The Forgotten Cuisine: What Soldiers Ate During World War II

History Cold War History

During World War II, soldiers had to rely on rations and field kitchens for their meals. From creamed dried beef to sea rations, the food options varied and often reflected the hardships of war. Let's take a closer look at the wartime cuisine of soldiers from different countries.

Delicacies and Rations

⭐️Creamed dried beef, also known as SOS, was considered a delicacy among World War II soldiers.

🍽️Field kitchens were used to serve food to soldiers and could be set up quickly.

🍬Candy, chocolate, or gum were included in sea rations as morale boosters.

🍪Egg biscuits were similar to cookies and were made with minimal ingredients due to rationing.

🥖Bread was a staple for soldiers throughout the war, even if it was made with only flour and water.

Innovative Creations

🍲To make their repetitive meals more enjoyable, soldiers created bully beef Rousseau by mixing crushed biscuits with corned beef and vegetables.

🥚British soldiers often had to eat canned corned beef and egg biscuits as their only meal during the war.

🥕Onions were a popular vegetable choice for the bully beef Rousseau, but soldiers would also use whatever field greens were available.

🍲The German Army's soups were initially filled with meat, but as resources dwindled, they resorted to boiling animal bones and adding crushed bread and field greens for nutrition.

🍴Soldiers had various nicknames for creamed dried beef, including 'on a shingle' and 'same old slop.'

FAQ

What were sea rations?

Sea rations were the main food option for soldiers, providing about 3,700 calories per day.

What were K-rations designed for?

K-rations were designed for messengers or paratroopers, being lighter to carry but providing only about 2,800 calories and less taste.

What were hardtack biscuits made of?

American troops ate hardtack biscuits made with soybeans, wheat, egg, and lard.

What was the German Army's innovative soup recipe?

The German Army's soups were initially filled with meat, but as resources dwindled, they resorted to boiling animal bones and adding crushed bread and field greens for nutrition.

How did soldiers make their repetitive meals more enjoyable?

To make their repetitive meals more enjoyable, soldiers created bully beef Rousseau by mixing crushed biscuits with corned beef and vegetables.

Summary with Timestamps

🍩 0:21During World War II, soldiers ate a variety of foods including creamed dried beef, known as SOS.

🍽️ 2:48Soldiers relied on sea rations and k-rations as their main source of food during missions, with sea rations providing more calories and variety but being bulkier to carry, while k-rations were lighter but had fewer calories and less taste.

🍞 5:40During World War II, British troops relied on a type of military ration bread called egg biscuits, which were mainly made with flour and water.

🍲 8:26British soldiers in wartime relied heavily on canned corned beef and egg biscuits, leading them to create bully beef Rousseau to make their meals more palatable.

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