Occupied Countries Breaking German Food Regulations

Northern Advocate, 12 March 1941, Page 6

Occupied Countries Breaking German Food Regulations

LONDON, March 11

The latest inforniation reaching official circles in London indicates an increasing tendency in occupied territories to break German official regulations, says a British Official Wireless message.

In spite of stringent penalties, hoarding on the part of both producers and consumers is frequent. Live stock is slaughtered surreptitiously by producers, and dealers overcharge customers. V

Smuggling Frequent.

Scarce, but unrationed foods, are sold by a retailer only if the customer buys at the same time articles in ample supply. Smuggling is frequent. Not merely food itself, but food coupons are the subject of theft, while food coupons are often forged. In German countries Austria is the centre of illicit trading, pnd members of the Nazi party are among the worst offenders.

In Denmark one hoarding case involved the placing in cold storage of 50,000 kilos of butter, and there have been numerous convictions for forgeries and theft of coupons.

Overcharging.

Overcharging in Holland recently resulted in the confiscation of two factories’ entire stock of 170 tons of cocoa and an importer’s stock of 400.000 kilos of coffee.

Notwithstanding sevei’e penalties, prosecutions for hoarding mounted steeply at the end of last year in Belgium.

They rose from 320 in August to 8531 in December. Theft and forging of coupons have become increasingly common in occupied France and in one district 220,000 forged coupons were recently issued.

The severity of measures taken to protect foodstuffs in Italy is indicated by the fact that the theft of staple foods has been punishable by the death penalty since December.