The »Nutritional Value Case«

German food manufacturers and World War II – a historical review of the »Gesellschaft für Nährwerterhaltung«.

The purpose of »Gesellschaft für Nährwerterhaltung«, founded in 1939, was to supply the Wehrmacht with food. Seen from today’s perspective, it was a public private partnership project between the Army Administration Office and leading German food manufacturers – the participating companies included Dr. Oetker, Wilh. Schmitz-Scholl / Tengelmann und Knorr. The contract was a lucrative one for companies. Sales figures increased immensely right after the society was founded.
Based on vast historical sources, Daniela Rüther tells the fascinating story of the society and its various actors. The protagonists were not only entrepreneurs and members of the army high command, representatives of the SS, a rival organisation to the Wehrmacht, also attempted to infiltrate the corporation. The history of »nutritional value« not only provides new insights into army catering, but also reveals conflicts and intrigues in the fight for a place in the processed food market in the »Third Reich«.