80 years ago today

In the early hours of Sunday 7th December 1941 the United States came into the Second World War following the surprise attack by the forces of Japan against the US Navy at Pearl Harbor. This devastating attack led to the bitterest four years in the history of the United States, but also had a surprise impact on the lives of the average Briton.

When Germany also declared war against the United States US Servicemen poured into Great Britain bringing with them Glenn Miller Music, the jive bug dance routine and also chocolate bars. Each US serviceman was issued with three four-once chocolate bars containing about 600 calories. Many of these chocolate bars, however, found their way into the larders of attractive British girls who were swept up by the charism of American GI’s.

Known as D-rations the chocolate bars were part of a carefully calculated calorie controlled diet for soldiers that could also be easily transported in their backpacks.