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 eight grades in one classroom

One-class primary schools in 1946 accommodated 28 children across eight grades in a single small classroom, requiring the teacher to organize 15-minute direct lessons for each group while others performed silent work.

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

Weak coffee in post-war Austria

In the immediate post-war years, Austrians drank Blümchenkaffee, which was so weak that one could see the floral patterns on the bottom of the cup through the liquid.

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.