Health, Malnutrition and Deteriorating Conditions

Abstract

It is generally accepted by most writers that the most difficult period for the Islanders was during the last year of the Occupation, but not yet explored further is that by this time they were already weakened by long periods of semi-starvation rations, interspersed by interludes of having a few extras. In fact, conditions deteriorated much more rapidly than is often realised, and as early as 4 December 1940, Ambrose Robin reported that he had ‘lost 9lbs since the beginning of the occupation’, adding that ‘this loss … is very general, [with] losses of one stone quite common, [and] many have lost very much more’. By early 1941, the food situation had become ‘more and more serious … eggs are rareties, fish almost unpurchaseable and bacon … has disappeared. Milk is so severely separated that it is called “whitewash” … [and] only iron self-discipline prevents hungry people from saying too frequently when they see a tin of meat or fish in their store: “Well, just this once!” ‘²

According to von Helldorf, Hueffmeyer was determined ‘to hold the island in a state of siege until 1947, whatsoever might befall the civilian population.’¹