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Rationing
In 1941 clothes were rationed to ensure that the clothes that were available were fairly shared. (1)
In Europe's large cities, finding food was so difficult that people had to resort to illegal buying and selling - called the 'black market'. In the countryside food was not in such short supply and some farmers sold their surplus products at a high profit to dealers who then sold them on to hungry city dwellers. (2)
Coal was to have been rationed also but instead people were limited to less than before. Domestic users of coal (for the home rather than industry) received two-thirds of their pre-war amount. (3)
Petrol was rationed from the early days of the war and in 1942 this was extended to include "no petrol for pleasure motoring". (4)
As a result, from the beginning of the Second World War, until 1954, food was rationed in Britain. So that everyone would get a fair share, the Government gave each person a ration book. Ration books contained coupons. People had to register with a grocer and a butcher and then always go there to buy their food. They had to hand over the ration book with the coupons and also hand over money when they went to buy their food. (5)
Much of our food and raw materials have to be imported from other countries. During the war it became difficult to bring supplies in by ship. The German Navy used submarines to try and sink any ship coming towards Britain. As a result many foodstuffs were in short supply. (6)
Britain wasn't the only country to introduce rationing. From 1941, everything was rationed in France. Coupons were needed for bread, meat, textiles and soap. Substitutes were used such as saccharin for sugar and chicory instead of coffee. A substitute for soap was made from horse chestnut flour. Newspapers gave recipes on how to make mayonnaise without eggs or oil. (7)