Hitlerszalonna facts for kids
Hitlerszalonna (pronounced Hitler-sah-lon-nah), which means "Hitler bacon" in Hungarian, was a special kind of dense fruit jam. It was eaten by Hungarian soldiers and regular people during World War II.
This jam was often made from mixed fruits like plum. Instead of being sold in jars, it came in brick-shaped blocks wrapped in paper. People would slice these blocks, much like they would slice bacon. Soldiers often carried it with them and sometimes even cooked it with other foods. The name "Hitlerszalonna" was a slang term, meaning something like "tough fruit."
Contents
What Was Hitlerszalonna?
Hitlerszalonna was a thick fruit jam. It was very solid, almost like a fruit paste. People sometimes wondered how much real fruit was actually in it! It was a common food item during the war.
Why Was it Called "Hitler Bacon"?
The unusual name "Hitler bacon" has an interesting story.
Food for Soldiers
In earlier wars, during the time of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, Hungarian soldiers received regular bacon as part of their food supplies. This bacon was often called "Kaiser-bacon," named after the "Kaiser" or Emperor.
During World War II, Hungarian soldiers often received their food from the Germans. Instead of bacon, they frequently got fruit-flavored jam. Because this jam came from the Germans, and Adolf Hitler was the leader of Germany at the time, soldiers started calling it "Hitler bacon." It was a way of saying it was the "emperor's bacon," but this time the "emperor" was Hitler.
A Wartime Food Story
A book describing the Hungarian army's situation during the war near the Don River mentions this food. It explains that Hungarian soldiers often didn't have enough food. German soldiers also faced food shortages.
However, Hungarian soldiers had an extra problem: their food was German. Many German foods, like pudding or anchovy paste, were not common or popular among Hungarians. But one German food was accepted by the soldiers. It was even brought back to Hungary and became a regular product. This was the "Hitler bacon," which was a flavored jam often made from pumpkin.
