Berlin Police Reports

In the 16th of the month at 5:00 PM thousands of women and children gathered at the municipal market hall . . . to buy a few pounds of potatoes. As the sale commenced, everyone stormed the market stands. The police, who were trymg to keep order, were simply overrun and were powerless against the onslaught. A life-threatening press at the stands ensued; each sought to get past the next... . Women had their possessions ripped from them and children were trampled on the ground as they pleaded for help Women who got away from the crowds with some ten pounds of potatoes each were bathed in sweat and dropped to their knees from exhaustion before they could continue home.

 Report of Officer Rhein 

I ...came upon a crowd of several thousand men and women who were howling loudly and pushing the policemen aside.... [T]he crowd had already stormed several buttershops because of the prices. ... Several large display windows were shattered, shop doors destroyed, and entire stocks were simply taken. ... We cleared the street with fifteen mounted officers.... Various objects such as dower pots were thrown at us.

Report of Officer Krupphausen