The Hunger in Holland - 18 watercolor illustration plates depicting scenes from the "Hunger Winter" in Holland, 1945

The Hunger in Holland - 18 watercolor illustration plates depicting scenes from the "Hunger Winter" in Holland, 1945

Zoo was Nederland in de winter 1944-1945 vastgelegd in 18 reproducties naar aquarellen Door Aug.V.D.Linde - "This is how Holland was captured in the winter of 1944-1945 in 18 reproductions of watercolors by Aug. V.D. Linde" - First Edition. A cardboard box containing printed watercolor plates depicting scenes of hunger from the "Hunger Winter" in Holland - Dutch famine of 1944–1945. Published by Versluys & Scherjon. Holland, [1945].

A cardboard box containing 18 printed plates of illustrations made in watercolor by August van der Linde. The plates depict harrowing scenes of families desperately seeking food, with meager portions on their tables insufficient for all, children searching for food in trash cans, panic over food in the streets, the lack of fuel for heating, alongside scenes of joy with the arrival of supplies by the Allies in May 1945 and mass food distributions.

The famine in Holland during the winter of 1944-1945, known as the Hongerwinter (Hunger Winter) in Dutch, was a period of mass starvation that occurred in the final months of World War II in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands, particularly in the densely populated western regions. A combination of factors, primarily a German punitive measure of restricting movement within the country, led to widespread malnutrition. A population of about 4.5 million people faced starvation and survived with the help of soup kitchens. The lack of fuel for electricity and heating exacerbated the hardship. The death toll directly resulting from the famine was approximately 18,000 people.

The famine ended with the liberation of the entire Netherlands from German occupation in May 1945. Shortly before this, the German administration agreed to allow Allied planes to airdrop food into occupied territories (one of the illustrations depicts these Allied planes dropping food), during two operations carried out at the end of April and the beginning of May. Shortly thereafter, food was transported into the German-occupied areas of the Netherlands by Allied trucks as well.

Plates: 28x23 cm. Original illustrated box: 28.5x23.5 cm. Condition: Very good.