From the May 2, 2015, Independent "Bread from heaven: Dutch survivors thank RAF for World War II drop that saved millions.
Things were getting bad for the Dutch people as World War II drew to a close. They had already endured the Hongerwinter 1944-1945, one of the coldest-ever in European history. On top of that, the Nazis had a ban on food entering the Netherlands and a scorched earth policy as the Germans retreated. Things were getting seriously hungry.
It is estimated that 20,000 Dutch died from hunger. In many instances, they resorted to eating tulip bulbs.
Over a ten-day period, the RAF began dropping some 7,030 tons of food from their bombers starting 29 April 1945. Then the Americans launched Operation Chowhound on May 1st and dropped another 4150 tons before Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945.
The two operations are said to have saved 3.5 million lives.
A big thank you is being planned in the Netherlands.
--GreGen
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
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