Jersey
under the Swastika!

Page 23 - Philip Frederick Le Sauteur

CHAPTER SEVEN (SECTION 4)

Feeding the Islanders

The same German Gendarmerie who had been responsible for rounding up almost the whole of the Guernsey Police Force in connection with the extensive robberies of foodstuffs were now in Jersey, making a big haul of black market racketeers. The matter was not made public, but it seemed that there had been an extensive racket in sugar, brought to Jersey in one of the German patrol boats. Arrests were made even amongst the high officials of the German Harbour Commandant's staff.

Early in June, the first solitary Colorado Beetle, long the bogey of the farming community, was discovered by a German, probably having been brought over with some potatoes imported from France. The result of course was a general order for spraying with lead arsenate.

Thanks to the generosity of the French Secours Nationale, all children were again issued with one pound of biscuits gratis.

There having been no further "enemy" interference with the food supplies of the Island, the bread ration was restored to its previous level early in August of this year. Emphasis was again laid on the fact that the cut had not been intended as a reprisal against the civilian population for the R.A.F. activity against shipping. With the additional bread, and the availability of some local tobacco (at 7/6 per ounce), the Island became a little more cheerful.

The extra Christmas rations showed the usual decrease on the previous year's — 5 lbs. potatoes, 2 ozs. butter, and 4 ozs. sugar for all, ½ lb. boiled sweets for the children, whilst men received 50 cigarettes and 2 ozs. tobacco instead of their usual ration, and women received 20 cigarettes each (their first issue since the occupation).

Black market prices naturally increased proportionately with the shortage — 10 Marks (21/4) per pound for pork and sugar being samples of the new price levels. In order to be able to buy at this prohibitive rate, many people were taking advantage of the £1 note racket — these were being bought up at 20 Marks each, and those who had a few were able to register a handsome profit. However, a few of the population declined to have anything to do with this manoeuvre, regarding it as unpatriotic to permit British money to be passed — as no doubt it eventually did — into German hands in exchange for dud Marks; and to make a profit on the probability now that England would win the war, whilst still many thousands of men would have to die to achieve that end.

In the week previous to Christmas, the meat and salt rations failed to materialize, and in the latter case the alternative was to purchase sea water at one penny a quart, this at depots set up around the town. During the early months of 1944, Colonel Knackfuss, the Civil Commandant, and his staff displayed considerable interest in the food conditions of the population, and sampled the food at several of the restaurants, as well as, it was said, visiting the poorer houses at lunch-time to see what the people had to eat. "Extra" rations had been issued a little more freely during the previous few weeks, and such extras as macaroni and margarine, which had been missing from the menu for quite a while, were again occasionally available. Supplies of salt had also arrived.

This interest in civilian food conditions was, it was believed, engendered by the visit of a Swedish Countess, who had been in the Island on behalf of the Red Cross to investigate the conditions of the Senegalese prisoners-of-war who were housed in the old Government Offices in Pier Road. The good lady is supposed to have enquired into the matter of civilian rations, and to have told the German Authorities that they were very little above starvation level.

While on the subject of food, mention must be made of the Communal Kitchen, a state-controlled device run mostly by voluntary labour, whereat a well-cooked and appetizingly served mid-day meal was provided at 7d. — indeed, the only fault which could be found was in the very small portions given. This together with another slightly more pretentious communal feeding centre, was a very great help, especially to working people who could not get home a mid-day.

Later on, consequent upon a threatened period of emergency, emergency rations were distributed free to the public generally. These consisted of 3 lbs. of bread, 5 lbs. of potatoes, 7 ozs. of oat flour, 3 ozs. of sugar, 2 ozs. of butter, 8 ozs. of macaroni, a tin of sardines — and for children under two years of age 12 tins of milks. Incidentally, German preparations for the expected emergency included extra Red Cross markings on every building which might conceivably come under Red Cross protection, the approaches to such buildings all being labeled with notices in German, forbidding fighting in the area. In announcing a cut in the bread and meat rations, the official notice stated:

Owing to the military situation on the Continent, it is not possible to guarantee supplies during the next months.

The bread itself was reduced to a basic rations of 4¼ lbs., with no extra 1½ lbs. for the manual workers, whilst meat was now to be issued on a basis of 4 ozs. fortnightly, with an extra 2 ozs. of butter on the "off" weeks.

In 1943, when isolated Colorado Beetles were found in the Island (on each occasion by the Germans themselves, the German Authorities insisted on all potato crops being sprayed, but it appeared that they themselves had not carried out the order, with the result that the crops at Verclut, Grouville, a German-occupied farm, were this year eaten down to bare stalks, and this at the time of year when it was doubtful whether the pest could be localized. Most people were of the opinion that it was not just gross carelessness, but a deliberate attempt to do as much damage as possible to the Island, in view of the fact that it was plainly obvious that they could not hold the place indefinitely.

Towards the end of August (1944), a Memorandum was sent by the States to the Occupying Authorities, excerpts of which are given below. This, of course, was not published, but the States allowed the text to become public by underground channels, probably in order to force the hands of the Germans, and also to protect themselves against unwarranted accusations of having failed in their duty after the war.

 Report of the result to be expected from the Food, Fuel and Drug position of the Island if the occupation is prolonged.

Dr. R. N. McKinstry. M.O.H., Jersey.

The food and fuel position in Jersey must be considered together, for although the food position may seem fairly good, it must be pointed out that, when the gas is stopped, the value of the food to many people will be greatly reduced. The reduction in food value will fall heavily on people whose stamina has been greatly reduced by the prolonged undernourishment of the past four years. It is true that no cases of the major manifestations of starvation have occurred, but many are in a very poor condition, so the extra reduction in food values will have serious consequences for them, and that in the very near future. The provision of one hot meal a day will be of great value, but it cannot prevent the reduction in the food value of the rations. The obvious example of this will be the great deterioration in the value of our milk. Owing to the great delays in transport the milk does not arrive at the average household until it has a very high bacterial content. It is for this reason that this Department had advised everybody to boil their milk as soon as they receive it. Even as it is, the milk often coagulates on boiling and is ruined. Our milk had, up to the present, been one of our most valuable foods, its value will now be greatly reduced. Babies and young children are likely to suffer very serious consequences from drinking unboiled milk with a high bacterial content. Many deaths will occur from infantile diarrhoea. Those in charge of the old, the infirm or the very young will find enormously difficult to feed their charges under the projected scheme.

The absence of hot water, together with the almost complete absence of soap, will cause the present serious increase in uncleanliness to assume disastrous proportions. Uncleanliness will give rise to an increase in body lice, and body lice carry typhus. There are many people from the typhus areas in Jersey at present. Apart from this, it will cause a rapid increase and spread of scabies, impetigo and septic skin conditions generally. This is bad enough in itself, but when you add to the difficulty of obtaining cleanliness the almost complete absence of ointments and ointment base on the Island, the prospect is appalling to people long accustomed to a high degree of personal cleanliness. Speaking as School Medical Officer, I can say that there are no doubts about the increase in skin affections. This increase is going to assume unmanageable proportions in the near future.

As regards drugs, the pharmacists can supply medical prescriptions for about six weeks ahead, using up their entire reserve. If there was any sudden call on them resulting from an epidemic, they could not cope with it at all. The General Hospital is in a better position if it had only to cater for its own needs, but when the stocks of the various pharmacists run out, it will be called upon, and will be able to keep the Island going for about a further three weeks, provided their is no sudden increase in the demand.

The position as regards anaesthetics is extremely serious. At the present rate of consumption, our stocks will be finished about the end of October. Any incident, such as the bombing of the harbour, or a plane crash on the town, might use up our supply in a few days. As no further supplies can be obtained whilst present conditions last, we may see a return to the terrors of the pre-anaesthetic surgery.

To sum up, unless fuel and medical supplies can be obtained soon, this Island faces conditions involving the most serious consequences to the health and well-being of the community.

Recapitulation of the position of food supplies.

Butter — Sufficient to December 31st (2 oz. weekly).
Sugar — sufficient to November 18th (3 ozs. weekly).
Salt — Sufficient to November 30th (1 oz. monthly).
Coffee Substitute — Sufficient to November 30th (4 ozs. monthly).
Macaroni — Sufficient to November 15th (occasional 4 ozs.).
Cheese — Sufficient to October l5th (4 ozs. fortnightly alternating with meat ration).
Dried Beans — Three rations of 7 ozs. each.
Tinned Vegetable — One ration to adults.
Tinned Fish — One ration to adults.
Tinned Milk — One ration to adults.
Matches — One ration per household.
Chocolate — Not sufficient for another ration.
Dripping — Not sufficient for a ration (none issued for three years).
Oil (cooking) — Enough for ration of 1 pint each.
Saccharine — Two rations of 100 tablets each.
Household Soap — None.
Toilet Soap — One tablet to children and juveniles - position extremely serious.
Soap Powder — One ration.
Shaving Soap — One stick to male adults.

It will be observed that stocks of most essential goods will be exhausted by the middle of November, 1944. In view of the fact that the population has been so strictly rationed for so long a period, it would be disastrous to reduce the rations in order to prolong the duration of the stocks. There is not any household soap in stock, and so little toilet soap that it will not be possible to issue another ration to the adult population. There is just enough for another ration to children and juveniles. The population is clamouring for soap.

(N.B.) - In addition to the items dealt with above, the sole weekly rations of the population at this time were - Bread 4½ lbs., Oat Flour 7 ozs., Potatoes 5 lbs., Milk 3½ pints, as well as a fortnightly 4 ozs. meat. Vegetables were un-rationed, and were more or less plentiful in their season.

Excerpts from the States summary of the position.