Feeding the troops

Field rations of WWII were developed to accommodate the mobility required of soldiers.   Each ration contained a day’s worth of calories and nutrients and was categorized as A, B, C, D or K rations.  ‘A’ rations were considered the most attractive to soldiers because it contained fresh fruits, vegetables and meat; this made ‘A’ quickly perishable and did not provide the portability needed by soldiers on the field.  As rations descended in phonetic order they ascended in the suitability of a soldier’s lifestyle.  ‘K’ rations were very small and light, designed and used by paratroopers entering the assault phases of war.  

 Off the field, the U.S. had endured economic and agricultural hardships of the 1930’s and began to innovate farming technology in the 40’s.  Producing more food with less manual labor was essential, as boys and men from the farm enlisted to join the military force on the field.

Commercialized American food products were distributed across the globe to aid the world effort.  Spam was sent to British and Russian civilians and Coca-Cola was, by the initiative of its owner Robert Woodruff, made available to nearly every soldier for 5 cents a bottle.  The British government had rationed meats and attempted to utilize its farmland for the cultivation of wheat and grains.  This shift downsized dairy and livestock industry, decreased dependence on foreign imports and made Spam a common menu item. 

Military History Podcast, Food of WWII, by George Hageman

http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory/History/Military-History/Military-History-Podcast/18822

History Extra Podcast, World War Two farming and a new time saver for historians, by Clare Griffiths

http://content.bbcmagazinesbristol.com/bbchistory/audio/HistoryExtra_18thOct12.mp3