Wwii Beer: What Soldiers Drank During Wartime

Beer has a long history as a beverage in ancient civilisations, including Sumeria, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. By the time of the Roman Empire, wine was the preferred drink around the Mediterranean, but the Romans encountered serious beer drinkers in the tribal peoples of Gaul and the British Isles. Beer was considered a prelude to battle for the ancient Celts, with alcohol enhancing the ferocity of the first onslaught.

During World War II, beer remained a staple for soldiers, with British breweries setting up a beer for troops committee to ensure supply. American breweries were also directed by the US Department of Agriculture to set aside 15% of production for troops. In Germany, beer production was more decentralised, with most towns possessing at least one or two breweries.

While beer was a common drink for soldiers, other alcoholic beverages were also consumed during the war. The British Army continued the tradition of providing rum rations to troops, while vodka was a significant factor in the Soviet war effort, with Stalin reinstating the vodka ration in the Red Army.

Beer was a staple for troops in the American Civil War and World War II

Beer has been a staple for troops in many wars throughout history, including the American Civil War and World War II.

American Civil War

During the American Civil War, whiskey was used as a stimulant for wounded soldiers. However, as the war progressed and casualties increased, whiskey supplies began to run dangerously low. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, matron Phoebe Yates Pember of Chimborazo Hospital Number Two decided to investigate. She discovered that the whiskey rations meant for injured soldiers were being drunk by the ward surgeons, who would claim that the bottles had been knocked over by rats or simply disappear during the night.

World War II

In World War II, beer was considered a staple for troops on both sides of the conflict. The British set up a "beer for troops" committee to ensure that soldiers in their messes, especially those stationed in Muslim-dominated areas of the Middle East and North Africa where alcohol was forbidden, had access to beer. American breweries were also ordered by the US Department of Agriculture to set aside 15% of their beer production for troops—a bigger ration than the average citizen received. Beer was so important to soldiers that some cans of American beer were even painted olive drab to camouflage them from enemy aircraft.

In Germany, beer was still a decentralised industry during World War II, with most decently-sized towns possessing at least one or two breweries. It's likely that many of these breweries were damaged or destroyed by Allied air raids towards the end of the war. Wehrmacht officers permitted and initially encouraged their soldiers to consume alcohol, believing it was essential for morale. However, Hitler later issued a statement warning that soldiers who engaged in criminal acts as a result of alcohol abuse would be severely punished.

In the Soviet Union, vodka was considered just as important to the war effort as Katyusha rocket launchers. At the order of Stalin himself, Red Army soldiers were given a daily glass of vodka throughout the war, amounting to over a billion litres annually.

While beer and other alcoholic beverages provided comfort and relief to soldiers during times of war, they also came at a cost. Wartime whisky in the UK, for example, was known as "barbed wire whisky" due to its poor quality.

German breweries were likely damaged or destroyed by Allied air raids

During World War II, the German capital, Berlin, was subject to 363 air raids. The city was bombed by the RAF Bomber Command between 1940 and 1945, the United States Army Air Forces' Eighth Air Force between 1943 and 1945, and the French Air Force in 1940 and between 1944 and 1945 as part of the Allied campaign of strategic bombing of Germany. It was also attacked by aircraft of the Red Air Force in 1941 and 1945, as Soviet forces closed in on the city.

Given the ubiquity of Allied air raids in Germany towards the end of the war, it is highly likely that a good number of German breweries were damaged or destroyed. One source explicitly mentions the destruction of the Hofbrauhaus brewery in an Allied air raid.

The bombing of Germany's cities and industrial districts was a military strategy employed by the Allies to target industrial and political infrastructure. The Allies believed that air forces could win major victories by attacking these targets, rather than purely military ones. International law at the outset of World War II did not specifically forbid the aerial bombardment of cities, despite the occurrence of such bombings during World War I, the Spanish Civil War, and the Second Sino-Japanese War.

The Allied bombing campaign in Europe began on September 1, 1939, when Germany invaded Poland and the Luftwaffe began bombing Polish cities and civilians. As the war expanded, bombing by both the Axis and the Allies increased significantly. In March 1940, the RAF began bombing military targets in Germany, commencing with the Luftwaffe seaplane air base at Hörnum. In September 1940, the Luftwaffe began targeting British civilians in the Blitz.

The Allies attacked oil installations and carried out controversial firebombings of Hamburg, Dresden, and other German cities. The effectiveness of the strategic bombing campaigns is controversial, but it is estimated that hundreds of thousands to over a million people died as a result, millions were made homeless, and many major cities were destroyed.

The British government's policy at the start of the war was to refrain from deliberately bombing civilian property outside combat zones. However, this policy was abandoned on May 15, 1940, after the German bombing of Rotterdam, when the RAF was given permission to attack targets in the Ruhr Area, including oil plants and other civilian industrial targets that aided the German war effort.

The German city of Dresden was also destroyed by Allied bombing between February 13 and February 15, resulting in the deaths of over 25,000 civilians. The city of Essen was largely reduced to rubble when British aircraft dropped over 4,700 tons of bombs on it.

The Allies' bombing of Germany continued until April 1945, when they had finally run out of targets.

British soldiers were issued rum to boost morale and before attacks

During World War I, British soldiers were issued rum rations, which were used to boost morale and before attacks. The tradition of issuing rum to soldiers has its roots in the British Navy, dating back to the mid-17th century when Britain captured Jamaica from Spain. At that time, beer was the staple beverage, with a daily ration of eight pints! The introduction of rum reduced this amount, with senior ratings receiving a neat rum ration of one-eighth of an imperial pint, while junior ratings received a diluted rum ration of three-eighths of an imperial pint.

By World War I, the rum ration had been further reduced to a quarter of a gill, typically served at morning and dusk stand-to's and sometimes under the supervision of an officer. It was also issued prior to an attack to boost the soldiers' courage. The official ration was 2.5 fluid ounces (about 70ml) per man and was usually served twice weekly for soldiers serving behind the front lines or resting. For those in the trenches, it was served daily.

The rum was often added to tea, coffee, or cocoa to mask the poor taste of the water used to make these drinks. It was also used to boost morale, as a reward, and as a cure for various ailments. For example, it was administered as a treatment for shell shock, wounds, exhaustion, hypothermia, and even the deadly flu. The arrival of the rum ration, brought up to the front lines in 1-2 gallon jars, was a highlight of the day for many soldiers.

While there was some opposition to the rum ration from the Temperance Movement, it was generally accepted as a necessary part of coping with the horrors of war. As one medical officer stated, "Had it not been for the rum ration, I do not think that we would have won the war."

Vodka was a major factor in the Soviet war effort

During World War II, vodka played a significant role in the Soviet war effort. After Hitler broke the Molotov-Ribbentrop non-aggression pact in June 1941, Stalin reinstated the vodka ration in the Red Army, a practice discontinued by Czar Nicholas II during World War I. As one historian noted, "At Stalin's personal order, 28 million men were given one glass of vodka a day for the next four years." This amounted to over a billion litres of vodka annually.

The rationale behind such a massive expenditure of resources is intriguing. Vodka was seen as a way to boost morale and ease the psychological toll of combat. This was a similar strategy employed by the British, who continued the tradition of providing their troops with rum rations during World War II, particularly before attacks and during protracted periods of combat.

The role of alcohol during wartime is a fascinating aspect of history that has been understudied. It provides a unique insight into the psychology of a society's war effort and the strategies employed to cope with the hardships of conflict. Vodka, in particular, holds a significant place in Russian culture and has been a major source of government revenue for centuries.

The decision to reinstate the vodka ration in the Soviet Army during World War II highlights the importance of alcohol in wartime, especially as other nations were limiting their alcohol production to support the war effort. The massive scale of vodka consumption by Soviet soldiers, amounting to over a billion litres annually, underscores the significance of this spirit in the Soviet war strategy.

Beer was used as a medicinal treatment during World War I

The ancient Celts believed that the effects of alcohol ameliorated the natural fear of injury or death in armed conflict. The strength of the Celtic attack lay in the ferocity of the first onslaught, which was generated by a belief in the afterlife, a desire for glory, and a battle hysteria created by the building crescendo of noise and chanting, often enhanced by alcohol.

During the American Revolution, taverns were the major meeting places of American colonial life and, consequently, the sites where groups such as the Sons of Liberty gathered to plot rebellion against English rule. Beer fueled the flames of freedom burning within the American armies. On November 4, 1775, the Continental Congress passed a statute stipulating that each soldier be provided with "I QT of Spruce Beer, or Cider/man/day." George Washington, a major general of the American rebel army, was a firm believer in the importance of beer as a staple for his troops.

During World War I, beer was used for various purposes. Firstly, it was used to quench thirst, especially in the trenches. Secondly, it was used to enjoy camaraderie and relax, helping soldiers forget about the horrors of war. Finally, it was believed to have potent and versatile healing properties and was used to anesthetize, disinfect, and cure.

Beer was also used to boost morale and preserve morale. Moderate consumption was generally recognized as desirable, as it raised the fighting spirit and preserved morale. Alcohol boosted self-confidence and increased the willingness to take risks, making soldiers feel invincible. Drinking also strengthened bonds between companions and built trust, vital for group cohesion.

In England, the Defense of the Realm (Consolidation) Regulations of 1914 prohibited the sale and consumption of alcohol "on weekdays 12 noon to 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sundays." Despite these regulations, British soldiers continued to drink beer during World War I, as evidenced by diary entries and photographs.

In the United States, the temperance movement gained popularity, and drinking was presented as unpatriotic and unethical. However, the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces, General John Pershing, allowed his men deployed in France to have light wine and beer.

Overall, beer played a significant role during World War I, both on the battlefield and in the lives of soldiers off the battlefield. It was used for medicinal purposes, to boost morale, and to provide comfort in the face of the horrors of war.

Frequently asked questions