Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the impact of war on food production, allocation and consumption in Europe in the twentieth century. Food should not be understood as a static resource. The book demonstrates how new and alternative foods were developed and utilized in times of scarcity. It aims at a general readership and focuses on an impressive range of secondary literature, but there is little primary research. Then, it is divided into four parts: Soldiers and their Food, Home Front: The Citizens Adapt, Home Front: The State Intervenes, War, Modernization and Innovation, which examines the relationship between food and war in twentieth century Europe from a range of perspectives. By providing a complex and nuanced understanding of the relationship between food and war in twentieth century Europe, the book demonstrates the importance of a comparative perspective.