Feeding wave
| This article was entered in the portal Germany for improvement. Help edit it and take part in the discussion ! |
The demand for high-quality and rich food, which developed rapidly in the Federal Republic of Germany in the post-war years , is called the feeding wave . This was accompanied by a tendency towards obesity and social acceptance of it in parts of the population. The cause of this development was the experience of the deprivation of the bare essentials made at the end of the Second World War and during the reconstruction in the mid-1940s, which now contrasted with the generally rising incomes and rapidly falling prices of the German economic miracle .
Causes and Background
Luxury goods , which were initially very expensive in the post-war period, gradually became affordable and increasingly established themselves as consumer goods on the market. Consumption boosted the economy, with this development progressing in waves. Starting with the feeding wave, which covered the basic needs of people, there was also a wave of clothing, furnishings, cars and holidays.
After the privations of the early post-war period, the traumatic experiences of hunger, eating became a favorite pastime for many: the so-called "feeding wave" dominated the 1950s. There were two main reasons for this: real and nominal wages rose sharply, in contrast to which food prices fell rapidly. The German citizen of those years was of course not a “connoisseur”, but initially only covered the pent-up demand of the past few years. The consequences of this consumer behavior were displayed without hesitation. The average consumer turned into a fat and round figure, which served as proof of how far they had come after the "rubble years". Ludwig Erhard , symbol of the economic miracle , with his excess weight clearly reflected the attitude towards life of the Germans, who were now proud of the new quality of life they had quickly achieved.
Foreign foods and spices were incorporated into the domestic kitchen. The local lard was now joined by coconut fat such as palmin or similar products, and the cheaper margarine was added to butter. American products such as ketchup , mixed pickles and hot sauces, which until then had been relatively unknown in German cuisine, were also used as spices . Tropical fruits , which had been lacking for so long, were now particularly popular. Supplements were also viewed in a new light, e.g. B. condensed milk became very popular. It was not only used for morning coffee, but also drank the milk straight from the pierced can - the sweet milk was a delicacy, especially for children.
consequences
Until the beginning of the 1960s, households were able to shift their income in two directions: to “higher quality” and “exotic” foods. This change in spending also changed everyday life in German society, as it also brought about technical innovations and an internationalization of nutrition. There have been many advances, particularly in conservation technology. While the use of canned food was insignificant at the end of the 1940s , it slowly increased at the beginning of the 1950s, even if it only peaked in the next two decades. When the soft drink Coca-Cola found its way into German households, it was accompanied by widespread acceptance of the American lifestyle. For the Germans, lemonade was an expression of their newfound freedom and joie de vivre, as advertising still suggests to consumers around the world today. For many, the " American Way of Life " was a symbol of liberation from everyday worries and misery, and represented an opportunity to gain freedom and a step into a modern life.
literature
- Ursula AJ Becher: History of the Modern Lifestyle. Eating - Living - Leisure - Travel , Munich: CH Beck, 1990
- Detlef Briesen: The healthy life. Nutrition and health since the 18th century , Frankfurt am Main: Campus Verlag, 2010
- The consumer society in Germany 1890 - 1990: a handbook , ed. by Heinz-Gerhard Haupt and Claudius Torp, Frankfurt / Main [u. a.]: Campus-Verlag, 2009
- Wolfgang Protzner: From the hungry winter to the beginning of the "eating wave" , in: ders. (Ed.): From the hungry winter to the culinary paradise. Aspects of a cultural history of eating in the Federal Republic of Germany , Stuttgart 1987, pp. 11–30
- Harald Winkel: From Gourmand to Gourmet , in: Wolfgang Protzner (Hrsg.): From Hungerwinter to culinary Schlaraffenland , Stuttgart 1987, pp. 31–48
Web links
- Wirtschaftswundermuseum - picture gallery