The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1946-04-11
Black Market Flourish
ing Business In Berlin,
1t. X. Triplett Writes


marked but one may pass freely
from zone to zone. In this respect,
Berlin is different from the rest of
Germany. Russian occupied Germany
is difficult to enter since special
permission must be obtained from
Russia. This is not easy for the
average person. The British French,
and American zone, however, are
entrance free with no strings at
tached.
To go from any of these three
zones into Berlin, it is necessary to
pass through $50 miles of Russian
occupied Germany since Berlin is
deep in the Russian zone. There is
one and only one road by which
vehicles are permitted through this
corridor. Likewise there are speci-
fed aerial routes to enter Berlin by
plane. 1t is true, however, that
many pilots prefer their own route
which raises some words from the
Russians and also at times raises
some harmless anti-aircraft fire.
Living conditions in Berlin for the
civilian population are incredible. A
tour through Berlin Immediately
raises the question, "Where do the
people live?" You must look mighty
close among some of the ruins to
find the answer. A big apartment
building with only the shell stand
ing has a few rooms patched up
with brick, paper, wood, and if
they're very lucky some glass. The
cellars, only slightly damaged, house
a great many.
Half of Houses Livable
While many buildings are utterly
ruined there are also many that are
untouched or entirely livable. Per-
haps to say SOC of Berlin's former
living quarters are now livable might
be roughly correct.
Heat is naturally a big factor.
People with electric heaters have
little advantage since the electricity
is so strictly rationed that their
entire ration is used before the heat
er gets red. Coal is practically non
existent for civilian heating. The
only thing left is wood. The people
have been permitted to cut down the
war SCARED trees in Berlin's famous
Tiergarten. The former park is now
bare track of land pitted with
stumps. With nothing else to do
many Germans spend lot of time
in bed to keep warm.
Food likewise is a big problem
German civilians are given a fooo
ration card but seldom is the amount
of their allowable ration available
Civilians are glad to get a job work
ing on military installation ol
post since this gives them one inca
day. Although the meal is general
| ly mush, coffee, and bread it j:
nourishings
British Cut Germans Rations
Rations to the civilians in the
British zone of Germany has recent
ly been reduced from the 1906
calories per day Subsistence level)
to 1000 calories. American zone
now talks of reducing theirs from
1900 to 1900. For the average
civilian, there are two ways to keeE
alive, stealing or operating in the
black market.
The weird stories of Berlin's black
market are true. The medium oi
exchange is the cigarette and since
| Americans seem to have the corner
on fags they have a powerful weapon
to operate in the market. A cartor
of cigarettes sells for 1900 marks
| (S150.00). 1t is easy to see what
kind of racket is carried on under
these conditions, even though 6
soldier is limited to one carton &
week at the post exchange. By
converting the marks into money
orders, it was a simple matter tx
send money home. A system Of
currency control books are started
however, which allowed only money
on the book to be sent home. Ar
entry could be made only for army
pay or other legal sources of income
This system has been quite effec
tive in saving the government untolc
amounts required to back up the
printed marks. But if the soldier
can't get money for his cigarettes
they can be traded for cameras
pistols. diamonds, or anything o.
value. This was done and is still
continuing with great popularity
With rather stringent regulation.
regarding sending or taking thes,
items home much of the trading
probably will be in vain. Neverthe
less, great quantities have arrived il
the states.
Black Market Flourishes
The black market center is in tn,
Tiergarten but operators are arount
all military posts. Especially in th'
Tiergarten are the Russians will
their satcheIs of marks buyinl
everything imaginable. The Russian
cannot send their money home 81
they spend it and send the article
home. It is not uncommon to Sc,
| a Russian holding up a dress AM