Nworld war ii ration books

War ration book one this is the cover for holding the ration book that was issued to my grandmother. Guide to the world war ii ration coupon collection, 1942. Rationing controls the size of the ration, which is ones allowed portion of the resources being distributed on a particular day or at a particular time. World war ii ration coupon collection date 19421946 creator united states. Coupons and rationing during world war ii dealhack. A series of four books were given out in the united states, and on the back of each was the slogan, if you dont need it, dont buy it. What you need to know about rationing in the second world war. If your war ration book one was issued to you on application by a member of your family, the number of stamps torn from the books of the family was based on the amount of sugar owned by the family, and was divided as equally as possible among all the books. The womens land army and the victory garden movement. Those of us who dont remember the war may not think much of the sacrifices made by people at home, as thousands also died abroad.

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. Ration books, world war ii, original object lessons. Ration books of world war ii arizona historical society. Stalingrad city in russia, site of a red army victory over the germany army in 19421943. The army and navy were growing, as was the nations effort to aid its allies overseas. S policy instituted during emergencies, but mostly wartime.

To meet this surging demand, the federal government took steps to conserve crucial supplies, including establishing a rationing. Food rationing lasted for 14 years in britain, from 1940 until 1954. The ministry of foods carefully formulated diet is generally believed to have impro. A wide variety of commodities were rationed during world war ii in the united states. In the kitchen, home cooks found thrifty ways to stretch the familys food. It was not until the early 1950s that most commodities came off the ration. When my husband and i were first married, he refused to eat meat loaf because he said it was bland and dry.

Initially used to ration sugar, coupons were later designated for other products. People were issued with separate ration books of food and clothing coupons. Examples of books 1 through 4 are represented with many different names associated with the booklets. Today, i decided to learn a little more about ration books because they are an interesting historical artifact in addition to being a useful genealogy aid. Ration books became a way of life for everyone at home during world war ii. During world war ii all sorts of essential and nonessential foods were rationed, as well as clothing, furniture and petrol.

This book is the definitive reference on the topic. Below is a timeline of some of the things which were rationed during the war. Booklets were consolidated from diverse donations in the past. This meant families were only allowed a small amount each.

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. You had to have ration stamps to buy things at the store. July 1940 tea and margarine were added to the list of rationed foods. Ration books had descriptions of the owner of the book, including height, weight, eye color and age. War ration book one ration coupons on the home front, 1942. Abebooks, an amazon company, offers millions of new, used, and outofprint books. This book of stamps or coupons help the driver keep track of rationed fuel.

Ration book four also introduced red and blue cardboard tokens, each valued at onepoint, to be used as change for ration coupon purchases. The government found it necessary to ration food, gas, and even clothing during that time. Apr 9, 2020 food and other rationed supplies during world war 2. The world war ii years were all about making do with less.

There are pages of stamps about the size of postage stamps. 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. I have a world war ii ration book and wonder if you could help me find out what the stamps were to be used for. Around 1939, when world war ii began, the united kingdom imported twothirds of its food, all of which had to be shipped over oceans teeming with german uboats. Ration books were used during world war ii for identification, and to control the amount of food and certain goods allowed per person. Rationing meant that all families were issued with the booklets below from early 1940 on. Going grocery shopping and cooking may be a chore, but not like it was during world war ii. In order to conserve strategic war materials, rationing of commonplace items was instituted in 1942. The office of price administration opa was in charge of rationing consumer goods such as sugar, coffee, shoes, household appliances, and other goods during world war ii. Making an exception to my pre1922 only rule, here are some high quality scans of u. The paper stubs, or stamps, in each ration book purchased rationed consumer goods and foods. Each stamp was worth 1 lb of sugar and was given a designed two week period during.

The government introduced rationing because certain things were in short supply, and to ensure that everyone got their. Four different series of war ration books were issued. Two world war ii war ration book four with stampsissued houston texas. I forgot to schedule a thanksgiving post, so after the rabid consumerism many americans display on black friday weekend and throughout the christmas shopping season, i think this topic is, in a way, highly relevant to the holidays. World war ii ration books bridgeport history center. Price new from used from staple bound, 1943 please retry. War ration book of diana mujica, an elevenyearold puerto rican girl, ca. Rationing was regulated by the office of price administration and ration books holding stamps used for purchasing goods were distributed to all citizens. Ration book four was printed in red, blue and green. World war ii put a heavy burden on us supplies of basic materials like food, shoes, metal, paper, and rubber. Civilians first received ration books war ration book number one, or the sugar book on 4 may 1942,11 through more than 100,000 schoolteachers, pta groups, and other volunteers. Ration book used during world war ii with sheets of stamps inserted in the middle.

Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 1942. What is the value of world war 2 ration books with all the. They still had to pay but the coupons meant that no one bought more than their fair share. This ration book belonged to luella runck of oxford, indiana. With not a single person unaffected by the war, rationing meant sacrifices for all. To make the british weak, the germans tried to cut off supplies of food and other goods. There is no date but my age at the time was 18 september 1943september 1944. Food rationing and canning in world war ii national. There were food and clothes shortages in britain during world war ii. World war ii ration books as shown staple bound 1943. Book one below was issued on may 5th, 1942 by avis hays registrar for local board no.

For example, world war ii ration books include the persons name, age, address, occupation, and even their height and weight. Apr 20, 2015 rationing dominated the lives of those who lived through the home front in world war two. Detention centers where more than 100,000 japanese americans were relocated during world war ii by order of the president. The amount of gasoline you received during world war ii depended on whether your job was essential to the war effort. How gas rationing worked during world war ii hemmings. Developed for during world war ii, the c ration was eaten by millions of soldiers and marines when fresh food was unavailable. Every person must see that his war ration book is kept in a sage place and properly used. Oct 10, 2019 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.

In 1942, five months after december 8, 1941 the united states entered the second world war, book one series were issued. Rationing began on 8th january 1940 when bacon, butter and sugar were rationed. In where treetops glisten, my main character, meredith, is a nurse on. 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. Food rationing was introduced in 1940 and clothes rationing the following year. Other meat value of 1 shilling and 2 pence equivalent to 2 chops cooking fat 4 oz. Bread, which was never rationed during wartime, was put on the ration in july 1946. Then i prepared this version, and it became his favorite meal.

A group of ten war ration books dating to world war ii with stamps present, though many have been used. The work of issuing ration books and exchanging used stamps for certificates was handled by some 5,500 local ration boards of mostly volunteer workers selected by local officials. I was given 6 war ration books with most of the stamps still in them. Each stamp was illustrated with a military symbol such as a naval ship, airplane, tank, gun, horn of plenty or torch of liberty, adding a patriotic flair. Some clothing stamps were eventually validated for shoe rationing. 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. During world war ii, by contrast, inflation was much less of a problem, even though the federal reserve monetized turned into money 10% of the rapidly growing national debt by buying. How to use your war ration book one genealogy today. Many items were in short supply due to a transition to military production in place of consumer goods. Rationing is the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, services, or an artificial restriction of demand. World war ii ration book museum of american finance. Ration books, stamps, and tokens an anti hoarding, prorationing poster from the united states in world war ii. Rationing was not only one of those ways, but it was a way americans contributed to the war effort. Rationing ended when supplies were sufficient to meet demand.

German submarines attacked many of the ships that brought food to britain. Historic recipes world war ii cookbook created ration. It is the allocation of scarce resources and consumer goods. There is a note on the back of the book that reads. The left hand side is the inside of the booklet which ensured everybody got their fair share of food. A bas relief panel on the world war ii memorial in washington, d. How gas rationing worked during world war ii by richard lentinello on dec 30th, 2019 at 8. With the onset of world war ii, numerous challenges confronted the american people. This collection consists of unused certificates, coupons and stamps issued by the united states government office of price administration opa on certain goods that were rationed 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.

The first war ration stamps given out were for sugar. The first two images explain how ration books were to be used. Make offer two world war ii war ration book four with stampsissued houston texas. World war 2 ration books the war ration was not very high. As an early form of hot food on the go, the c ration paved the way for the modern mre and heatermeals selfheating meals. Americans also coped with rationing and coupon books by engaging in a widespread system of bartering. Ration books world war ii 1943 1945 description this small collection consists of world war ii ration books and related information issued between 1943 and 1945. Individuals used these books daily to purchase rationed goods such as sugar, butter, beefsteak, and gas. Unfollow world war 2 ration books to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. World war ii gasoline ration stamps and mileage card. 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. See more ideas about world war, war and ww2 posters. Items such as imported meats, sugar, tea, coffee, tobacco, chocolate and.

See more ideas about food recipes, wartime recipes and vintage recipes. Of the 180,000,000 printed, 123,000,000 were issued. Mar 23, 2007 ration books became a way of life for everyone at home during world war ii. Meat was the last item to be derationed and food rationing ended completely in 1954. 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. Civilians still needed these materials for consumer goods as well. Jan 31, 20 the small coins introduced in 1944 were used by retailers to give change back for food bought with ration stamps. It is interesting to note that some cookbooks published during the war featured sugarless recipes so home cooks could more easily comply with the rationing program. Oct 10, 2017 the weekly food ration for two people, uk, 1943 this photograph shows the amounts of butter, milk, bacon, lard, sugar, cheese, tea and jam received by two people per week in britain. Records from war ration books for genealogy world war.

Drivers received a windshield sticker and ration coupons for gasoline. It still cost money, but you couldnt even buy it unless you had stamps. An a sticker allowed the driver 3 or 4 gallons a week. Canadian war ration books food rationing in canada 19421947. Throughout the 1940s and for nine years after the end of the war every man woman and child in britain owned ration books of coupons for food and clothing. As a result of the experience of 191718, ration books were issued when food rationing came into force in january 1940. World war ii ration books, 194345 collection information biographical sketch scope and content note cataloging information processed by emily castle august 2006 manuscript and visual collections department william henry smith memorial library indiana historical society 450 west ohio street indianapolis, in 462023269. Ration books were exceedingly valuable to american consumers during the war, and people even. During the second world war, americans were asked to make sacrifices in many ways. Youll notice that they change slightly throughout the war. 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. And book four series were issued towards the end of 1943.

The war ration stamps are very common and the demand for them in the collectors circle is not very high. War ration stamps may be used only by or for the person named and described in the war ration book. During the revolution, the civil war and world war i, inflation ran well into double and at times even triple digits. By 1942 many other foodstuffs, including meat, milk, cheese, eggs and cooking fat were also on the ration.