2 November 1944

2 November 1944 Civilian and military rations

Miscellaneous. Channel Islands supply situation. Civilian ration: 125 g fat, 20 g meat, 500 g bread and 500 g potatoes per week. Troop rations also ordered reduced to 2,100 g bread, 245 g fat, 500 g meat and 2,800 g potatoes. With confiscation of all civilian stocks from 15 November, endurance until the end of 1945; if Britain supplies civilians from January 1945, until mid-July 1945; if civilians are also supplied from local produce already confiscated for the Armed Forces, until the end of February 1945.

The civilian scales have only theoretical significance. Apparently it is assumed that islanders can obtain additional food, primarily vegetables, without supervision or beyond the possibility of supervision.

At Commander-in-Chief West’s request Naval High Command is asked also to press Armed Forces High Command to authorise Commander, Channel Islands, to take all remaining civilian bread grain, potato and livestock stocks by 15 November at the latest (see 1 November diary). Only thus can the desired endurance until the end of 1945 be ensured. The civilian population’s fate must be left to the International Red Cross, which, according to Commander-in-Chief West, has been approached by the Reich Foreign Minister to send representatives to examine the situation.

T-1022 Roll 4008; PG 37614 | Frame 0461; original page 38. Extract from T1022_R4008_English_Translation.docx.