SHORTAGES OF CONSUMER GOODS AND HOARDING IN EAST GERMANY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A006800520008-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 22, 2008
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: June 3, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/09/22 : CIA-RDP80-00810A006800520008-5
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY East Germany
SUBJECT Shortages of Consumer Goods and Hoarding in
East Germany
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE OF
INFO.
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFVSCTINS THE NATIONAL DEMENSS
OF THE UNITED STATES. WITHIN THE NEANInG OF TITLE 16. SECTIONS 798
AND 754. OF THE D. S. CODE. AS ANISEED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR REVEL-
ATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO ON RECEIPT ST AN VNAUTHOSIZED FSRSON
IS FRONISITED DT LAW THE R$/RODDCTION Of THIS FORD IS DRONRITED.
pi s?i t C , l~ ~Mly
1. l:. early Larch 1955, in East Berlin, Fal kensee, and
ouL?ar, and meat were in short supply and lard was withdrawn from the market
by government decree. In Falkensee, one pound of sugar was allotted per
person. Bed linen was scarce, while underwear and clothing were available
in adequate quantities.
The population tried to purchase and hoard all available foodstuffs. 6avings
? accounts were depleted to buy furniture, television sets, etc. It was
observed that radio set! w--re adjusted to receive transmissions from the
1ordwestdeutschctRundfunk (Northwest German Broadcasting System) since,
especially at Falkensee, reception of Last German broadcasts was poor.
5. ,;o coal has been available since February 1955. Raw coal was also lacking
and the ;persistent cold left ::any families without heat. Around 15?0 hours,
the electric voltage dropped by about 50 percent. S'nuttoffs occurred at
irreE,ular intervals without previous azvlcuncement.
In haC rc:. 1 55, a veterinarian reported that slaughter cattle from LPG
A:-re2Tieldo was rejedted b;,r the slaughter house because of . its half-starvgd
condition.
U1, to early Larch 1 5, no butter was available at HO stores of Klein TTachno~v
near Berlin. Only small quantities of inferior-quality lard and bacon were
available. Rumors predicting renewed sugar rationing caused frantic buying
and ' oarding of sugrar.
3iLkilar rumors spread in late February regarding the flour supply. It
became known that the VEAB Teltow grain silo, which has a capacity of
'x',000 tons, contained only 2,000 tons of grain. This grain silo had
repeatedly been filled by grain imports in recent years, but no such
imports had arrived during the current year.
j. In early Larch, coal was no longer made available to the population. Coal
stock's at the coal dealers were depleted and customers were told to wait
uw"i (" -
L
NJd-NSRB
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 3 June 1955
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
Approved For Release 2008/09/22 : CIA-RDP80-00810A006800520008-5
r
 Approved For Release 2008/09/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006800520008-5
Bot-.ree;i 21 and 20 February 1'.95, no wheat flour was available in
euenhage, near Berlin. Rolls and so-called white bread looked as Jar
a ; One "I onsui Lrot" (dark bread). Sugar ' ad completely disappeared.
In ;. id-Li "ch 1955, it was stated that the food situation was worse than
three years ago. ho food other than those itls prescribed by the ration
cards can be purchased. Fresh meat is delivered at irrecular intervals,
W114 le butter is completely out of stock at 110 shops!- -j meat, sugar, flour,
and e are irre.;ularly distributed in small quantities. PL without
connections to salespeople are greatly handicapped s1...ce a pp" deal of
merc .andise is sold "enter den Ladentisch" (under the ii), and
equently bitter fights flare up.
tin..:arch 155, the supply situation in Jena was ver i,l
'unction with the general nervousness of the popula Vou&t about
_ctic buying of all available mercharihse by theeople. Large sums are
*eoted in furniture and luxury commodities. Butter and sugar were out
of stock at the HO shops for weeks. The only flour available was of -c,oor
quality. heat was scarce, especially beef. The critical food situation
was attributed to the poor yield of the last harvest and. little Soviet
sulr,port. There is cowing animosity against the Communist regime.
I. In the Jena kreis (district) cunsiu.er j j variations in the power
12. wince mid-February 1955, no vegetable
at the Iauen cooperative shops. Vege
market at super prices. About 50 pore
ibage were available
I fre at the farmers'
required butter eras
Delivered. "Ersatz"-lard of a low fat d?ntent was offe
rations tire:ce filled jC percent. "lie su..Jar supply was
l.u J edwei ht of turnips. No otatoes were on :sale. In
super was sold by the Liirow and Busc hof cooperative shops. The butter
sup -.lied was rancid and could not be -enlaced.
off r
at the .eustrelitz HO sho ps. A sum of 40 DLIO was
0y-..ce ear_~_y Fe ;ruary 1955, no butter , lane, or sugar
1(} ntil ear ly hare: 1;55, the l 54 coal allocations to the farmers at
wetens (1 refs of Putbus) were still 100 tons short. one of the 1955
allocations had been delivered so far. 01, 5 March 155, the Kreis
acir i11istration gave orders to transfer all incoming coal shipments
to l irz. This coal is believed to be delivere_'. to the Binz KVP.
Approved For Release 2008/09/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006800520008-5
 Approved For Release 2008/09/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006800520008-5
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE' AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
.'Cll,lNTR oast Germany
;;UEs,JEC 31ecirta-Epns of Consumer Goods and Hoarding in
Fast Ger!wtny
DAlE: Of
NF (--,.
REPORT
CD NO
DATE DISTR.
3 rune 1-",51.r'
NO, OF PAGES 2
NO.OF ENCLS.
(USJEP -5E{.OW4
PPL6AWNT TO .
REPORT NO.
R >'; V.t -
104414 40C4111R CORTURS W ORUAnOR MRC1,N TKR PATIONAI 6PSNSe
.oP T,.' IJNITID -TATLS. 1Ei'TRFU THE YR IR6 Of TTLRTT$. SEEYIOM T"
Ala A *4. OF Tiff S. Y. CODS. Al ANER lTS TRAIIUIISSIOY OR *IVEL?
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
In early arch 1955, in East Berlin, Falkeasee, and Ilonnigcdorf, vygetabtes,
sugar; ? and meat. Rele 14. Short supply and Iard was witharaw'i ffom the nalk4 '
ty government deers#o In.Falkensee, one pound of sugar was allotted per
perscn, Bed linen was scarce, while underrrear and clothing were ave4 .able
in adequate quantitie9.' c ,
2 `i'tie ,populatioi -tried to putci a and ha d all available -fo0itrtutf6