Rationing on the Homefront

The outbreak of World War II permeated every aspect of life in the United States, and everyone played a part in the war effort. Men were drafted, women took over jobs in the workforce, and even children participated in scrap collecting and bond drives. Across the country, rationing was enacted to deal with supply chain issues and the growing need to feed soldiers fighting on both fronts. Families learned to adapt their needs to the ever-changing availability of items such as sugar, beef, and even panty hose. Shoes, tires, and gasoline were rationed just as much as butter and meat. The U.S. adopted methods similar to those of Great Britain to regulate their rationing, and civilians learned to make adjustments in their lives to support their troops in the midst of war.

The Office of Price Administration (OPA) was established in August 1941 to regulate prices on goods and eventually, to oversee rationing. Although they had not officially joined the war, the United States supplied other nations fighting the wars in Europe and Asia. Additionally, enemy submarines often disrupted shipping from other countries to the United States, which relied on imports for goods such as sugar, rubber, and coffee. All of this meant that shortages of certain items existed well before the United States declared war. The OPA set ceiling prices on goods to prevent inflation and hoarding, and once the war broke out, it oversaw and enforced the rationing system.

Once the United States joined the war and rationing began in earnest, booklets of stamps or “ration points” were issued to every civilian man, woman, and child—even newborns—which were to be used in the purchase of rationed goods. There were red stamps for meat, fish, and dairy, and blue stamps for processed goods. Every person was allotted 48 blue and 64 red points per month, and the use of these points was intended to ensure that everyone got their fair share, that no one was hoarding scarce goods. In addition to the monetary value of the item, shoppers would have to pay the number of rations points for the item set by the OPA. The point value of goods could and did change often and were published in newspapers and radio broadcasts, or posted with the local OPA board.

Immediately after America declared war, tires became scarce due to the use of rubber for war production. They came under rationing in January 1942, followed by automobiles in February, and gasoline in May. Products like rubber, leather, and silk were also components in vital military supplies like boots, parachutes, and uniforms, and civilians had to limit their use of these materials “for the war effort.” The first food item to be rationed was sugar, starting in May 1942. Many food goods were rationed either because they were needed to feed the troops on the frontlines, or because transportation issues made them difficult to import or restock. Train cars were prioritized for transporting soldiers and war materiel, and shipping was either militarized or threatened by enemy mines and submarines. Some food production sites were even converted to make goods for the war effort, and companies like Hershey’s stopped producing for civilian consumption, creating even larger shortages. Although many people grumbled whenever a new shortage was announced or ration points changed yet again, they admitted it was a necessary evil to help bring the nation to victory and submitted to rationing as their way of contributing to the war effort.

The OPA and other organizations such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture produced booklets of guidelines, tips, and tricks to navigate rationing and feed families in frugal but appetizing ways. Sugarless recipes, casseroles to stretch the meat ration, and advice on canning produce appeared in various publications, and many housewives devised their own methods through practical experience. Extra sugar allowances were permitted for canning purposes, and people were heavily encouraged to plant their own gardens, called “Victory Gardens,” to avoid having to buy produce at the store, thus alleviating any shortages that might occur. Despite these helpful tips and extra measures, however, a black market on rationed goods emerged, often demanding high prices for low-quality goods. The U.S. government produced propaganda reels, posters, and pamphlets warning against the black market, insisting that to subvert the rationing system was decidedly unpatriotic and that participants in the black market were essentially aiding Hitler and Hirohito themselves.

Other everyday items were impacted by rationing, as well, such as shoes, undergarments, and even toys. One housewife, Jessie Clark, recalled:

Special rations were issued to families for shoes, and the production of new shoes was restricted in style and color. Second-hand shoes did not require coupons, and some manufacturers created shoes made from non-rationed materials, although these did not hold up nearly as well as traditionally-produced ones. Gas was in such high demand that crime rings centered on stealing gas coupons surfaced, and local authorities advised car owners to note the serial numbers on their tires in case they were stolen. Those rationed items that people could obtain were treated with care as to preserve them. Jessie Clark recalls storing precious nylon hosiery in jars to keep bugs away. Other items like clothes would be worn out or remade into other articles of clothing to avoid wasting the cloth. Waste was considered unpatriotic, and measures were taken to ensure that any potentially useful material was saved for the war effort.

Scrap collection drives were common, and many civilians—particularly children—participated. Children would roam their neighborhoods looking for scrap metal, rubber, rags, or other materials that would then be collected and delivered to a designated drop-off point. These materials would be repurposed for war production, and participation in these collection drives were a way for people to do their part towards the war effort. Other reusable items included bacon grease, which housewives could save in a jar and bring to the local butcher. This grease would be used to make ammunition, explosives, and other vital pieces of equipment. Despite the national enactment of rationing, people still found a way to give back and be useful to the war effort, getting as much use as they could out of everything that came their way.

Rationing was not completely removed immediately after the war. Some goods were no longer needed for the war effort and instead made their way back to the public markets. Other items would not be freely available for a while, as in the case of sugar, which was not derationed until June 1947. Despite the shortages, black market, and grumbling, Americans all agreed that rationing was critical to the war effort, and they made do with what they had so that the troops had what they needed to fight. Their sacrifices contributed to the war effort and helped bring the United States and the Allied nations as a whole to victory in World War II.