War ration books and tokens were issued to each american family, dictating how much gasoline, tires, sugar, meat, silk, shoes, nylon and other items any one. Alongside objects and photography from iwm collections, terry charman, former iwm senior historian explores the history of rationing during world war two rationing of food began in britain on 8th january 1940. Before the start of world war ii the uk imported 55 million tons of food, a mere month after the start of world war ii they imported 12 million. This new ration book, replacement for present books when their stamps are used up, will be distributed during the early summer. How the ministry of food managed food rationing in world war. World war ii ration books bridgeport history center. May 22, 2015 going grocery shopping and cooking may be a chore, but not like it was during world war ii. The opa accepted ration book applications and issued ration books, from which consumers tore out stamps in order to purchase food and other supplies at grocery stores. This is an original world war ii united states ration book, printed in 1943. The chemical composition of foods was the book written by both of them. It caused a shortage of not only food but rubber, metal, clothing and more.
To prevent hoarding and skyrocketing prices, the office of price administration issued 123 million copies of war ration book one, which contained stamps that could be used to purchase sugar. During world war ii all sorts of essential and nonessential foods were rationed, as well as clothing, furniture and petrol. It contains four pages of point stamps, similar to the point stamps in war ration book 2, though slightly different in design and printed in brown ink. Our ww2 ration packages are sold empty and ready for your choice of food. The only way to survive was to implement world war 2 rationing, and soon the ration book would become the most important book in every british household. War ration book two ration coupons on the home front. I thought they were super cool and wanted to share. Elsie widdowson and robert mccance were the two pioneers who created the scientific basis for rationing.
Background paper contains stylized great seal and the phrase u. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front. Each stamp authorized a purchase of rationed goods in the quantity and time designated, and the book guaranteed each family its fair share of goods made scarce, thanks to the war. Each book required different identification and some were more detailed than others. World war ll ration book printable pdf teaching history. Parents are responsible for the safekeeping and use of their childrens war ration book.
This is a great activity when teaching about the homefront during world war ii. What you need to know about rationing in the second world war. Living off rations with ration book cooking day one. The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. German submarines attacked many of the ships that brought food to britain. Four different series of war ration books were issued. In the united states, nationwide food rationing was instituted in the spring of 1942, and each member of the family was issued ration books by the office of price administration opa. Rationing was introduced temporarily by the british government several times during the 20th century, during and immediately after a war at the start of the second world war in 1939, the united kingdom was importing 20 million long tons of food per year, including about 70% of its cheese and sugar, almost 80% of fruit and about 70% of cereals and fats. Make sure this fits by entering your model number this is a single replica junior ration book from 19441945 ideal for school projects, events or for those with an interest in world war 2. Rationing was not only one of those ways, but it was a way americans contributed to the war effort. Coupons and rationing during world war ii dealhack. A difficult time for the united states war history online.
Imagine what it was like during world war ii, when rationing meant you couldnt always buy the goods. During world war ii, the war caused a shortage of many items that people used on a daily basis. Each page is separate so you can include what you need. World war 2 memorabilia pack world war 2 memorabilia packs by brought to you by resources for teaching. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. Do you remember the items that were rationed during world. Interestingly, the ration books issued during world war two attempted to capture these items. Food rationing lasted for 14 years in britain, from 1940 until 1954. This book is your governments guarantee of your fair share of goods made scarce by war, to which the stamps herein will be assigned as the need arises.
War ration book two ration coupons on the home front, 1942. Ration books were exceedingly valuable to american consumers during the war, and people even carried them in special holders to keep them safe. No sugar could legally be bought without stamps, and sugar rationing would. Civilians first received ration bookswar ration book number one, or the sugar bookon 4 may 1942, through more than 100,000 schoolteachers, pta groups, and other volunteers 7. During the second world war, each country had its own version of a field ration. Get the best deals on war ration book when you shop the largest online selection at.
A bas relief panel on the world war ii memorial in washington, d. Why did the shopkeeper have to stamp your ration book. Sorry the video was a bit longer, there was just so much to fit in. Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each family being issued a war ration book. Aug 31, 2018 every american was entitled to a series of war ration books filled with stamps that could be used to buy restricted items along with payment, and within weeks of the first issuance, more than 91. Rationing is a vital part of your countrys war effort. As a matter of fact, when a gallup poll on march 5, 1943, asked americans, do you understand how the food point rationing system works. Post war 195354 ration book, ministry of food, for a resident of shropshire, england, u. A world war 2 ration book template containing 12 pages and a front and back cover. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them.
World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat, cooking oil, and canned goods. Vintage wwii world war 2 war ration book dated 1943 stamps united states gov. On august 15, 1945, world war ii gas rationing was ended on the west coast of the united states. World war 2 replica ration book money saving bundle of 10. How the ministry of food managed food rationing in world. It was not until the early 1950s that most commodities came off the ration. This meant families were only allowed a small amount each.
Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during. What is the value of world war 2 ration books with. In where treetops glisten, my main character, meredith, is a nurse on. This article may feature affiliate links to amazon or other companies, and purchases made via these links may earn us a small commission at no additional. Bread, which was never rationed during wartime, was put on the ration in july 1946.
Going grocery shopping and cooking may be a chore, but not like it was during world war ii. Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. Rationing was introduced in the us during the second world war when the country was appealed to by the british to cut their consumption of food so that more food could be made available for the britons who were fighting a major war on many battlegrounds. A brilliant example of a ration booklet that children can use during their learning on the second world war and rationing. Ever wondered how much food a person was entitled to during world war two. Introduced in january 1940 for butter, sugar, bacon and ham, food rationing was extended to cover. World war ii rationing stamps program, 19431946 overview of the collection title world war ii rationing stamps program dates 19431946 inclusive 1943 1946 quantity 1 box.
Nov 19, 2019 my nan kept everything including her ration books. Eventually, most foods were covered by the rationing system with the exception of fruit and vegetables. British and german wartime propaganda, counterfeit ration books and publicity leaflets from ww2 dropped. Food rationing during world war 2 primary homework help. Between 1942 1947, the government issued four different series of ration books. By 1942 many other foodstuffs, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also on the ration. Every american was issued a series of ration books during the war. They must create a balanced menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner without exceeding their spending limit or number of points.
Meat rationing continued for 10 years after dday june 1954 in 1946, when food was just as short as during the preceding years, bread was added to the ration and the sweet ration was halved. In 1942 rationing had started for sugar, gasoline and other goods. These were required before rationed goods could be purchased. Records from war ration books for genealogy world war. Jan 31, 20 antique world war ii ration books are not rare,antiques expert larry cox answers readers questions about world war ii ration books, blakely china and commemorative coins.
To make the british weak, the germans tried to cut off supplies of food and other goods. Rationing of processed foods started march 1st, 1943. Rationing was a technique used by many countries during world war ii that consisted of limiting the amount of a certain resource to the population, typically to give the remainder to ones troops. These ration books were issued to doris and montague corri. What is the value of world war 2 ration books answers. The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. Meat was the last item to be derationed and food rationing ended completely in 1954. When the japanese attacked pearl harbor the question whether america will enter the second world war was over. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 19421947. With the onset of world war ii, numerous challenges confronted the american people.
War ration books were produced by the united states office of price administration in 1942 when united states officially entered the second world war. Rationing began on 8th january 1940 when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. Americans also coped with rationing and coupon books by engaging in a widespread system of bartering. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Every american was entitled to a series of war ration books filled with stamps that could be used to buy restricted items along with payment, and within weeks of. Why not create a role play area and provide all children with one, allowing them to experience rationing firsthand.
Every man, woman and child was given a ration book with coupons. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. Jan 14, 20 the nations supply of sugar was quickly reduced by more than a third. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. Free shipping on many items browse your favorite brands. A person could not buy a rationed item without also giving the grocer the right ration stamp. The government found it necessary to ration food, gas, and even clothing during that time. Why did the shopkeeper have to stamp your ration book in. Records from war ration books for genealogy world war two. During the second world war, americans were asked to make sacrifices in many ways.
Make offer world war ii 1943 ration book four wstamps pennsylvania d. Childs clothing ration book in use after world war two 194748 to cope with post war shortages. The above photo are blue ration stamps from a real war ration book number two. Print or photocopy onto coloured card and staple together. With not a single person unaffected by the war, rationing meant sacrifices for all. Civilians first received ration bookswar ration book number one, or the sugar bookon 4 may 1942,11 through more than 100,000 schoolteachers, pta groups, and other volunteers. Shortly after the commencement of world war two, rationing was introduced in canada on january 24, 1942, to limit the use of imported food and to free up supplies for the military and their allies. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 19421946. The ration books contained removable stamps good for certain rationed items, like sugar, meat.