Interviews and Project Findings:
Community Life and Social Relations in Mülheim

"It is well known that in times of poverty the people stick together. You could trust your neighbours and in bad times you could expect help from them. The men and women married early and their marriage held out well - better than most nowadays. Maybe one reason for that was that families got more support from the government than persons who lived alone."


"Your neighbours were very good friends with you, because of the same status in society. During the war there was not much prosperity, but no poverty, there was only the normal social level."


"Solidarity in the family was much more important than today. Especially help among the neighbours was much needed."


"Q: How have community and social relationships changed?
A: These days people are all selfish. Back then the whole population was more humane, friendlier, more willing to help."


"In the earlier days there was more solidarity, a greater feeling of belonging to a community. This has deteriorated since."