Clothes Rationing during World War II: Poland


Figure 1.--.

Poland was the first country to stand up to Hitler and the NAZIs, although Czecheslovakia would have if England and France had supported them. Poland felt the full impact of the NAZI blitzkrieg in September 1939. For racial and historical reasons, the NAZI occupation policies were especially brutal in Poland, although policies varied in the different administrative areas. Some of Poland was incorporated into the Reich. Some Poles in this area were expelled to the Goverment General to make room for German "colonists". The NAZI goal was to "Germanize" these areas. Many Poles, however, remained in these areas because of the logistics of population transfers. Some were simply reclassified as Germans, although NAZI officials differed sharply on this expedient. The NAZI rations allocated for those classified as Poles were considerably lower than those for Germans. There were different cards depending on a sex and age (men, women, boys and girls). Special cards were issued for babies under 1 year old. The German policies in the Government General were esentially to convert Poles into slave laborers. The rationing system instituted provided only minimal allouances for food, clothing, and other essentials. Regulations were different in the areas of Poland occupied by the Soviet Union in 1939, but the NAZIs also seized this area when they invaded in June 1941. The Soviets liberated Poland in 1944, but shifted the biorders westward. The war time destruction was massive. Warsaw was destroyed. About 25 percent of the population perished. Many children were in rags by the end of the War. Rationing for clothing in Poland continued in Poland after the War until 1947 and even longer for shoes.

Poles in Germany

The history of Poles in Germany is quite complicated. The Poles have at times been a very substantial minority in Germany, especially because Germany (Prussia) participated in the partitions of Poland. There was always a Polish minority along the Eastern border of Prussia and the Polish partitions brough areas into Prussia that were laergely populated by Poles. Surpringly However, the most significant ethnic Polish group in Germany was along the western border of Germany in the Ruhrgebiet of Rhineland-Westphalia. These were the so-called Ruhr Poles, who after the Franco-Prussian War in 1870-71 were invited by German authorities to work in the coal mines and newly established industries. In 1914 there were between 350 000 and 500 000 "Ruhrpoles" living in Germany. They had their own organizations like the "Sokols" (sport clubs) where they wore destinctive uniforms. I am not sure to what extent they wore ethnic clothing or held folk festivals. After World War I, the number of Poles in Germany were substantially reduced when the Versailles Peace Treaty created a new Polish statem in part out of areas from the German Empire, especially Upper Silesia and West Prussia. Many Germans thus found themselves living in the new Polish state. Hitler used alleged mistreatment of these Germans to in propaganda leading to the NAZI invasion of Poland, in effect the launching of World War II.

The War

Poland was the first country to stand up to Hitler and the NAZIs, although Czecheslovakia would have if England and France had supported them. The Polish Army and Air Force, however, was woefully ill prepared for a modern war. Poland felt the full impact of the NAZI blitzkrieg in September 1939. Polish cities were bombed. England and France declared war, but provided no material assistance. Within a few weeks Polish cities were occupied. Stalin had signed a Non-Agresion Pact with Hitler in August 1939 and after seeing the Polish Army collapse under the NAZI onslaught, invaded from the east. Often forgotten in modern depictions of World War II is that Stalin and the Soviets were essentially a German ally until June 1941. Some Poles escaped in small numbers to fight with great destinction with the Allies. Poles also fought wih the Soviets after the Germans invaded the Sovit Union. (Before this Polish soldiers had been interned by the Soviets and many officers brutally murdered.) The Poles also played an important in the British breaking of the Enigma coding machine. For the Polish people, however, the defeat of their nation was the beginning of a long dark experience with the most unrestrained evil of the 20th century.

NAZI Occupation

For racial and historical reasons, the NAZI occupation policies were especially brutal in Poland, although policies varied in the different administrative areas. Some of Poland was incorporated into the Reich. Some Poles in this area were expelled to the Goverment General to make room for German "colonists". The NAZI goal was to "Germanize" these areas. Many Poles, however, remained in these areas because of the logistics of population transfers. Some were simply reclassified as Germans, although NAZI officials differed sharply on this expedient.

Rationing System

German occupation

The NAZI rations allocated for those classified as Poles were considerably lower than those for Germans. There were different cards depending on a sex and age (men, women, boys and girls). Special cards were issued for babies under 1 year old. The German policies in the Government General were esentially to convert Poles into slave laborers. The rationing system instituted provided only minimal allouances for food, clothing, and other essentials. Polish territories annected by Germans were under control of four government offices of economics (Landeswirtschaftamt) located in Poznan (Posen), Katowice (Kattowitz), Gdansk (Dancig) and Krolewiec (Konigsbeg). They issued 4 or 5 series of cards for clothing (Reichkleiderkarte) and perheps 1 or 2 cards for textile articles (Spinnstoffkarte). All of the cards were based on point system.

Soviet occupation

Regulations were different in the areas of Poland occupied by the Soviet Union in 1939, but the NAZIs also seized this area when they invaded in June 1941. We have no information on the Soviet ratoning system at this im.

Liberation

The Soviets liberated Poland in 1944, but shifted the biorders westward. The war time destruction was massive. Warsaw was destroyed. About 25 percent of the population perished. Many children were in rags by the end of the War. Rationing for clothing in Poland continued in Poland after the War until 1947 and even longer for shoes.







Christopher Wagner





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Created: June 16, 2002
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