A look at history: When a man had to suffer hunger in Styria

The First World War left behind a people that mourned its dead, that was economically devastated and struggling with mass unemployment, and that had completely disrupted the social order that people were used to. And the interwar period was barren. So barren that people in Styria suffered from hunger.

STYRIA. For the fourth day in a row, women are queuing up to get a little milk. In vain. Just a little milk to feed the children. They will try again tomorrow. But that will also be in vain. That is exactly what happened in January 1918 on the streets in Leoben – and because one year later nothing has changed in terms of the population's hunger, they will take to the barricades. With their last strength, the men and women will draw attention to their plight.

Usury causes hunger

A starving people is no exception in history. There have been several cases, including in Styria, where people have had to fight for their lives simply because they were unable to eat enough. What is taken for granted today, namely a full refrigerator that is filled even when inflation forces people to save, was not always the case.

Speaking of inflation, and even before the First World War: The Third Coalition War in 1805 brought about a price increase. Tariffs on goods were doubled and the so-called “Bread set” and “Meat set” were introduced. These stated that bread and meat could only be offered at a certain price, and neither less nor more could be charged. Mandatory prices, it was called. One might think that this was a good step to protect people from hunger, but no one had considered that the weights of the foodstuffs mentioned could change: a few grams here, a few grams there – that could not be noticed. A trick that tested the limits in crisis situations.

Volcanic eruption and distress

The winter of 1815 to 1816 was considered one of the coldest, and the weather was also crazy in the summer of 1816. The cause was a volcanic eruption of Tambora on an island in Indonesia in April of that year, which caused a thick layer of ash to cover the land in Styria. While the sun had no chance to warm the flora and fauna, the rain again found its way in masses, there was also several hailing spells, frost mixed in, and snow fell even in the valleys. From the”Year without summer“We will talk later, this was followed by the ‘year of hunger’.

For the harvest and thus for the Food supply of the Styrian people and the cattleIt was a catastrophe. The little bit of food that was available drove up prices: some people sold their entire property for a loaf of bread. Yes, people were fighting for survival. The trade value jumped to immeasurable levels, food was held back, profiteering was practiced and constant conflicts with other countries led to shortages.

Robert Baravella writes: “A report from 1817 states that in the Leoben district the customs officers were no longer available for their duties due to exhaustion as a result of hunger, that they could not even carry out the usual 'Scottish soup', a soup made from sour milk
and pots, could afford.” (“The inflation in Styria at the beginning of Archduke Johann's reconstruction work”, in: Journal of the Historical Association for Styria, Vol. 50, Graz, p. 52) He adds that the government was hesitant to take action against price increases and usury, and: “After the repeal of the satues, the price of meat rose sharply.” At the end of March 1859, a pound of beef cost 19 to 21 kr (note: according to the historical currency calculator, this should be around 620 to 685 euros).”

The potato as a savior

It is said that there is no one less than Archduke Johann who distributed potatoes to the Styrian farmers to combat hunger. Initially in Upper Styria. Finally, the “Potato Support Institute“, an agricultural training program to increase farmers' yields. The potato, originally unknown to the Styrian people, had already been brought to Austria by Maria Theresa, but was not accepted by the general population and was only used as pig feed. Archduke Johann now had improved varieties imported from England, Scotland, Brazil and Holland.

He also brought new types of corn from America, which made it possible to develop Sterz as a traditional Styrian dish. In order to promote potato cultivation, areas were taken into account and the seeds were distributed free of charge to interested parties. In Tragöß The harvest was particularly successful. It is said that 522 Metzen were obtained from 28 Metzen (an old measure for grain, one Metzen corresponds to approximately 61.48 liters) of seed potatoes. By 1829, potato cultivation had become widespread throughout Styria, and the potato gradually became the staple food of the poorer population.

Hunger riots in Upper Styria

Back to Donawitz, Leoben. The malnutrition of the people had dire consequences. They became unbalanced and anger at the government grew, which in turn responded with police and military measures to restore order. Such protests were usually quickly and rigorously suppressed during this time. Such “Hunger riots“ reflect the economic uncertainty and the lack of a social safety net. The shortage particularly affected the Children affected. “Of all school children up to 15 years of age, only 80 could be described as 'well-nourished' or 'normally nourished'. All the rest, and that was more than 2,000, were undernourished,” writes Heimo Halbrainer in the Communications of the Alfred Klahr Society, Volume 26, No. 1, March 2019.

If you look at the death records from this time, you will notice that many people died of pneumonia orWeakness of life” – an expression that can be interpreted.

In 1918, the parish church of Leoben-Waasen recorded the death of 170 people due to “malnutrition, pneumonia and flu” (together). For example, the 46-year-old Josef Pirc“suddenly died” of “malnutrition”, or the 47-year-old Simon Zefferer“Malnutrition,” says the Stereobook.

In the spring, he adds, the unrest had not yet subsided, so that looting broke out in the wake of “hunger riots”. Why Leoben? That is a question that one may ask. And the answer is only logical: The Donawitz ironworks, steelworks, was one of the most important employers in Styria, the Erzberg being the source of this. Even workers from abroad found employment here. If the business location was doing badly, the people were doing badly. The region was inindustrially influencedand workers suffered greatly from the effects of the war. Many men were at the front, which made it even more difficult to provide for their families. The war economy and forced requisitions also contributed to a shortage of food and other essential goods.

But even in the years that followed until the Second World War, the issue of hunger was not off the table. On the contrary: in 1932, starving people stormed the mayor's office in Donawitz. The situation in the children's home is said to have been shocking, where 160 orphans threatened to starvehit Sonja Siebenbrunner in her diploma thesis “Leoben at the time of the 'Corporate State' 1933 to 1938” (Graz, 2017, p. 23). In the winter of 1932/1933, Donawitz received financial support from the Swiss donation program of the International Children's Aid, which enabled soup kitchens to be set up. These years of hardship hit children particularly hard. In addition to St. Peter-Freienstein and Eisenerz, there were also reports of starving children.

A look at history

What defines Styria and who has shaped it? Unique stories and extraordinary personalities provide a glimpse into the past, present and future of the “Green Mark”.