The Holocaust in Germany: Shopping


Figure 1.--The boys here are trying on new shoes in a shop for children's school clothes in a Jewish quarter of Berlin in 1938. The younger boy seems to be about 7. The older boy, perhaps his brother, seems to be about 9 or 10. The shoes seem to be sturdy hightop boots, typically worn by German schoolboys during this period. The 7-year-old wears suspender shorts, a long-sleeved checked shirt with what looks like a bow tie, and long brown stockings. The older lad wears a short overcoat over a sweater, shorts, and knee socks. The younger boy seems to be delighted by the lady who is fitting him. The image is somewhat ironic because it gives no hint of the gathering oppression faced by Jewish families in Berlin in 1938.

We are not sure what shopping was like for Jews in the years before World War II. There was no rationoing before the Kristallnacht (November 1938) and World War II (September 1939). Thus the only requirement was the money. Certainly the NAZI racial measures had by 1938 impoverished many Jews so that large numbers were having difficulties affording even the bare necesities. Jews were after 1935 increasingly prohibited from public facilities likes parks and I think, theaters, museums and libraries. Jew did not until 1941 hsave to wear the yellow star badge, but violation of yhese municipal ordinances could invite a beating or even arrest. At this time we have few details about shopping. As far as I know, until the War Jews could shop where ever they wanted. I do not think many merchants refuse to seve them. Nor do we know if merchants adopted policies like those in America, such as not allowing Blacks to try on clothes. Another is the question of to what extent merchanys descriminated beyond ordinances enacted by the Government. In some larger cities, especially Berlin, there were areas of the city where Jews were concentrated. Many probably shopped in these areas. The image here shows a lady fitting Jewish boys. This would appear to be a Jewish shop because of the friendly atmosphere (figure 1). The source suggests that the shop specialized in clothing and shoes for school children. We are not sure who took this photograph and for what purpose. This is a subject thar requires further investigation. Hopefully readers with some insights will add to our understanding of this subject.

Early Years (1933-37)

We are not sure what shopping was like for Jews in the years before World War II. There was no rationoing before the Kristallnacht (November 1938) and World War II (September 1939). Thus the only requirement was the money. Certainly the NAZI racial measures had by 1938 impoverished many Jews so that large numbers were having difficulties affording even the bare necesities. Jews employed by the Giverment were mostly dismissed within a few months of the NAZI seizure of power. Gradually regulations were passed which restricted more and more Jews from making a living. At this time we have few details about shopping. As far as I know, until the War Jews could shop where ever they wanted. I do not think many merchants refuse to seve them. Nor do we know if merchants adopted policies like those in America, such as not allowing Blacks to try on clothes. Another is the question of to what extent merchanys descriminated beyond ordinances enacted by the Government. In some larger cities, especially Berlin, there were areas of the city where Jews were concentrated. Many probably shopped in these areas. The image here shows a Jewish mother shopping in one of these shops (Figure 1). We are not sure who took this photograph and for what purpose. This is a subject thar requires further investigation. Hopefully readers with some insights will add to our understanding of this subject.

Intensified Restrictions (1938-39))

The NAZIs intensified attacks on Jews in 1938. The NAZIs subsequently went after the assetts that Jews might have. April 22 1938: A decree was issued to prevent Jewish owners from hising ownership in businesses ("camouflage of Jewish industrial enterprises." April 22, 1938: A decree required Jews to declare all property valued more than 5,000 Reichsmarks (approx. $1,190). June 14 1938: A Decree was issued requiring Jews to register ownership in any industrial enterprises. These regulations enable treasury offices and police to compile lists of wealthy Jews which can then be extorted or seized. These measures of course by impoverising Jews made it difficult to show for even basic necessities. Jews were after 1935 increasingly prohibited from public facilities likes parks and I think, museums, and libraries. Jews were, forbidden to attend public cultural events (September 12 1938). Even the venneer of legal actions were abandoned in the vicious pogram of Kristallnacht (November 9-10, 1938). Following Kristallnacht, dDecrees were issued for the "atonement payments" by German Jews titaling $1 billion marks and further measures to prevent Jews from making a living were intoduced. It is at this time that Jews are prohibited from attending movies, concerts, and other cultural performances (November 12 1938). All Jewish businesses were closed and seized by NAZI officials (November 23, 1938). The Police issue a decree concerning the appearance of Jews in public and issue restrictions on the freedom of movement and travel (November 28, 1938). Authorities cancel the drivers licenses of Jews (December 3 1938). Jews did not until 1941 have to wear the yellow star badge, but violation of these municipal ordinances could invite a beating or even arrest.

War Years (1939-45)

Conditions for Jews deteriorated severely for Jews in Germany after Kristall nacht (November 1938) and the launching of World War II (November 1939). The move serious was deportations which for foreign Jews began in 1938. After the War began, deportations of German Jews began. Shopping a;so befcame moredifficult as rationing was introduced and Jews received much lower ratioins than other Germans. A variety of other regulations such as access to public transit, cars and bycycles, wearing the yellow badge, curfews, and other measures made shopping very difficult for Jews. A simple walk to a shop exposed a Jew to possible abuse or even arbitrary arrest. Most people in the 1930s lived day by day. Large refrigerators and frozen food were unknown. They usually had nothing in storage at home. So they spent a lot of time getting something to eat. Various accounts provide details on what shopping was like. One such account was written by Victor Klemperer. His wife who was not Jewish, did most of the shopping, but he himself had to go out to the stores when his sickly wife was not able to go. He tried to hide the Star of David on his coat with a shopping bag. In some stores he was refused to even enter, in other places he was treated badly, but sometimes also with kindness. Some typical entries:

September 1, 1939: Germany invaded Poland launching World War II. There were at first limited impacts on German consumers. Eventually the Germans, however, had to intriduce a stringent rationing system.

September 23, 1939: A decree requires all Jews must hand in their radios to the police.

July 29, 1940: J A decreee prohibits Jews from having telephones.

September 1, 1941: A decree requires Jews to wear a yellow star of David.

October 15, 1941: A decree prohibits Jews from having pets (dogs, cats, and birds).

July 17, 1942: Blind and deaf Jews are prohibited from wearing armbands identifying their handicap to help prevent traffic accidents.

August 23, 1942: Victor Klemperer reports, "At Woolworth's one can buy a toothbrush if one hands in a used one in return. Toilet paper, tissue paper, paper napkins nowhere to be had. The day before yesterday our grocer at Wasaplatz was dispensing single rolls - but only against household cards, which we don't have. [Klemperer]

October 27, 1942: Victor Klemperer reports, ".....worse is the starving of the children. Frau Hirschel gave us precise figures on the reduction of Jewish children's rations, appalling reductions in meat, bread, sugar, cocoa, fruit... She says the constant complaints of hunger by her two small boys were the worst thing for her. "Mummy, look, that boy has a sausage and is biting into it! - Mummy, I'm just as hungry - why have we got only two slices of bread?" - Ans so on, and so on all day long!" [Klemperer]

February 18, 1943: Victor Klemperer reports, "Yesterday in a shop in Gerockstraße, the shopkeeper, woman in her forties, is already known to me as accomodating. In the shop a couple of women customers, one of them a gray-haired woman of the people, perhaps the mother of a married tram conductor. She is very fond of her big brown boxer dog, strokes him. I probably win her heart when I say a few friendly words about boxers in general. The shopkeeper, when it's my turn: "Sauerkraut, I'm afraid, only with a customer card; matches - no, salt - no". To win favor I began with a turnip - no one likes them. In any case, I am doing her an injustice. The woman, compassionate, hesitant: I could have a red cabbage, however. Weighs it, puts it beside the turnip, also fetches a bag of salt (extremely obliging). "75 pfennigs". As I am pulling out my wallet, the granny beside me says: "Put it away - I'll pay it for you". I felt hot all over. I thanked her and handed the mark note over the counter. She: "But let me pay". I: "It is really very kind of you, I am very grateful - but it's not the money, it's the card". Now the shopkeeper: "Come back toward evening, I'll give you more. During the day - I supply the SA here, I have to be careful". I said: "I am allowed to shop only between three and four". She was not bothered about that. I:"You are not - but if someone else sees me and reports me, it will cost me my life". The shopkeeper: "Then drop by during your time - I'll make a sign if the coast is clear". I went out almost shocked. Later I was afraid, because I had said in the presence of the customers, it would cost my life, if...etc. Atrocity stories! Enough for concentration camp and attempted escape." [Klemperer]

Sources

Klemperer, Victor. I will bear witness: A Diary of the Nazi Years, vol. I: 1933-1941; vol.2: 1942-1945. (N.Y. Random House, 1998, 1999). Victor Klemperer, a German Jew, survived the Nazi years. He never was in a concentration camp, since he had married an "Aryan", but he writes in his diaries how little by little his freedom was taken away in all aspects. He had to sell his house for nothing, had to get rid of his beloved cat, got less and less to eat until he did not get food ration coupons anymore, he also writes about shopping for clothes and other things. A fascinating book, a terrible account of oppression. A depressing book really.






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Created: June 7, 2004
Last updated: June 12, 2004