Paper short abstract:

This presentation will show the results of the research with the subject "Hunger as s political tool" carried out for the exhibition "Faces of Hunger" from the Ethnographic Museum in Zagreb and how food shortage influences everyday life during the First and the Second World Wars.

Paper long abstract:

The subject of hunger can be approached from different angles. During the research for the exhibition, "Faces of Hunger" presented in the Ethnographic Museum in Zagreb, Croatia, three main aspects were chosen, one of which is "Hunger as a political tool". Local and global historic examples show us that hunger can be used for the manipulation of the masses and individuals alike, expressing resistance, enticing a conflict, and even killing. Some of these are typical for major war conflicts. The urban population is always the most vulnerable during shortages, rising prices, food rationing, requisitions, hunger, and even to the black markets.

The presentation will present the results of the research carried out during exhibition preparation on the subjects of shortages, food rationing, and requisitions in the period of the First and the Second World Wars in Croatia. The research was carried out through interviews and investigation of the literature and printed media from that period.