Launched in 1939 the ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign helped to keep the country fed whilst the war was fought. Without the additional food the campaign produced it is possible the German U-Boat offensive that blockaded Britain from her food supplies could have starved the nation into surrender. Before the war Britain imported 55 million tons of food annually, 2/3rds of the national requirement. During the war this figure reduced to 1/3rd and also helped free up the valuable space on cargo ships to carry weapons, munitions and the vital raw materials required to keep the armed forces supplied.