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In 1946, Lieutenant Robert Hogan stood above the post-war ruins of Europe, his heart not at peace as the smoke cleared. As a member of the U.S. occupation forces in Germany after World War II, he was far away from home, and his reunion with his family seemed out of reach. However, fate is like a magical director, always bringing unexpected surprises to people at the most casual times.
Robert Hogan and Rozaria Sholka in love
During a chance encounter soon after, Robert befriended a beautiful blonde girl, Rozaria Sorka. Rozaria was a Hungarian who had been taken captive by the Germans to work as hard labor in a bearing factory. Her appearance, like the sunshine of spring, illuminated the gloom in Robert's heart. The hearts of two young people snuggle up to each other on the ruins of war, and the flowers of love bloom in misery.
Robert's nostalgia gradually dissipates in the company of Rozaria, and their relationship grows stronger. Eventually, they decided to return to the United States and start a new life. They got married and had children there, weaving together a life story full of love and happiness.
"My German Barrel" perfume
Years later, their son, Bill Hogan, was sorting through his parents' belongings when he discovered a strange object: a flat, golden jar shaped like a miniature gasoline can. When he opened the mysterious tintle, a faint aroma came to his nose, it was the smell of perfume.
Bill snaps a picture of the mysterious tinker and embarks on a journey to find the story behind it. He searched for experts, consulted and inquired with them, and finally revealed the origin and meaning of this perfume bottle.
Female welder on the production line of "German barrel".
This perfume bottle is carefully made by the famous French perfume producer Marc Fael. Its unique shape is inspired by the "German barrel" that was widely used during World War II. Invented in 1937, this "German barrel" is widely praised for its robustness, leak-proof and corrosion-resistant properties. It has a capacity of 20 liters and can hold not only gasoline but also other liquids such as water, lubricants, etc. Before the outbreak of the war, Germany had already manufactured thousands of such barrels, which were intended for the use of the army.
Due to the widespread recognition of the usefulness of the "German barrel", the United States, Britain and the Soviet Union also copied it, so that the warring parties used the "German barrel". Even after the end of the war, the "German barrel" still played an important role in everyday life.
Workers use a stamping machine to stamping the thin steel sheet into a half-sided barrel blank, which is very convenient for mass production using stamping technology
When Germany surrendered, Marc Fael took the initiative to launch this fragrance called "My German Barrel". They cleverly advertise the bottle in their advertisement: a "German barrel" shaped bottle that "doesn't leak and makes a mess of your handbag". This unique promotional technique, which not only highlights the practicality of the product, but also has a sense of humor, has attracted the attention of many consumers.
In 1945, with the end of the war, Paris gradually returned to its former prosperity. For American soldiers in Europe, the city was not only a sightseeing destination, but also a shopping paradise. Perfume, in particular, has become a popular commodity that they are vying to buy. Many soldiers wanted to be able to buy a bottle of high-quality perfume as a gift to send back to relatives and friends in their hometown.
In 1945, U.S. troops waited in line for the Chanel store to open
In a letter to his mother dated June 15, 1945, Hermann Obermeyer, Private Obermeyer, vividly described his experience of buying perfume in Paris. "In every store in Paris, designer perfumes are basically sold out," he said. There were long queues in front of the stores that still had stock, and 80% of them were American soldiers. ”
After visiting a few stores, Hermann Obermeyer found that the queue was too time-consuming, so he decided to give up. However, a girl from the Army Women's Corps was very persistent in pulling him to continue the search.
A 100-year-old perfume shop in France
Together, they went to well-known perfume brands such as Coty, Chanel, Ubigon, Tabes, Guerlain, Arden, Patu, and even a dozen stores with longer names. But sadly, none of them found the perfume they were looking for. Perfumes at the time were not only hard to find, but also expensive. In 1946, a bottle of My German Cask perfume sold for a whopping $12.5, equivalent to $200 today.
However, buying a bottle of perfume is not too much of a burden for an officer like Lieutenant Hogan. His base salary is $166.67 per month, in addition to various allowances. Therefore, it is not a break to give a bottle of perfume for $12.5 to your sweetheart. What's more, this small bottle of "German Barrel" perfume also bears witness to a lifelong love story between him and his wife.
In this busy world, stop once in a while to listen to a story of history and emotion, and you'll find those deeply touching moments. The story of Robert and Rozaria is like a ray of light on the ruins of war, and their love blooms in the midst of hardship, bringing hope and warmth. This makes one wonder that even in the most difficult times, the light of love and humanity can penetrate the darkness and guide people in the direction of progress.
"My German Barrel" perfume, this small perfume bottle, is like a bridge between the past and the present, war and peace, love and affection. The history, culture and humanity behind it provoke deep reflection on the impact of war and how to find the power of love and peace in war.
At the same time, this history reveals the complexity of human nature and the uncertainty of fate. Although war is cruel, it also stimulates the most beautiful and sincere emotions in human nature to some extent. These emotions transcend the smoke of war and become a shared treasure of humanity.
In the end, every object in life can have a unique story to tell. By exploring the origin of My German Barrel perfume, Bill learned not only about his parents' love journey, but also about the close connection between history and culture. This perfume bottle is no longer just an ordinary cosmetic product, but a symbol of history, culture and emotions.
Dear friends, when you encounter similar objects in your life, you might as well try to dig out the stories behind them, and maybe you will find a whole new world. Taste the charm of history together, feel the temperature of human nature, and experience the depth of emotion.