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The Battle of the Atlantic
Before the outbreak of war Britain imported around 55 million tons of food per year from other countries, such as the U.S.A. and Canada.
But it wasn't just food that was brought in from abroad; many other things were imported too.
Things such as tea, sugar, fruit, oil (used for petrol), wood and rubber.
All of which had to be shipped across the Atlantic in large cargo vessels.
Inevitably once war broke out Germany did everything in its power to cut off these much needed supplies, by hunting down and destroying the convoys that carried them with their battleships and U- boats. |
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The most crucial challenge for the Royal Navy's fleet in WW2 was the Battle of the Atlantic, which peaked in May 1943.
As in WWI, the German U-boats nearly won the battle.
Their aim, as in WWI, was the destruction of so many merchant ships that Britain would be starved out of the war through lack of supplies.
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| Royal Navy destroyers, June 1942 on duty for the Battle of the Atlantic |
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Winston Churchill once wrote, '... the only thing that ever really frightened me during the war was the U-boat peril'. Churchill could not have been more correct.
The importance of the threat posed by German submarines (the 'Unterseeboot') during World War Two to the Atlantic lifeline, for which Britain depended on for food and supplies, could have had dire consequences had they succeeded, and would undoubtedly led to the defeat of Britain. |
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Nevertheless over 2,500 merchant ships were sunk in the Atlantic with the loss of not only vital supplies needed for the war effort, but also the lives of many thousands of merchant seamen.
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Food Rationing Introduced
With imports of food declining because of the U boat attacks on shipping and the advance of the German army across Europe , the British government set up a committee of nutritional experts to advise the War Cabinet on a strategic food policy.
The committee issued a report with the effect that each person in Britain could easily survive on twelve ounces of bread, six ounces of vegetables, a pound of potatoes, two ounces of oatmeal, an ounce of fat, and six-tenths of a pint of milk per day, supplemented either by small amounts of cheese, pulses, meat, fish, sugar, eggs and dried fruit.
Winston Churchill however was convinced that this was not a good idea and would lead to ill feeling amongst the people.
Instead it was decided to introduce a system of food rationing on fair shares for everyone policy. |
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| Food prices were fixed at a standard rate so there was no over-charging, in order that the poorer people would not go without. Everyone was expected to adhere to rationing, including the Royal Family, although those that lived in the country enjoyed some benefits - extra eggs and vegetables, for example. |
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| One of the many 'Dig foe Victory ' Posters, encouraging people to grow their own food |
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| People were also encouraged to produce their own food under a scheme called 'Dig For Victory'. |
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One of the surprising effects of food rationing during the war was that it improved the nation's health by encouraging a balanced diet. Rationing involved every man woman and child being issued with Ration Books |
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| Types of food used during WWII |
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Everyone was allowed 16 points per month to use on what ever food items they wished.
This was later increased to 20 points per month.
Of course the items purchased still had to be paid for. |
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In addition they also had a daily pint of milk and a double supply of eggs as well as Cod Liver Oil and Orange Juice; although egg rationing varied from between one every two weeks during the Winter to 3 or 4 during the Spring and Summer months.
Children under five were allowed half the normal meat ration and children between five and sixteen who held blue ration books were allowed fruit, a full meat ration and half a pint of milk per day. |
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| Food Rationing Poster of WWII |
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