Operation Manna

Unlike Operation Carpetbagger that dropped weapons and materiel behind French lines, (See post here), Operation Manna was a series of humanitarian missions that delivered nearly 7,000 tons of food to the Netherlands over the course of ten days.

The Hongerwinter was a major famine that occurred in the Netherlands from November 1944 until liberation on May 5, 1945. The Nazi-occupied western portion of the country was particularly hit hard, and countrywide more than 20,000 people died of starvation, and approximately 4.5 million were affected by the direct and indirect consequences of the famine. In addition to an exceptionally harsh winter, bad crops, and four years of war, the Nazis imposed an embargo on food transport in September 1944 in retaliation for the exiled Dutch government supporting the Allies in liberating southern parts of the Netherlands.

The population was forced to live on 400-800 calories per day, most of them eating grass, sugar beets, and tulip bulbs. Several testimonies talk about the bitter taste of the bulbs. One anecdote tells about a young woman who managed to find some potatoes, but was robbed of them by a policeman on her way home.

On April 29, 1945, the first RAF plane, nicknamed “Bad Penny” (as in “a bad penny always turns up”) took off in bad weather before the Germans had agreed to a ceasefire. In order to safely release the food parcels, the aircraft had to fly at an altitude of fifty feet. Tinned and dried food as well as chocolate made up the packages. The initial flight succeeded, and Operation Manna commenced in full force, flying 3,301 sorties to four drop zones where people collected and distributed the parcels.

Notification of the missions came through BBC radio, and fortunately many of the Dutch citizens made a habit of breaking the law and listening to broadcasts! Here are a few memories:

“There are no words to describe the emotions experienced on that Sunday afternoon. More than 300 four-engined Lancasters, flying exceptionally low, suddenly filled the western horizon. A marvelous sight. What a feast. Everyone is excited with joy.” Diary entry of seventeen-year-old Arie de Jong.

“At first we were terrified because they were dropping bombs, but news traveled fast that they were dropping food…Everybody danced and screamed. Some people took out their hidden flags and waved them at the aircraft. My mum almost fainted because she was weak from hunger.” Anonymous Dutch citizen.

“People were everywhere…on the streets, on the roofs, leaning out of windows. They all had something to wave with; a handkerchief, a sheet…it was incredible.” Sgt. Ken Wood, rear gunner.

In Rotterdam, at the exact spot of one the drop zones, a monument was erected in 2006 that symbolizes the belly of an allied bomber filled with food parcels. Students at a local elementary school took on responsibility to maintain the site.

Linda Shenton Matchett is an author, speaker, and history geek. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone's throw from Fort McHenry and has lived in historic places all her life. Linda is a member of ACFW, RWA, and Sisters in Crime. She is a volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum of WWII and a trustee for her local public library. To learn more about Linda and her books visit her website. Receive a free short story, Love's Bloom, just for signing up for her newsletter. Linda can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.