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Gabriela zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn

Born Würzburg, 16 Oct 1950

5 facts1 source

Living person. The family sees only the name, dates and photo; everything else stays private unless they choose to share it.

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 16 Oct 1950

    Born in Würzburg

Family

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Parents

Partner

During her lifetime

She has lived through 8 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Würzburg.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1950s · Gabriela is born in Würzburg

In Europe1957

The European Economic Community

Six countries signed the Treaty of Rome, the start of what became the European Union.

At the table

Prosperity Symbolized by Hearty Meals

Following the scarcity of the postwar years, a "wave of eating" began in the mid-1950s where hearty portions of potatoes, thick sauces, and pork roast with fat crust became symbols of newfound prosperity.

What people wore

Perlon Lingerie Symbolized Progress

In the early 1950s, women embraced Perlon garments, such as lingerie, because they could be hand-washed in the evening and dried overnight without needing ironing. This was marketed to housewives as a symbol of progress and time-saving convenience.

Getting around

Slow 1950 train travel speeds

In 1950, a 91-kilometer train journey from Bocholt to Münster took 2 hours and 38 minutes, averaging less than 35 km/h.

What it cost

Worker wages in 1955

In 1955, the average hourly wage for a West German industrial worker rose to 1.76 Mark from 1.65 Mark in 1954.

Music

Milk bars and jukebox music

Youths frequently visited milk bars to drink milkshakes and listen to music on Wurlitzer jukeboxes, which cost one groschen per selection. Alcohol was prohibited in these establishments for those under 21 years old.

Daily life

Difficult conditions for school children

Classrooms were frequently overcrowded, with up to 60 children per class, and students often used slates and dip pens instead of paper. Many children faced interruptions to their schooling during winter months when classrooms could not be heated due to severe fuel shortages.