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Zwischen Angst und Gleichgültigkeit. Emotionen während der Spanischen Grippe in Breslau und Dres

    Hans-Martin Behrisch, Matthäus Wehowski

VIRUS Band 22, pp. 127-144, 2023/12/28

Schwerpunkt: Epidemie und Emotion

doi: 10.1553/virus22s127

doi: 10.1553/virus22s127


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doi:10.1553/virus22



doi:10.1553/virus22s127



doi:10.1553/virus22s127

Abstract

The autumn of 1918 was a period of multiple crises in Breslau and Dresden. Both cities suffered from malnutrition and economic decline while the last hopes to win the war faded away. In addition, they were hit by a violent outbreak of the Spanish flu, which worsened the situation. The influenza had massive consequences for the cities health system and infrastructure due to many cases of severe illnesses. Since Berlin gave no instructions on how to deal with the health crises, the municipal administrations needed to decide for themselves. Meanwhile the emotional state of the population switched between fear and indifference. The uneven policies against the outbreak of the flu caused confusion, chaos, and resistance in the population. Ultimately the Spanish Flu was overshadowed by the upheaval during the end of the monarchy and the establishment of the new republic. The remembrance of the epidemic was largely pushed back into private memory.

Keywords: Spanish flu, Breslau, Dresden, influenza, emotions, 1918/19