„Przy partyjnym stole”. Dostawy towarów spożywczych dla nowej elity lwowskiej w latach 1944-1947

Abstract

“AT THE TABLE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY”: FOOD SUPPLY FOR THE NEW LVIV ELITE IN 1944-1947 

The article covers the change of the Lviv food paradigm after the arrival of Soviets. On the basis of archival materials and specialised literature, the city’s limited system of product distribution was analysed. Furthermore, the role of the Soviet elite in this system and in providing Lviv with food was studied in this work. Taking advantage of their official position, the Bolshevik leaders received food from their subordinates, used the food services of the Executive Committee, had their own departmental food establishments, and, finally, thanks to better salaries, could have better food from commercial establishments. The basis of the food of the Lviv communist party elite was the food of letter types “A” and “B”, which in terms of calories and set of products significantly exceeded the usual card system. The diet of the Soviet authorities was supplemented by various order tables, where they periodically received improved sets of products according to particular lists and previously declared needs. During the transition period that started after the abolition of the limited product distribution system, which was extended for a selected number of city officials, they were using special coupons for identification of the “right people”. Despite the theoretical defense of the classlessness of Soviet society, the new authorities of Lviv widely used their dominant position and tolerated a pronounced stratification and deep caste system while providing Lviv with food in the first postwar years. In the end, this approach led to the blurring of the original face of Lviv and, to some extent, deprived the city of the colours formed by many generations of Lviv residents.