Figure 1.--Italy while alargely agrcultural country was not self sufficent in food production even before the War. Germany survived by piligaing occupied countries. Italy militry conquests wee more limited and after surrendering to the allies not existent. Thus the food situation became desperate. American food distributed through UNRAA prevented starvation in the southern areas liberated. No food was available from the Germans and the food situation in the north became desperate. After the war there were shortages of everything. Without American food, Italy as in World War would have starved. UNRA was created to destribute the food. Here two boys are enjoying an UNRRA boy. weare not sure how tasty UNRRA meals were, but these boys in the aftermath of World war II were clearly mot fussy eaters. Thy did not have to told to clean up their plates. The UNRRA caption read, It's link the platter for these Italian children. UNRRA tries to give them one good meal a day to make their bodies strong enough to fight disease and cold." "

Italy was among thecountries most devestated by World war II. Italy declared war on Britain and France (June 1940) and invaded Greece (October 1940). Italy had weak economy even before the War, shifting production to arms and drafting farm workers created shortages even while the War was far away from the Italian Peninsula and the Axis was advancing on all fronts. This changed with Allied victories in North Africa (October-November 1942) and the Soviet Union (February 1943). Soon Italy was within range of Allied bombing from North Africa, adding physical destruction to the growing shortages. The Allied seizure of Sicily (July 1943) led to the invasion of southern Italy (September 1943). This lead to apriracted, bloody campaign waged from the toe of Italy north to the Po River. It took nearly 2 years. The narrow breatly of the Italian Peninsula and rugged terraine was a great advantage to the Germans, reducing the Allied advantage in mobility. Few towns and villages were untouched and many were heavily damaged, some villages totally destroyed. France after D-Day was liberated in only 3 months, outside of Normandy, the fighting only lasted about a one month. Rather than fight, the Germans after the Allied break out in Normandy were primarily interested in getting back to the Reich and the protection of the West Wall. There was war damage in France, but the short length of the campaign limited it. Italy was very different. There were serious shortages in Italy before the Allies landed. Once the fighting up the Peninsula began, the situation became much worse. The physical damage was immense. Basic infrastructure was destroyed by the Germans before withdrawing. When the Allies enteresed Italian cities there was often no working water and electrical systems. Harvests were affected, significantly reducing domestic food production. And the destruction of the transport system meant that it was difficult to get what was harvested into the cities where it was needed. Italy was a largely agricultural country, but not self-suggicent in food. Germany survived by piligaing occupied countries. Italian military conquests were much more limited thanthe ermans and after surrendering to the Allies non existent. Thus the food situation became deserate. UNRRA was created in the same year that the Allies landed in Italy (1943). American food distributed through UNRAA prevented starvation in the southern areas liberated. No food was available from the Germans and the food situation in the north became desperate. After the war there were shortages of everything. Without American food, Italy as in World War I would have starved.

Created: 7:13 PM 2/2/2008
Last updated: 7:13 PM 2/2/2008