Evening star., 1942-05-18
By ALVIN J. STEINKOPF,

BY ALVIN J. STEINKOPF,
Associated Press War Correspondent.
LISBON, May l8.-Germany Is q
land Of irritating shortages. but 1t
would be idle to assume that the
lack OF many things of ordinary
living comfort means the nation Is
on the verge Of collapse.
While in internment at Bad
Nauheim, an acquaintance Of this
writer paid 10 marks about 50 for
two pairs Of shoe laces. Behind
this extraordinary transaction lies
the story OF the so-called Black
Market, which nourishes today in
Germany.
A great number Of commodities
are not to be found in German
shops, but they show upsin the
illegal Black Market, which thrives
despite the death penalty and other
drastic police efforts at suppression.
German economy is geared to the
needs of war and inevitably over
looks many requirements OF the
civilians who find life increasingly
difficult. The most casual shopping
tour of wartime Berlin discloses
that the citizen who is not at the
front is getting along without many
trifles which no one ever stopped
to think were important to friction
less living.
Articles Hard to Find.
1t Is very hard to find shoe laces,
toothpaste, buttons, thread, en-
velopes, paper, paper clips,
suspenders, dust cloths, floor wax,
light cords, typewriter ribbons or
Photographic film-to mention just
a few of the little things one
doesn't think about when speculat-
ing on the meaning of total war.
1t would be false to assume that
the blockade on internal needs has
become so acute that Germany can
not manufacture hairpins or tooth
paste. The Reich could make such
things in abundance, but the su-
preme economic planners have SIM
ply decided that no labor or factory
space must be devoted to anything
that is not primarily essential to
the prosecution Of the war.
So the manufacturer and mer-
chant willing to risk violation OF
the stringent laws are making vast
profits.
Economically, it is the story OF
United States prohibition all over
again except that the penalties are
much more severe than those which
confronted the American bootlegger.
The Black Market merchant may
be an ordinary shopkeeper who does
some stealthy undercover business
with his favorite customers who do
not mind paying prices far above
the legally fixed limits. Or the
Black Market trader may be some
one you meet in a cafe who has
French silk stockings or coffee. Or
one may get in touch with the Black
Marketer through tip from a
friend.
Coffee S18 . Pound.
The Black Markets highest price
for coffee quoted to this writer was
40 marks (about s18) per pound.
There are purchasers even at such
a price because one OF the effects OF
the war on Germany has been to
increase incomes slightly, but to de-
crease sharply the number Of COM
which may be purchased.
Price fixing and rationing have
increased the amount of money IN
the citizens pockets and the cit
liens in many instances are doubt
ing whether saving Is worth while
in view of the certainty that the
mark will explode like rubber bal
loon If Germany loses the war. Thus
the citizen does not mind paying
too much for things he can enjoy
now.
A curious feature Of the German
black market is the large number
of Italians involved in the busi-
ness. The housewife may not know
where to buy jelly glasses, but the
chances are that the thousands OF
Italian workers who have been
brought into Germany can lay their
hands on some. Despite the stern
laws controlling conversion Of Ger
man money into foreign currency,
the Italians know the devious ways
of getting cash to Italy.
One of the current jokes in Ber-
lin is that the best place to buy
wines and liquors is at the Italian
Embassy.
Deals are not made at the En-
bassy itself. but q number Of highly
placed employees can arrange the
deal on the outside. Some Germans
are beginning to mutter and grum-
BILE that the Reich possibly is too
to Axis visitors.
Penalties Are Severe.
Penalties for black market opera
tions are severe and death SEN
tences are frequent.
A typical case in recent weeks was
a special court action against Karl
owner of factory at
Rehau. He bought cowhides and
tanned them without the requisite
reports to the government and sold
the leather to Heinrich Fischer,
owner of a shoe factory at Selbitz.
manufactured shoes and
failed to pool them in what the
German economists cali "the whole
reservoir Of peoples goods" He sold
the shoes to merchants who retailed
them outside the ratiooinE 9yaeem.
winteYltng M condemned 10
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