'1941' Summary and Analysis

The entries for 1941 aggregate ninety pages, a volume high, and 103 entries, also a volume high, including: four for January; five for February; six for August; seven for March and April; eight for October; ten for November; thirteen for September; and sixteen, a volume high, for July and December. Of particular note is the twenty-six-page entry for July 6, which summarizes Klemperer's eight-day prison sentence.

The beginning of the year is marked by decreasing food supplies, and by a marked decrease in the quality of foods that are available. One evening, the Klemperers forget to enforce the mandatory blackout, and a policeman comes who points out an infringing window. Klemperer is quite obviously concerned and spends several days awaiting a heavy fine, but such a fine does not arrive. He is eventually notified that he will serve a prison sentence. He...