Maria Theresia Gräfin von Preysing-Lichtenegg-Moos

Getting around

Example travel times and costs in 1902

In 1902, a journey of 157 kilometers from Bremen to Norden took 4 1/4 hours by express train at a cost of 12.70 Marks for first class, while a slower passenger train took 5 1/4 hours. These scheduled services offered passengers predictable and relatively affordable options for traveling between regional towns.

At the table

Survival diets and rural sourcing

During times of severe inflation and food shortages, families often relied on potatoes and legumes, as meat, eggs, and butter became luxury items that disappeared from many tables. Many city dwellers engaged in so-called hamster trips to the countryside to obtain food directly from farmers when supplies in shops were scarce.

What people wore

The Decline of the Restrictive Corset

Women often wore tight corsets to shape their bodies, despite the discomfort and breathing difficulties this caused, until usage declined after the First World War. These elaborate, multi-layered outfits could weigh several kilograms and significantly restricted movement, making daily tasks like working in factories or offices very difficult.

Music

Improvised jazz instruments

Early jazz bands often lacked professional equipment, so they created rhythm using everyday objects like bells, tin cans, brooms, jugs, and automobile horns.

Daily life

Schooling and Daily Costs for Children

Children typically attended day schools, carrying their books and lunches in long tin satchels. At schools like the Pestalozzi Fröbel Haus, pupils could purchase milk for 5 pfennigs or dine at school for 10 pfennigs.