Operation Manna Plaque

From the winter of 1944 to 1945 the Netherlands suffered from famine conditions. In the closing days of the war, a truce was arranged with occupying German forces to allow aircraft from the RAF and US Army Air Force to drop food to the starving population. Between 29 April and 7 May, 11,000 tonnes of food was delivered, saving many lives.

As a result of the fighting of 1944, food supplies in the area of the Netherlands still occupied by the Germans had begun running short, leading to the Hongerwinter, or Hunger Winter. By April 1945, the situation was catastrophic. Thousands had already died, with thousands more on the verge of starvation. With the consent of the Germans, a ceasefire was called allowing British to air drop supplies. 3,156 Lancaster sorties and 145 Mosquito sorties delivered 6,684 tons of food during Operation MANNA.