283 – The Holy Roman Empire

Dittwar – Drawing by Harald Schmaußer

Joseph and Anna Maninger lived in Dittwar in the latter half of the 18th century.

Their world was like that of their parents and grandparents. Their homes, occupations, religion, and traditions were the same as past generations. Political and ecclesiastical rule were centuries old.

The dawn of the 19th century would bring a seismic change.

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280 – The Maninger Family

We’re going to begin a series of stories about our Maninger family. 

But guess what? The history of our Maninger family has already been written! It’s “The Maninger Family: with additional sections on the related families of Barth, Smith, Schrock, Weyeneth,” by F. Robert Henderson.

Lucky for us, this marvelous history resource is available to help tell our stories. 

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278 – 1941

1941 was a watershed year. The end of the Great Depression. The beginning of World War II. It had profound effects on our family.

The Federal budget increased by an astounding 50 percent between 1940 and 1941. Virtually all of the increase was for military spending.

In 1941 unemployment would drop below 10 percent for the first time since 1930.

Unemployment Rate 1938-1941 – Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library

In February 1941 fully one percent of the American labor force was at work building army training camps for 1.4 million new draftees. 

The End of the Great Depression – National Bureau of Economic Research
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276 – Depression Behind Us

In 1940, unemployment was 14%, but people increasingly felt the Great Depression was in the rear view mirror. The war in Europe and Asia threatened to draw in the Americans, and the war department was spending huge amounts to increase military preparedness.

Many say 1940 was the year that ended the Depression.

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