The Romanian Home Front?

[Curioso]

Greetings.
I was wondering where one could find info about the Romanian home front in the war. How was the life for the civilians? How tight the rationing? Were there serious shortages? Black-out or curfew regulations? What could one do or not do: traveling? Working? Free time? Cultural life?
That sort of thing. A source not in Romanian would be most useful.
Thank you in advance for any reply.

[dragos]

A very good source on the home front is Razboi si societate, by Alesandru Dutu and Mihai Retegan, 1999 (in Romanian).

Some highlights:

From the begining of military operations, in Bucharest it was forbidden the circulation of pedestrians between 22 and 03 hours. The population of the capital had to take measures for the camouflage of the light sources. The army and police had order to shoot the thieves and robbers in place.

Lack of workforce in agriculture caused the prices of grocery products to raise. There was shortage of meat, therefor it was rationalized. After only one week of war, the prices of alimentary products grew 3-4 times.

Some military workforce was assigned to agriculture, in order to complete the production in time.

There were established funds so that civilians could donate money for the Army or for helping the families which suffered losses.

Some regulations were imposed in mass-media, so that no attacks to be made between the countries of the Axis coallition.

The cameras, both for photographs and motion picture, owned by the population were registered, those who would not declare theirs being severely punished and the cameras seized.

On 4 August 1941, it was decreed that all factories must declare the number of Jewish workers.

[Victor]

Rationing was not that tight. It depended on the products available. In 1941, for example, there was 1.5 kg of sugar/person/month, 0.5 liters of sunflower oil/person/month (in Bucharest), 0.25 kg of meat/person/month etc. Things got better with the crops the following year.
Here is a table of food rations:
Period: Summer 1942 / November 1943 / May 1944
Bread:750 g/week / 2100 g/week / 2100 g/week
Meat*: 250 g/week / 250 g/week / 250 g/week
Fats**: 350 g/week / 150 g/week / 375 g/week
Sugar: 150 g/week / N/A / 300 g/week

* only beef and pork was rationalized, veal and lamb wasn't
** butter, vegetable oil etc

Milk, cheese, eggs, chicken, fish, vegetables, fruit were not rationalized until July 1944

The cultural life went on without stop. The theatres and cinemas were open and there were plenty of shows.

[dragos]

Actually, the meat rationing was quite severe in 1941. In capital, the ration got to 250 grams per month. The selling of pork, beef and lamb was allowed only in Saturdays and Sundays.

[C-2]

The situation during the war was a joy ride comparing to the one after the war wher the soviets came in visit.
My parents cannot forget the 1947-1953 years......

[Victor]

QUOTE

Actually, the meat rationing was quite severe in 1941. In capital, the ration got to 250 grams per month. The selling of pork, beef and lamb was allowed only in Saturdays and Sundays.

This fact was mentioned in my post.

[dragos]

QUOTE

This fact was mentioned in my post.

With the difference that the quantity of meat I mentioned was per month, not per week.

[dragos]

A grim aspect of the home front: from 6 August 1941, the Jews are compelled to wear the "yellow star".

[mabadesc]

Dragos,

I was under the impression that Antonescu decided not to enforce the yellow star law shortly after he passed the decree.

I'm not very sure of this, but I remember reading about the fact that Jews in Romania did not wear the yellow star...

[Victor]

QUOTE

With the difference that the quantity of meat I mentioned was per month, not per week.

It is mentioned in the first paragraph.
The table is for 1942 onwards, when the situation got better.

mabadesc,
you are correct, the decision was not eventually carried out.

[dragos]

QUOTE

Dragos, I was under the impression that Antonescu decided not to enforce the yellow star law shortly after he passed the decree. I'm not very sure of this, but I remember reading about the fact that Jews in Romania did not wear the yellow star...

It seems that the 3rd Army enforced the yellow star in some counties (Bacau, Covurlui) several days before the directive number 7 of 6 August. The measure was abolished on 10 September.

[johnny_bi]

QUOTE

The measure was abolished on 10 September.

Why?

[dragos]

The urging of patriarch Nicodim and other personalities made Ion Antonescu to emit an ordinance on 10 September 1941 that stated: "the Jews will not bear any distinctive marking".