Three members of the Volkssturm (German home guard of overaged men), the last line of defense, armed with rocket-propelled anti-tank weapon Panzerfaust, seen on the streets of Berlin; spring 1945.

Volkssturm

Felix Menzel was a remarkable person.  In the prewar period, he helped build a substantial cricket organization in Germany, in spite of the, to say the least, lack of enthusiasm for the game among the German authorities - in its way, a unique achievement.  He did his best to keep the game going in Germany during the war and, as the dust settled in Berlin in 1945, led a bedraggled crew to a British unit to request, not food, water or shelter, but a game of cricket.  He went on to rebuild the cricket organization in West Germany, and a modestly popular cricket organization exists in Germany today thanks to his work.  As I said, a remarkable person.  Best regards, JR.

Felix Menzel (left) as "non-striker"

British tiny tots enjoying (well maybe) carrot ice lollies.

During the war (and, indeed, for some time after) the British Ministry of Food was anxious to encourage the populace to switch from imported food produce and other food products difficult to produce or obtain under the semi-siege (later financial strictures) imposed by wartime and postwar conditions to produce and products easily grown, manufactured or otherwise obtained in Britain.  The humble carrot was one of these "alternative" fruits and vegetables strongly promoted.  Carrots, after all, could easily be grown down on the farm, in people's gardens, and in urban allotments.  Apart from their direct use as a vegetable directly on the plate and in stews and suchlike, the relatively high sugar content of the carrot allowed it to be used in other products, such as sweeteners,  and in condiments and cooking aids such as stock cubes.  To my mind, however, the carrot ice lolly may have been pushing things a bit.

The motivation is obvious.  In a period predating the widespread use of artificial sweeteners, children's ice lollipops were usually based on natural fruit juices - principally orange and lemon.  Oranges and lemons were very hard to procure in wartime Britain, as the usual sources of supply in southern Europe were pretty inaccessible.  Given its sugar content, the carrot ice lolly seemed a suitable substitute, and was strongly promoted within the overall "Dr Carrot - the Children's Friend" pro-carrot propaganda.  Not sure that kids found the substitute particularly palatable.  These ones don't look too overjoyed, anyway ... Best regards, JR.