During World War II, the total war spared no one, be it a soldier or a civilian. Continuous saving, the ticket system, and then hunger soon reached the hinterland as well. During the protracted siege of a larger city, the population could be completely cut off from the outside world, and with it food from the countryside. During the infamous 872-day blockade of Leningrad, nearly one and a half million died, largely due to starvation.
During the siege of Budapest in 1944-45, the survival of people in many cases depended on their own ingenuity. Whoever had food could ask for anything in return, and so bartering soon developed among the population, or even with desperate soldiers. Unfortunately, however, many people living in the capital could not survive the siege: the number of deaths among the population is estimated at 37-38,000.
Food delivery coming to the Hospital in the Rock in 1944.
The kitchen was not designed for cooking, but during the Siege of Budapest it was needed.
The kitchen was not designed for cooking, but during the Siege of Budapest it was needed.
As all the equipment, the dinnerware was from Saint John’s Hospital too.
Food came to the Hospital in the Rock from Saint John’s Hospital in containers like this, where it was heated and portioned.
Refrigerating in the 1950’s. It used real ice for cooling.
