Join Curious Histories for a fundraiser in aid of Lost Cats Brighton. Jonathan Slater will be uncovering the peculiar development of substitute foods in wartime Germany.
Indigestible!
During the First World War, the Allied blockade left Imperial Germany in a food scarcity crisis, leading to thousands of ersatz (substitute) food products – some official, others highly suspect – flooding the market. War bread, turnips, diluted beer, plus powdered eggs, milk, and yoghurt were loathed by consumers, becoming symbols of home front deprivation. Yet while historians have often written them off as unpalatable imitations, Jonathan’s new research reveals a different story: many were more nutritious than their reputation suggests, and vital to keeping the German war effort going.
Our speaker
Jonathan Slater is a doctoral candidate at the London School of Economics, whose research concentrates on the development, production, reception, and regulation of ersatz food products in First World War Germany. He is originally from Paw Paw, Michigan in the USA. He holds a BA in Political Science and Arabic Studies from DePaul University, and an MA/MSc dual degree from Columbia University and LSE.
On 29th October, you will receive an email that will give you the Zoom link and instructions to join the event. If you have any queries you can reach the organiser by using the 'contact' button below, or on our facebook page.
Our chosen charity
All proceeds from ticket sales will go to help Lost Cats Brighton, a small team of dedicated volunteers which rescues unwanted and homeless cats in the Brighton and Hove area. The cats are fostered short-term in private homes prior to finding them a permanent home, or long-term if they are elderly with health issues. The team takes care of neutering, microchipping, vaccinations, and vet treatment for abandoned animals before finding them new homes. It also reunites lost cats with their families through its a free online 'Lost, Found & Reunited' register.
