French population saw many hardships in WWII

What was it like for French families under German occupation during World War II?

Picture yourself under the following. In addition to the lack of, or greatly reduced, electricity, heating, gas, and hot water, everyone was constantly reminded that they were prisoners in their own country.

While the Germans lived well, the French population was reduced to 1200 calories per day, about half the amount for a healthy diet. The French farmers also had to send to Germany close to one-third of their harvests. Coffee was not available, chicory was substituted, but it tasted bitter and acted as a laxative. Milk and eggs were often replaced with powdered milk. Butter and cheese were rationed as was sugar and salt. 

Lots of vegetables were not available, but beets, kale, rhubarb, and turnips were plentiful and became a main source of diet. Ration coupons were also needed for fresh fruit, fish, and of course, the vegetables. Of course, meat and poultry were scarce, except for the farmers who raised these items, they fared well. 

But two things were plentiful, wine and tobacco. Clothes and fabrics were also in short supply, so some enterprising mothers, made clothes out of extra drapes and curtains. The schools were cold in the winter, and children had to keep their coats on, or on really cold days, they simply stayed home. Shoes were re-soled with strips of wood.

Sadly, rationing did not end with the close of the war in 1945, it dragged on until 1949. The motto of the occupation was "made do and mend," a mentality that stayed with them the rest of their lives. For myself, only 7 years old at the end of the war, I remember the ration cards, as we even had them here in the United States, everything was going to the war effort.

Roger Gregory is a Vietnam veteran and business owner in Priest River. He served in the 1st Infantry Division.