Margarete Goldstein and the Women’s Aid In Wartimes [Frauenhilfe im Krieg]
Margarete Goldstein (1885-1960) turned to social work in 1913 and became the chairwoman of the Frauenhilfe im Krieg (Womens’ Wartime Welfare Service) established at the outbreak of World War I in Darmstadt. It was an umbrella organization coordinating the war efforts of all women’s groups in the city and that sent food to the front, established soup kitchens and provided work for women who had lost jobs due to economic displacement. Frauenhilfe became a clearinghouse for recruiting volunteer nurses, office personnel and seamstresses for the Red Cross as well as an agency for all types of volunteer work from community services to agricultural work.
Another aspect of the program was directed at educating the public to change its eating habits and reduce domestic consumption of scarce food goods. The war had strained the food supply for all countries at war. But the problem was particularly acute for Germany – in fact a crucial factor in its ultimate defeat – as the British naval blockade virtually cut Germany off from its foreign trade sources. Flyers instructed housewives to prepare meals using non-rationed ingredients and exhorted them to serve potato soup for breakfast rather than bread or other grain products so these scarce goods would be available for the military.
Children were also mobilized in the national war effort. This flyer circulated by the Darmstadt Central Office for Feeding the Nation During Wartime appeals to the children to contribute to the war effort by reducing their daily meals.
In order to conserve energy, the city of Darmstadt organized
provided heated work rooms where women and children could spend time during the day.
|
