History 18/01/20 Whom the Germans were supplied with food in the occupied territory of the USSR
One of the most important images of the occupation regime is the image of the mass starvation of Soviet citizens, which the Nazis took away the livestock, poultry, grain. Residents were rounded up for forced labor, where he fed a little bad. The only exception was the mayors, wardens and policemen – elite collaborators, who served in the occupation administration.
lately, you can often find memories of someone from relatives living in the occupied territory. They say that the Germans were robbing the peasants less than the Soviet collective and state authorities, was not forbidden to trade, so the farmer could earn a living and to buy something necessary. The workers were paid and fed.
Sometimes published and photos Wehrmacht soldiers share their rations with the locals, particularly the children, fed them from their field kitchens. Some memories talking about the delicacies that the children in the occupied territory was the first to try German soldiers – chocolate, sprats, herring, canned meat, condensed milk…
War and occupation is a phenomenon that gripped tens of millions of people for several years. It all. In evaluating this phenomenon it can’t be about extreme cases, examples of which you can choose hundreds of thousands.
“Russian stomach digest it all”
Material standard of living of the majority of the Soviet population and its legal protection before the war was negligible. It was easier for the Germans the task of the Bolsheviks look better and to make requisitions and to get people to work for the Wehrmacht. This feature called for a “Minister of the Eastern territories” Alfred Rosenberg. In his “12 commandments” of the German officials of the occupation administration, pre-written, 1 June 1941, in paragraph 11, he stated:
“Poverty, hunger, nepatazanethe cord hi operation – the destiny of the Russian people for many centuries. His stomach digest it all, and therefore no false compassion. Do not attempt to approach it from German life standard as a benchmark and change the Russian way of life”.
September 16, 1941, Hermann Goering at a meeting of the military and economic management, gave this: “Graduation in food… necessary to provide food in the occupied areas should be only those who work for us.”
10 October 1941, commander of the 6th German army, which operated near Kharkov, field Marshal Walter von Reichenau ordered the behavior of the troops. In it, in particular, provides: “the Provision of food for rural residents and prisoners of war who are not in the service of the Wehrmacht, is just as misguided humanity, and distribution of cigarettes and bread. German soldiers are not allowed to give away the fact that the rear gives the front with great hardship and command with great difficulties gives the front, even if it’s trophy products.”
From that order, however, it is clear that the distribution of Wehrmacht soldiers of Goodies to the local population in the form of cigarettes and bread was quite common, which the field Marshal and decided to put an end to this order.
in the Winter of 1941/42 on food policy in the occupied areas of strongest image was also affected by difficulties in supplying the Wehrmacht. Escaped from German captivity red army officer testified that during this period German soldiers themselves daily rations often consisted of a stale loaf of bread for three days, the liquid of the soup (once a day), coffee substitute. The Germans dragged the peasants livestock, poultry, potatoes.
“the Germans gave freedom to the private owner”
Position strongly depended on the location of the occupied area and from management. When the front stabilized, and especially during the Soviet offensive the entire population of the areas adjacent to the front to a depth of 30-50 km, were subject to deportation to the camps. The situation there it was no better than in the camps for prisoners of war. Immigrants times a day, gave a bowl of soup.
the position of the regions, quickly caught in the deep rear of the German troops, was much better. Operated markets in many cities have opened cafes and restaurants. So, about the occupation of Pyatigorsk eyewitnesses said: “the Germans gave full freedom to private enterprise. Thrive not only private enterprises, but even private traders: they bake cakes and sell them at markets, offer their products to restaurants and cafes, working in those restaurants, waiters and chefs, trade in kvass and mineral water. Those who know the German language work in German institutions, translators and couriers, and in addition to the salary also receive food rations”.
When in the spring of 1942, the occupation administration began to try to attract peasants to their side with the promise of the elimination of the collective farms and to induce them effectively work for the benefit of the Wehrmacht, in a number of areas were organized sowing campaign, accompanied in some places also diet from a marching-soldier field kitchens: mainly porridge and soups from pea concentrate.
But in General, the Germans tried to transfer fully the care in feeding the local population on the shoulders they create the so-called “local governments”: the city councils. It is clear that those were supposed to be at the expense of local resources: there are no subsidies in their budgets from the Reich was not provided. It makes differently than was customary, to look at the activities of such “traitors” who tried to save from starvation countrymen, organizing food aid for the poor and the sick, providing supply hospitals, schools, orphanages and nursing homes.
Sometimes with risk for life. So when the mayor of Novgorod, Fedor Morozov has arranged the distribution of free milk to officers of the Council and women with children, then this distribution were moved to come the soldiers of the Spanish “blue divisionAI”, standing in the city. Tried to discourage them from this brazen habits, the mayor was shot by a Spanish officer.
you Need to keep in mind that the occupied region was a German source, not the recipient of the food supply. So no “imported products” the population is in principle not seen, except in rare cases handouts from the soldiers.
Yaroslav Butakov
Source:
© Russian Seven
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