'1940' Summary and Analysis

The entries for 1940 aggregate forty-two pages and fifty-four entries, including: one for February; two for January and March; four for April, June, August, September, October, and December; six for November; seven for July; and twelve for May.

The year is bleak—shortages of everything, wild rumors and rampant speculation, and anti-Semitic hazing and persecution are commonplace. Throughout the year, the war continues to expand in scope and the expansion becomes marked in the latter half of the year. Minor acts of resistance infrequently occur and anti-government rumors sometimes are heard. The black market flourishes. War profiteering is commonplace and nearly everything is arranged under the table. By the end of the year, clothing has become so scare that recently-deceased are stripped before being cremated; Klemperer dresses nearly in rags. In December, Jews are ordered to wear yellow armbands...