Reply to: Jim Froelich
MaryHaas@AOL.COM
Tue, 28 Jan 1997 04:09:05 -0500
I'm glad to read that you are studying rationing connected to WWII.
Rationing was done in all countries, and national governments had campaigns
to encourage people to take part in all of the processes. In the U. S.
children were recruited for their labor and received awards, as did the
schools. Often schools closed so that the students could collect the
products in their wagons and bring them to the school. If you read the ads
in the newspapers of the day, you will see that Savings Bonds were described
as presents to give to children at Christmas! I do know of children who did
receive such presents but do not know how widely that was practiced. New
toys were not often available and indeed children did turn in their toys for
the war efforts if they were made of materials wanted by recycling drives.
However, you should know that the military people were not involved in
rationing. This does not mean that they always had what they personally
needed or wanted. (Somehow they always seemed to have something to smoke, or
so it seems when you see the pictures.) In fact some of the female veterans I
have interviewed have told me that the thing that surprised them the most
when they came home was the rationing and the inability to get clothing and
other items they might want. Search the documents at the National Archives
and you will find many documents and publications or ask Americans over 60
years of age who were civilians. By the way, many of the plans used were
replays of WWI actions and efforts including the Victory Gardens. Your study
will illustrate the impact that WWII had on all of the people living at the
time. Mary E. Haas