Potatoes are a staple and favourite food for many cultures around the world. It is believed to have originated in the Andes Mountains of South America about 8,000 years ago. Potatoes have been an incredibly successful food throughout the world. Just a century ago, a devastating potato disease caused a famine in Ireland. This resulted in the country’s population dropping by half within a few years and led to prolonged social and economic instability.
The world’s top potato producers are China, India, Russia and Ukraine. This crop was introduced to Europe in the mid-1500s. From there, it spread west and north and then spread throughout the world. But let’s find out how this crop was able to turn the tide in war.
I’m a Protective Food. Says, Potato Pete
World War I: Turnip Winter (1916-1917)
In World War I, not only soldiers but the entire economy, agriculture and industry, were engaged in war. The British Royal Navy imposed a blockade on Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As a result, the import of grain and chemical fertilizers stopped. This shortage had a devastating impact on the agricultural sector. The food crisis quickly intensified. In 1916, the potato crop suffered a terrible defeat. As a result, the German government was forced to distribute turnips (which are mainly used as animal feed). This became a turning point in the morale of the German people. The government faced various pressures, during the famine.
1. Millions of people have died of hunger and malnutrition.
2. People lost confidence to the government.
3. The anti-war movement became stronger.
Grading potatoes in cooperative association.
World War II: Dig for Victory Campaign
Food again became a political weapon in World War II. However, Britain turned the potato into its most political symbol. When the German U-boat blockade put Britain on the brink of food shortage, the British Ministry of Agriculture launched the most successful campaign in history – “Dig for Victory”. The government encouraged every citizen to use their gardens, parks and flower beds as vegetable gardens. The main crop was potatoes.
The main goal of this campaign, started by Britain was political. Growing one’s own food was promoted as a kind of patriotic duty. As if growing potatoes in the field was as important as fighting in war. This campaign reminded ordinary citizens of national unity and purpose. As a result, the potato was transformed from a simple vegetable into a symbol. Its symbolic form is tolerance, community strength, democratic protest and national self-reliance.
Germany:
In 1939, the official slogan of the Nazi party became – “Health is duty”. In Nazi political philosophy – there was no difference between the health of the state and the health of the citizen. Since 1933, the Nazi government emphasized a self-sufficient food policy. By 1939, almost all cattle, meat, sugar, grain and potatoes were being produced locally. Nazi propaganda was – “Germans are the nation of potato”. But their campaign was not just about eating potatoes. They wanted to make potatoes in German. The Germans invested huge amounts of money in potato development research. Where research was conducted on the development of new disease-resistant varieties, adaptation to local climates and soils.
Berlin girls of the League of German Girls aiding agriculture
Soviet Union:
In 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union. The country was already in the midst of agricultural and economic problems due to Joseph Stalin’s collectivization program. This program resulted in a terrible famine in Ukraine, where about seven million people died. Immediately after the invasion of the Soviet Union, Germany began to seize their agricultural lands. As a result, the food crisis began to intensify. At least three million Soviet citizens died of hunger during the war. An estimated 19 million agricultural workers were taken from the countryside to the cities due to the mobilization of troops during the war. The entire agricultural system was in chaos. In this situation, Soviet officials urged everyone to grow potatoes. Advice on gardening began to appear in newspapers.
In today’s world, potatoes are at the top of the list as a staple food for people in low-income countries. This easy-to-produce crop will continue to be a staple food for humans in any pandemic or war, filling the vitamin and calorie deficits of humans.
