Rationing in the United Kingdom The paper shortage often made it more difficult than usual for authors to get work published. In 1944, George Orwell wrote: Whether rationed or not, many consumer goods became difficult to obtain because of the shortage of components. Examples included razor blades, baby bottles, alarm clocks, frying pans and pots. Balloons and sugar for cakes for birthday parties were partially or completely unavailable. Many fathers saved bits of wood to build toys for Christmas presents, and Christmas trees were almost impossible to obtain due to timber rationing. On 8 May 1945, the Second World War ended in Europe, but rationing
26th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht) 26th Infantry Division (Wehrmacht) The 26th Infantry Division () was a pre-World War II German Infantry Division of the 1st mobilisation wave ("1. Welle"). It was mobilised for World War II on September 26, 1939, disbanded on September 10, 1944, near Radom and reformed as the 26th Volksgrenadier Division ("26. Volksgrenadier-Division") on September 17, 1944, near Poznań by absorption of the new 582nd Volksgrenadier Division of the 32nd mobilisation wave ("32. Welle"). Remnants of the Division entered U.S. captivity in the Harz region in 1945. The 26th Infantry Division spent the early war years on the Western Front, taking part