Kriegszeiten

Kriegszeiten is a German term that literally means “wartime” and is used to describe periods when war affects the political, economic, and social life of a state or region. The phrase appears in history writing, journalism, and public discourse to distinguish peacetime conditions from the pressures and disruptions associated with armed conflict.

During Kriegszeiten, governments typically intensify resource mobilization, impose rationing and price controls, expand civil defense, and may implement censorship or suspend normal civil liberties. The economy often shifts toward war production, with priorities given to military needs. Mobilization can include conscription, expansion of the armed forces, and the regulation of labor, transport, and energy supply.

Civilian life in Kriegszeiten commonly includes evacuation, air raid precautions, displacement, shortages of food and goods, and changes in work and education. Public morale is frequently addressed through propaganda and information campaigns, while social structures adapt to new roles, such as increased female labor participation or volunteer organizations supporting the war effort.

Historically, Kriegszeiten have shaped memory and scholarship, fueling debates about civilian suffering, resistance, collaboration, and the balance between security and liberty. The term is widely applied to the two World Wars in German-speaking contexts and to other major conflicts where civilian life was profoundly affected.

In contemporary usage, Kriegszeiten is mainly descriptive rather than a legal designation; legal emergency powers in German contexts are discussed under terms such as Ausnahmezustand or, in certain circumstances, Kriegsrecht. The concept remains a key lens for understanding the social and cultural impact of war.