Sixty years ago, between October 1944 and May 1945, parts of the Netherlands were suffering a severe famine, which became known as the Dutch Hunger Winter.A fascinating article, with an audio link in English. Listening to Radio Netherlands is always a treat for me. See if you like it as well. And check out the links at the bottom of the page.
The food and fuel shortage was the result of a blockade imposed by the Nazi occupiers, who were fighting a losing battle against the Allied Forces. As most foodstuffs had already been rationed since early in the war, the situation quickly became desperate.
In that final war year, 22,000 people succumbed to famine and cold. The War and Resistance Museum in Rotterdam is publishing a book with wartime recipes and people's accounts of what they had to eat to survive, from animal blood to tulip bulbs.
P.S. Special Hint [free of charge to all friends of the Winter Patriot] -- If you can function in Dutch, you might also visit the War and Resistance Museum in Rotterdam.