Eva Maria Loesch

What people wore

Clothing Scarcity Post-War

Following World War II, clothing was so scarce that grandmothers would rip small pullovers apart to re-knit them using only a little extra wool. Children’s shoes that became too small were simply kept in use by cutting the front part open.

Daily life

Teaching Eight Grades in One Room

Teachers in one-room schools managed 28 students across 8 grades simultaneously, requiring them to organize four groups that cycled between 15 minutes of direct instruction and 45 minutes of independent work. To ensure lessons were manageable, subjects like history and nature study were taught on a rotating cycle spread over two to three years.

What it cost

Jeep driving jobs were highly desired

In 1946, a jeep driver for the American Army was one of the most sought-after jobs in Vienna, paying 5.25 dollars for a 50-hour week and including one meal a day.

Music

Traditional Austrian Folk Instruments

Traditional musical instruments used in regional Austrian folk music included violins, harps, zithers, dulcimers, wind instruments, and the diatonic button-key accordion known as the Styrian harmonica.

At the table

Caffeine surprise from CARE packages

American CARE packages contained powdered milk and instant coffee; the latter was so new that some people consumed too much and stayed awake for three days.

Work

Working for the American Army

In the mid-1940s, a highly sought-after job was driving jeeps for the American Army, which paid five dollars and a quarter for a 50-hour work week and included a meal without needing ration points.