Rationing - from this day for the duration; the new normal.
May 4, 1942 – America Starts Rationing – The Eastern Front Readies For Spring – Japan Heads For Port Moresby
May 4, 1942 – News Of The World – News Of The World, Night Edition – NBC – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
May 4,1945 – As the war continued across the world, America was getting ready to add a new word to its lexicon; Rationing.
On this day, despite bad weather British bombers raided Hamburg, Germany’s 2nd largest city. And for their part, German bombers raided Exeter, doing considerable damage and loss of life. Seven German raiders were shot down; five over Exeter and two over their bases in Northern France.
From the Eastern front, the Soviet Information bureau announced another 2,000 Nazi officers and men were killed on the Leningrad front. This was the second successive announcement of heavy German losses around the siege line of that city. The day before, another communiqué said 1500 Germans had been killed. Indications were pointing to Spring for Russia to mount its own offensive, but the official word was, no significant land changed had occurred in the past 24 hours. Pravda reported that as soon as the Spring floods subside, the Russian offensive will hit the Germans harder than they did during the Winter.
Word was received of a Japanese force, pushing southward toward what was expected to be Port Moresby. An airdrome in Port Moresby was raided by 12 Japanese bombers. Allied planes succeeded in shooting down several of the bombers and accompanying Zeros w while allied losses were said to be slight.
And in America, sugar rationing went into effect this day. Coffee, tea and most likely a whole host of civilian items were expected to follow suit. The ration standards were strict and it was going to take some getting used to, but since every other country involved in the war was actively engaged in rationing, it was only a matter of time before America followed suit.
And that’s just a small portion of what went on, this May 4th in 1942 as reported by NBC’s News of The World and News Of The World, Night Edition.
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