Alexander Graf von und zu Eltz gennant Faust von Stromberg

What people wore

Underwear Habits in Rural Austria

In the rural summer, women did not wear underpants; instead, they wore several petticoats if it was cold in winter. Men wore long winter underwear that had to be tied at the waist and ankles.

Daily life

Teaching in a one-room rural school

In a single-room rural school in 1946, a teacher instructed 28 children across 8 grade levels simultaneously. The classroom was heated by an iron stove, and water had to be manually pumped from a 20-meter deep well located outside.

What it cost

Working wages and ration costs, 1946

In 1946, an average worker's wage in Vienna ranged from 15 to 27.5 shillings, while a special canned meat and vegetable ration cost 1.5 shillings per kilogram.

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

Coffee in CARE packages caused sleeplessness

When families received CARE packages containing instant coffee, many were unfamiliar with the product and consumed too much of it, causing them to stay awake for three days. The packages were highly prized for rare luxuries like milk powder, cocoa, and sugar.

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.