany (and the Second World War in general) is the abundance of propaganda produced and distributed among the German people. Personally, I find Goebbels’ and Reifenstahl’s films to be the most fascinating form of propaganda under the Third Reich, but Moorhouse mentions several other…
WWI Narrative with a Twist
It was interesting to learn about World War II from a non-Hollywood perspective. As amusing and heartbreaking movies as Schindler List and The Pianist are, they portray the standpoint of a specific group. The German civilians under the Nazi regime are seldom given a voice in these post-war narratives as in Berlin at War. This…