stevehobbes, 1 year ago (edited 11 months ago)

I mean… that’s not quite right. The combined food board stopped in 1946, which certainly didn’t help, but the Labour government made many choices that didn’t help the cause combined with bad luck. Wikipedia certainly doesn’t agree with your assessments.

en.wikipedia.org/…/Rationing_in_the_United_Kingdo…

Lend-lease repayments didn’t start til 1951. That repayment plan was 50 years at 2% interest. The US lend-lease plan involved the US giving the UK $31B, that’s the equivalent to $500B today. How that could be anything by a gigantic gift between allies I’m unclear.

That’s a lot of money. I’m sorry you think it was harsh - but it doesn’t read that way to me at all.

More importantly, the US was the one leading the rebuilding of Germany - France and the UK were still trying to dismantle German heavy industry until 1950 or so. The UK (but more especially France) spent more time repressing the German economy post-war (just like post WW1…) than trying to build it back up.

Then there was the Marshall Plan, which the UK received 26% of the total funds from (about $200B today - and 3% of the GDP of the countries aided).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Plan

Basically, your view is quite biased and uncharitable as compared to reality.