Lifelines:
the tram network supplies Duesseldorf
The progressive spread of the war resulted in a shortage of fuel. It was no longer possible to transport fuel and food via the roads. People had to "hoard" or stand in food queues for hours on end. Not everybody had the time to do this; especially the women that substituted the men as conductors and drivers at the Rheinbahn. The population became restless. To keep the peace, Duesseldorf city council set up war kitchens, two of which were on Rheinbahn premises.
Everyone was welcome to visit the kitchens, where they could buy a cheap and more or less filling meal. This eliminated the risk of starvation. The food was transported to and from the kitchens via tram. Then the winter came and the risk of starvation was superseded by the risk of freezing to death. Oddly, all the winters during the war were especially bitter. Coal was in short supply. This is why a line was built to the Friedrich Heinrich mine in Kamp-Lintfort in 1917, which transported large deliveries of coal to Duesseldorf’s manufacturing enterprises.
Towards the end of the war, the tracks, trams and waggons had fallen into a dilapidated state. The lack of materials and skilled workers meant that regular maintenance was impossible. In order to ensure that no more services had to be stopped, a number of stops were closed down to prevent excessive strain on the tramcar engines as a result of frequent stopping and starting. The citizens were not informed about these measures until subsequently, which angered them and generated negative press coverage.