Q75392146

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

Shared Facilities in Urban Apartments

Many Viennese apartments were cramped, with single rooms lacking private sanitary facilities, meaning residents often had to share toilets and water sources located in the building's hallway.

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

Peas for every meal

Russian troops frequently provided dried peas, which families used to make everything from soup to coffee.

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.