Figure 1.-- America conducted a masive program to feed war torn Europe. In all began with Belgium Relief and a an entirely noivel effort to save an entire country from starving. America fed Belgians in Belgium and refugees outside Belgium. No one had ever done anything like this before. Eventually it became an effort to save an entire continent. The American Red Cross played a major role in the effort to destribute food and relief supplies. Here we see Belgian refugee children in Marseille, France being supported with American food and relief supplies by the American Red Cross.

Americans were moved by the plight of the Belgians. It primarily responsed with relief supplies to assist the starving Belgians, both those remaining in Belgium and the refugees who fled to othr countries such as France. France es basically self sufficent in food production, but the conscription of men in rural areas affected food production. France was not able to feed the massive number of refugees which flooded into the country. America stepped in with food shipments for the refugees even before entering the War. This developed into a massive American effort to assist not only Belgian refuees, but eventually refugees and starving people throughout Europe and the Mideast. One very special group of Belgian refugees which America also took in was the children of Belgian immigrants in America. They came over expecting to bring their wives and/or their children over after becoming established. The outbreak of the war left children and wives separated. A Detroit priest of Belgian origins who was actively working with Belgian relief returned to Belgium to bring the children to America and reunite the families. America was still open to European migration, but the War resulted in steamship lines curtailing voyages, both because of the U-boat threat and the war-time need for shipping. In addition the War closed off many ports. There no longer was ways for most Central Europeans to get to the ports. And Government conscription meant that young men could not emigrate even if they could. In the case of Belgium, because of the German occupation and Allied embargo, emigration was essentially impossible.

Belgian Relief

Americans were moved by the plight of the Belgians. An unknown American mining engineer, Herbert Hoover, who happended to be in London when World war I broke out, organized a committee to get americans in Europe home. He tgen entered into hitory. He turned to a far more daunting task--how to feed Belgium. Although Belgium was neutral, it had been invaded and overrun by the Germans. The Germans had anticipated a quick victory over the French in the West. When the War bogged down into static trench warfare, food supplies soon dwindled. The German Army seized Belgian food supplies for its men. At home Germany did not have a food surplus and was unwillikng to send food the Belgian civilains, especially as they had sided with the French. Belgium before the War imported large quantities of food, but The Allied naval blockade now prevented food from reaching Germany and Germany occupied areas. Thus a humanitarian disaster was unfolding in Belgium of epic proprtions. America primarily responsed with relief supplies to assist the starving Belgians, both those remaining in Belgium and the refugees who fled to other countries such as France. France is basically self sufficent in food production, but the conscription of men in rural areas affected food production. France was not able to feed the massive number of refugees which flooded into the country. America stepped in with food shipments for the refugees even before entering the War.

European Relief

Belgian relief developed into a massive American effort to assist not only Belgian refuees, but eventually refugees and starving people throughout Europe and the Mideast. This began before America entered the War and only expanfed after America entered the War. When the United States entered the War, President Wilson appointed Herbert Hoover to the post of United States Food Administrator (1917). Food had become a weapon in World War I and no country produced more food than America. Hoover succeeded in cutting consumption of foods needed overseas and avoided rationing at home, yet kept the Allies fed. America had to produce the food needed by the new large army America was building as well as for Allied armies and civilians. Hoover designed a voluntary program. He called it food conservation, but many Americans took to calling it "Hooverizing." Various promotions were devised, such as wheatless Wednesdays and meatless Mondays. Hoover was convinced that Americans would cooperate voluntarily to support the boys overseas.

Child Immigration

One very special group of Belgian refugees which America also took in was the children of Belgian immigrants in America. They came over expecting to bring their wives and/or their children over after becoming established. The outbreak of the war left children and wives separated. A Detroit priest of Belgian origins who was actively working with Belgian relief returned to Belgium to bring the children to America and reunite the families.

Immigration

After the American Civil War (1861-65) Europeans began to immigrate to America by the millions. This continue until the outbreak of World War I (1914). America was still open to European immigration, but the War resulted in steamship lines curtailing voyages, both because of the U-boat threat and the war-time need for shipping. In addition the War closed off many ports. There no longer was ways for most Central Europeans to get to the ports. And Government conscription meant that young men could not emigrate even if they could. In the case of Belgium, because of the German occupation and Allied embargo, emigration was essentially impossible.

Created: 11:13 AM 2/23/2018
Last updated: 11:13 AM 2/23/2018