I've just been reading the related link, and I have to share the following with you on the experiences of a Countess in Poland during WW2.
Initially, "The Bolsheviks," as she likes to refer to them, elicited mildly amusing disdain: "Comrades might turn up at the theatre in an alluring silk nightdress, or use chamberpots for watering the flowers" (p. 4). A Soviet officer who was billeted upon her apartment washed his hair in the toilet bowl. He would flush the toilet and become enraged with the brevity of the "shower". Consequently, "waving his revolver", he accosted the serving girl of the Countess "and accused her of sabotage" (p. 11)Related Link: Countess against the Barbarians ~ The Institute of World Politics
There was some movie or TV show I saw once where a guy is having a shower (washing his hair) and the water gets cut off. He then rinses out his hair in the toilet cistern (not the bowl).
ReplyDeleteFunny the things you remember.
Such behavior when first encountering a flush toilet wasn't exactly unknown though. I am sure that examples could be found of people not knowing what they are from all over Europe, Poland included. Perhaps it might have been useful to give some insight into where the officer in question came from in the USSR.
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The toilet seat of course, was no clue? Or does it look like a shoulder support to some?
ReplyDeleteLOL Zen, only you have that unique sense of humor. And you know, that's what they probably thought.
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ReplyDeleteWell, yes, that is possible. However, at the time, Poland was considered by the USSR to be the land of the Bourgeoisie, so it probably wasn't as backwards as you might be imagining.
I've ordered the book (Michelangelo in Ravensbruck: One Woman's War Against the Nazis, so I'll be able to give more context in time.
Depends on the of poland Lucyna, just as it would depend on the part of Russia, Germany, France or anywhere else in Europe. If the officer in question came from the back of beyond of the old Russian Empire or the subsequent USSR it is quite likely that a flushing toilet would likely have been (and in this case was) as mysterious as a telephone or electricity. Incidentally, Eastern European toilets are a shock if you've never seen or used one before.
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