"These Photos Captured What Happened When the ..." Topic

…United States Started to Ration Shoes During WWII

"In February 7, 1943, the New York Times devoted four columns to an official U.S. government statement on footwear. Effective February 9, the statement explained, Americans would need a special coupon to buy a pair of shoes. Everyone would receive three of these coupons per year. Shoe rationing had arrived…"

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Armand

Very nostalgic and a nice read. Some great photos there. As always thanks Armand for finding these jewels.

A votre service mon ami…

Armand

Well I never knew girls in 1944 had legs like that. I thought they were only invented in the mid 60s (see the last photo)

Great find Tango

Thanks my good friend…

Armand

It's interesting to note that plastics- presumably derived from petroleum- were not rationed. This article makes some brief references to rubber being a shortage item, but the justifications in this article suggest to me that the argument for rationing in the US was less a matter of shortages, than of trying to bring home the war to people who weren't in much danger. I'm of two minds about the wisdom of that.

Different situation in a country like the UK, which imported so much food.

Nine pound round you are correct. Most of the US rationing was to create an atmosphere of shared sacrifice.

I know there are a number of pictures of kids in the US towing their wagons around collecting pots, pans and scrap metal to be melted down for war goods. In fact very little was really recycled. In many cases more effort and trouble than it was worth. But it gave the civilian population the feeling of doing something instead of standing by impotently while their loved ones went off to war.

Thanks also…

Armand