26/3/1919 The first food shipment arrives in Germany

Germany has been on short rations since 1914, when Britain’s naval blockade cut the country off from overseas food sources. That blockade has continued since the armistice, leading to increasing food insecurity and creating a humanitarian crisis. The Allies, particularly the French, are wary of lifting the blockade, fearing that Germany will re-provision itself and then renew the war, but reports of civilian suffering are increasingly preying on the consciences of Allied leaders. Steps have been taken to allow a partial lifting of the blockade, but difficulties have arisen over how Germany is to pay for food imports and how they are to be transported. Nevertheless, the first shipment of food finally arrives in Hamburg today, but Germany is still only receiving a trickle of supplies, not nearly enough to chase hunger away from the country.