Dutch Rationing during World War II


Figure 1.--

During the World War II German occupation of the Netherlands (1940-44/45) clothes and shoes were rationed. Clothing and more important food rations were part of the German control system. You needed coupons for purchasing these items. Yet to get coupons you had to be registered. This is one of the ways the German knew where the Jews were when the roundups began. It also meant that individuals could be called up for labor service in Germany. The supply of rationed goods was limited, especially after the War turned aginst the Germans. A Dutch reader reports, "When there is a severe shortage one doesn't care about style. You take what ever is available. In the beginning of the war we still had decent clothes, at the end most of us were wearing rags. At the end style was not important anymore as long as you had something to cover your skinny body with. In March 1945 I had no shoes anymore. My father had made some 'sandals' out of a rubber car tire for me. Many women started to make clothes themselves, also for their children. My grandmother knitted woollen sweaters for us until she could no longer get wool. I was fortunate to own two pairs of corduroy shorts that lasted nearly the entire war. As I mentioned before, my firts long trousers I got from a Canadian soldier who had them shipped to me from Canada."

Rationing Progrm

The Dutch introducd food rationing in August 1939 even before World War II began.

Background

World War II began when Germany invaded Poland in September 1939. Britain and France declared war on Germanym but did nothing to actually assist Poland. The Netherlands considered itself a neutral country and maintained its neutrality as it had done throughout World War I. Most Duth people asumed that the Germans would also respect Dutch soverignity in World War II.

NAZI Invasion

Germany in May 1940 without any decalaration of War invaded and occupied the Netheralnds within a few days. Queen Wilhemina fled to London and set up a Government in Exile. The Dutch attempted fight, but wre overwealmd by the massive German offensive. The NAZIs unleashed the Luftwaffe with th terror bombing of Rotterdam and other Dutch cities. The Dutch capitulated. The invasion of the Netherlnds was the first part of a German offensive which within a few weeks would lead to the fall of France. It looked as if the NAZIs had won the War and would dominate Europe.

Rationing

There was no rationing in the Netherlands before the German invasion, but a rationing system was introduced soon afterwards. During the World War II German occupation of the Netherlands (1940-44/45) clothes and shoes were rationed. I believe that one had to register as a household in order to get coupons. Ration coupons were distributed from Distribution Offices, which were totally staffed by Dutch employees. A Dutch reader reports, "We never saw a German there. But of course, everything was actually controlled by the NAZIs. I assume that Jews got less or received special tickets, I am not sure." [Cotati] There were coupons for everything: bread, meat, sugar, clothes, shoes, oil, gasoline, heating coals, tobacco, but I don't know if there were any for alcohol.

NAZI Control System

Clothing and more important food rations were part of the German control system. You needed coupons for purchasing these items. Yet to get coupons you had to be registered. This is one of the ways the German knew where the Jews were when the roundups began. NAZI authorities ha a large "J" stamp in ration books for Jews. Registering for rations wasncessary, for example to get foof. It also meant that individuals could be called up for labor service in Germany.

New Neighbors

Most Dutch Jewsaftr the Germn invasion found it difficult to go into hiding from the NAZIs. A Dutch reader tells us about his new neighbors. "Some of our neighbors all of the sudden had 3 or 4 more kids. They were Catholic and it was a large family with at least 6 children. We suspected that these new children were Jewish. They said they came from The Hague and had to leave their home on account of the building of the Atlantic Wall along the North Sea coast. They were introduced as "cousins" of the other kids. It turned out that they indeed were Jewish. They survived. That family of course needed extra coupons. I remember that my mother traded tickets with the lady for things those children needed more than we did." [Cotati]

Shortages

Terrible shortages developed in the Netherlands, especially after D-Day and the approach of Allied ar,ies. The NAZIs in August 1944 forbade Dutch citizens from using electricity. They were also not allowed in the streets after dark. Dutch people violating these regulations were shot.

Clothing Supplies

The supply of rationed goods was limited, especially after the War turned aginst the Germans. A Dutch reader reports, "When there is a severe shortage one doesn't care about style. You take what ever is available. In the beginning of the war we still had decent clothes, at the end most of us were wearing rags. At the end style was not important anymore as long as you had something to cover your skinny body with. In March 1945 I had no shoes anymore. My father had made some 'sandals' out of a rubber car tire for me. Many women started to make clothes themselves, also for their children. My grandmother knitted woollen sweaters for us until she could no longer get wool. I was fortunate to own two pairs of corduroy shorts that lasted nearly the entire war. As I mentioned before, my first long trousers I got from a Canadian soldier who had them shipped to me from Canada. [Cotati] The worst time came after the Battle of Arnhem (September 1944) where the Allies failed to cross the Rhine at Arnhem. The movie "A Bridge too far" documents this battle. There was nothing to eat any more. The stores were empty. We had to line up every day at the Central Kitchen for a bowl of soup. The farmers still had some food but they did not want to sell it for money. They traded it for furniture, rugs, whatever. In our village several people died of starvation, one was a teacher who lived alone." [Cotati]

Sources

Cotati, Rudi. E-mail, July 24, 2002.







Christopher Wagner





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Created: July 24, 2002
Last updated: July 24, 2002