Evening star., 1942-05-18
BY LOUIS p. LOCHNER,

AO~AoA aeAoAh oA WdA o1A Vic SAAAOCN
States brought the sharpest, most
sudden upward curve In rationing
that the German nation has yet
seen-giving the lie to the German
Propaganda Ministry's claim that
the United States entry into the
war would be too late to affect its
course.
There Is perhaps no better way to
demonstrate the manifest deterior-
alton of the German economic posi-
ton than to enumerate the more i'm
portant restrictions We were able to
Gull from the German press during
our internment in Bad Nauheim
from the beginning Of 1912 to May T.
These restrictions and regulations
follow in chronological order:
January IA decree prohibited
the exhibition in show windows OF
goods not available in normal guam
titles for sale in the store. Earlier,
shopkeepers had been compelled to
keep their windows attractively dec
Grated with samples to give an i'm
preston of economic plenty. All
such pretense was dropped four
weeks after the United States en-
tered the war.
January 7.-"Feldkueche," one
dish field kitchen meal, was made
obligatory on all restaurants for
Mondays and Thursdays. The peo-
pie were told it was the healthiest
thing imaginable for them.
January 16-Tobacco rationing was
frightened with the introduction of a
smokers ration card. Women over
IS were allotted half rations and the
ration for men went down to three
cigarettes or one thin cigar daily in
some localities, two cigarettes in
other places.
Clearance Sales Banned.
January 17-Clearance sales were
forbidden. The real reason: Deal
ers no longer had anything to
clear" The same day a drastic
reduction In the number OF passen-
ger trains was announced.
January 20-Merchants were
warned not to make barter deals.
This decree was intended to curb
black market operations, some mer-
chants preferring to barter their
wares for desirable goods held by
customers rather than sell them for
cash.
January 22-The nightly blackout
hours we're revised to save electric
current.
January 29-Restaurants were or
dered closed at 10 pm. to save cur
rent and economic on help.
January 3o-The ration Of eggs
for February was set at two per-
son. An inventory Of potatoes in
private homes was ordered with the
understanding that those with re-
serves would not be allowed to pur-
chase more for some time.
January 3l-Hat repairs, previous
" exempt from ration restrictions,
were included In list for which
clothing points" were required.
February berlin hotels were
advised they could not accept guests
for more than three consecutive
weeks or rent rooms for ONCE pur-
poses. Some persons had tried to
overcome the coal shortage in their
homes by taking warm hotel rooms.
AL Fairs Cancelled.
February 11-All fairs and exposi-
tions In Germany-including the
centuries-old Leipzig Fair-were
Cancelled. This was an admission
that German manufacturers had
nothing to offer and the transporta-
ton problem was becoming more
acute.
February 13-The purchase of
mourning clothes was restricted to
the closest relatives OF the deceased.
February 1+Dancing was forbid
den even at private parties.
February Hooper coins were
Withdrawn from circulation and
cheap metal tokens substituted.
February 18-The press an
nounced that many more enter
prises producing goods for civilian
needs would be converted into plants
producing solely for war needs
Already some 80 per cent of civilian
production had been stopped
Feberuary l9-Rationing of petro-
leum began.
February 20-To save paper, fam
lilies corresponding with soldiers at
the front we're told not to use en-
velopes. Shoppers were urged to
bring travel bags to stores to carry
home their purchases.
February 21-In Berlin, Breslau
and other cities, seats were removed
from streetcars to permit the crowd
ing of more people into already
overburdened public vehicles.
February 24-Throughout the
state Of Hesse, and presumably in
other places, special ration cards for
alcoholic beverages were introduced.
Butter Rations Cut.
February 27-Butter rations were
reduced to 625 grams (about 2
ounces) a person each week
February 28-The sale Of women's
hats was banned.
March Manufactures were
told to use "ersatz" leaves for the
outer covering of cigars.
March 6-The Food Ministry Or
dered a survey of all available truck
gardening space throughout Ger
many.
March 7-Steel bottles used in
certain industries were made sub
ject to special permits.
March 12-Farmers were urged to
be most sparing and economical in
the use of seeds during the spring
planting.
March 14-Clubs, societies and be-
nevolent institutions were warned
not to amass fortunes but to keep
their incomes liquid and at the
disposal of the country.
March l5AThe collection of old
and useless aluminium pots and pans
was started.
March 17-Any one applying for
special ration card was warned
1, - G~,-