kind of a cake or death situation

When England went to war against Germany; initially they didn't experience much on land, but at sea it was another story. Those u-boats were sinking ships left and right. They were like someone's drunk uncle picking off rats at the dump. But really good. The book brings up a rather interesting point about England and the whole philosophical attitudes about digging for victory and everyone being self-sufficient. Everyone was working in the garden, raising chickens, writing about their experiences with home-brewing and other things that bloggers think they invented in the last ten years. Yet? the reality was, (much like modern America) England was incredibly dependent upon its Empire and the rest of the world for many products. They imported like WOAH. From the cotton clothes they wore, to the tea they drank by the gallons and the sugar they stirred into that beloved tea. Even onions. Much of England's onions came from the channel islands and France. You know that whole stereotype of some Frenchman in a smock and beret, loaded down with onions selling his wares? This was how England got its onions. Now there were NO ONIONS. Yes yes they grew their own onions and felt good about it but onions take time to grow. Onions were a luxury item. People would give onions out as a special present or raffle them off. "Oh darling, you got me... an onion. I am going to make one heck of a stew with it and then compromise my morals and let you do that one thing you read about in that one book by that Irishman who allegedly has a thing for farting."
Obviously people in the countryside had an easier time than people in London when it came to growing/producing their own food. People wrote of visiting family out in the country and their rations went further.
The Merchant marine and assorted ships were very important to the survival of Britain and were at incredible risk in the Atlantic. England knew this and Germany knew this. Part of Germany's plan was to to try and cut off the English (in essence try and starve them) and break the will of the people. Oh little did they know. These people THRIVE on a bit of discomfort. THESE are people who go to the damn seaside on holiday and EXPECT it to rain. They will go on a picnic on the beach and dress like they are hiking in a winter storm. And they will LIKE it. They will have fond memories of it for years to come. They will eat their sandwiches, drink their tea, eat their biscuits and say, "nice day for it" when there isn't an actual downpour. Oh dear Germany, for a country that has a history of complicated ties to the English, you should have known better.
Okay so the English were at real risk of starving and the government was scrambling to keep this from happening. Everyone? They grew those vegetables, they made waste of food illegal, and they began rationing foods. It wasn't an overnight thing. It started with a few things and began to extend to more food over time. Sometimes there would be a surplus so certain goods would be more widely available, when things weren't so hot, (be it food production issues or another ship getting sunk) they would drop the rations. (milk, eggs, sugar were common things that went up and down)
England also began looking over to their pal, America for some assistance. Because not only was England a little short on biscuits for tea time, they also kinda needed some other supplies to kick some German ass. (they were working like mad in production but hey you can always use supplies when getting ready to defend your little damp island from people who love David Hasselhoff without irony.)

America at the time was trying to be all hip and neutral like Switzerland. They was still trying to cling to some of its isolationist attitudes leftover from the end of WWI. It should be noted that during the thirties, the States had a rule about not selling arms/supplies to ANYONE. "what? you are fighting bad guys? Yeah sorry can't help you. We have this depression and we are kind of busy with our complicated and awesome tap-dancing numbers." Then... about the time the war started the states kind of changed its tune. (because hey morals are kind of a shifty thing when there is money to be made.) The US decided to sell whatever to whoever if they paid cash on the barrel and they brought their own ride and hauled away the supplies.

England by appearances looked rich as hell what with their giant empire and how far they reached when it came to available resources. The reality was that England was much like many members of its landed gentry. Land rich, cash poor. An empire ain't cheap to run and much of what they made went into the running of that empire (you know, oppressing non-white people, making sure there was a cricket club in some far off place in South Asia, and making sure the English had enough tea so the WI could have something to serve with their cake.) Take a look at those members of the landed gentry. Sure they have a Rolls Royce but they have been driving that thing since it first came out and while the carpet is hand-made it is threadbare. THAT is England. The government was going through the bills and privately going, "oh we are fucked. and WHO forgot to write down that one check. For God's sake, when you go to the grocery store, WRITE IT DOWN, because I am not a mind-reader. Okay. I can do this. I might have to float a few checks but we can figure this out. WHY did we agree to this war anyway? Oh yeah. Hitler. What an asshole."
England was trying to work out something with the US. The US wasn't unfriendly but it wasn't going out of its way to be helpful. "Sure fine you need stuff? Pick it up. I would really rather not get involved." Bridge night was awkward. England would send over convoys that had to go with an escort to improve its chances of getting there and back. It was a nerve-racking experience for everyone. Then on the way back from picking up supplies (often with the help of the Canadians -many young men were on these convoys coming over to England to help fight) they had to hope to God they would make it to England. Surviving members of these crossings spoke of having to sleep fully clothed with life jacket on and you had to go the pace of the slowest boat. I am sure the Catholics were saying hail marys like Grandmothers doing a novena. The survival rate from being hit wasn't hot either.

People got their tea and sugar. Here is an amusing thing about Hitler. (stick with me) The English took to referring to anyone who was getting a bit bossy as being a little Hitler. I read a book recently (which was written in the early days of the war) and there was a bit about a woman caring for a demanding little dog and she would refer to it as being a little Hitler. It was kind of a leveling insult. Hitler = asshole. So refined. In some respect it was a way to kind of take away some of the power that he held over the lives of so many people. (even those he had not invaded -even though he was trying his best)

Next post: The battle of Britain, ANYONE can be a Londoner, just have your home bombed, and "Screw it, the war is kind of hilarious."