Cigarettes

[floydragsdale]

I don't know exactly where to post this but will start here.

Cigarettes were a much sought after commodity almost anywhere in Europe during the WWII era.

K rations came in a package similar in size to that of a box of crackerjacks. For the soldier who smoked there was a package of five cigarettes in each ration. It didn’t take long for a G.I. to discover that those little packs of cigarettes held value; particularly for the one who didn’t smoke.

Tobacco was a very scarce item in Europe during the War. When the war ended regular packages, and cartons of cigarettes were available to U.S. Soldiers at the PX (Post Exchange) at five cents a pack, or fifty cents a carton. All popular bands were obtainable over the counter.

Wow! What a bargaining tool for the American G.I.. With a few cartons of cigarettes a Soldier could live it up on a three day pass to Paris. The going price for a carton (10 packs) was $20.00, or $2.00 a pack. An enterprising G.I. could rake in $3.00 for a single package.

Of course, it was against Army regulations to do such things; but then one had to “get caught” doing it. Who was going to police over a million men selling their cigarettes?

Hand soap and chocolate were other items that were “hard to come by” in Europe also.

It didn’t take very long for the American G.I. to figure out what his rations were worth. G.I. Joe took advantage of this situation promptly and went into business for himself.

The cost of living was much higher in Europe opposed to the same in the U.S.A.; thus those extra dollars came in handy when one went to Paris on a three day pass.

Floyd
424th Regimant

[connie]

Hi, Floyd,

This is an interesting subject that came up in my dad's letters, too. There is a variation here that I had not thought about. It sounds like some of these cigarettes were traded for cash. Dad spoke of them as a direct bartering tool with more buying power than cash. Did you experience the bartering, too?

Connie

[floydragsdale]

Hi Connie:

Here's an example of a three day pass to Paris.

Train fare costs were Zero, thanks to the French Government.

Hotel Costs were Zero. American Soldiers stayed at American Hotels managed by the Red Cross.

Meals were no charge if a Soldier ate at the Hotel where he stayed.

Wherever a G.I. went while on pass he had to guard his wallet, cigarettes, chocolate, soap etc because thieves were everywhere. That includes the G.I. who were A.W.O.L. in Paris; those guys would steal anything, anywhere anytime.

Cigarettes were used as a bargaining tool, or simply sold. It all depended on the circumstances at the moment.


Floyd

[connie]

Floyd,

You answered a lot of questions besides my barter vs. cash one.

It's interesting to know the no charge for hotel and meals bit. I knew there were special places for soldiers to stay in Paris, but it's nice to have confirmation of that and the no charge bit.

The soap thing is also interesting. I believe some of the fellows paid women in Germany (post VE day) to do laundry for them in exchange for an extra bar of soap.

The AWOL soldiers from divisions all over the ETO are another whole interesting topic. Somewhere I read the astonishing numbers (in a book that belongs to someone else).

You've opened up a whole sting of interesting topics!

Connie

[engineercutoff44]

I talked to one of your German counterparts about a year ago smokes were high in course for them too there was so little to eat at the time even non-smokers smoked to curb their hunger until the next time they found food...