VITAMÍNY NA FRONTU A DO NEMOCNIC. PŘÍSPĚVEK K DĚJINÁM KAŽDODENNOSTI PRAŽANŮ V DOBĚ PRVNÍ SVĚTOVÉ VÁLKY

The supplying the population with food and support activities for soldiers and their families belonged to the main activities of municipalities during WW I. The lack of food first manifested as early as in the first half of 1915. The Prague municipal administration tried to deal with this issue at least partially by self-production of groceries, among others, it planted vegetables and fruit trees on municipal land. In 1915 and 1916, it used a part of its vegetables and fruit production for a charitable action, proclaimed by the Bohemian Governor’s Office, consisting in production of fruit and vegetable conserves for front soldiers and for hospitals. In cooperation with Prague inhabitants, it put together a big amount of fruit and vegetables, also ingredients and equipment necessary for conservation of food. The professional management of the action was given to Marie Sandtnerová, teacher at the High School for Girls in Prague and future author of popular cooking books. The products that were made by approx. 30 women under her supervision were given to soldiers in Prague hospitals. However, in 1917 the situation on the food market was so bad already that the Prague municipality did not get involved in the conserving of fruit and vegetables for soldiers any more.