During World War II, many items were rationed in the
United States, including shoes.
Why
Shoes?
Due to the serious rubber shortage (Make It Do - Tire Rationing in World War II),
footwear made of rubber or with rubber soles was rationed or unavailable. Also,
the military had a high need for leather, not just for shoes and combat boots
but for those popular leather flight jackets. As a result, civilians made do
with less.
Rationing of Rubber
Footwear
Starting September 30, 1942, men’s rubber boots
and rubber work shoes were placed under rationing. To obtain a new pair, a man
had to apply to the local ration board, prove he needed the shoes for essential
industry—not for sport—and turn in the old pair. Galoshes and overshoes were not
rationed because they used less crude rubber, but sportsmen couldn’t get boots,
and sneakers were no longer produced.
Shoe
Rationing
On February 7, 1943, the United States
instituted rationing of leather shoes. Each man, woman, and child could purchase
up to three pairs of leather shoes a year, using designated stamps in War Ration
Book One, and later in Books Three and Four. To simplify the system, only six
shades of leather were produced. However, the supply of leather continued to
decrease. On March 20, 1944, the ration was reduced to two pairs of leather
shoes per year. Shoe rationing continued until October 30, 1945.
Exceptions
The strict rule that
the ration stamp had to be torn from the book in the presence of the retailer
was lifted for catalog purchases. If you wanted an extra pair of shoes, you had
to fill out a long application at the ration board, listing every pair of
footwear you owned, and explaining why another pair was essential for your
occupation and why another pair was required to prevent serious hardship.
What
about Children?
No exceptions were made for children and
their rapidly growing feet. Families pooled their stamps, and adults made do
with fewer shoes to provide for their children’s needs. However, pediatricians
and podiatrists complained publicly that shoe rationing would produce a
generation of “foot cripples.”
Making Do
To make do with less,
people took care of the footwear they already owned, keeping rubber boots clean,
dry, and away from excess heat or cold, and repairing shoes and boots whenever
possible. Shoes made of fabric, such as espadrilles, were not rationed and
became fashionable. Women also turned to fabric purses and belts.
Some
people did not make do. Theft and black market profiteering were a continuing
problem. For example, on May 3, 1944, a man was arrested in Pittsburg,
California for stealing seven pairs of shoes from a shipment. The June 8, 1944
issue of the Antioch Ledger reported his sentence—six months or
$500.
How would you do with only two or
three new pairs of shoes a year? Try not to hyperventilate.
Labels: rationing, shoe rationing, World War II
