Manna from the Skies

As World War II drew to a close in Europe in April 1945, civilians in western Holland, still under German occupation, were facing an imminent humanitarian crisis. With food supplies running out and the risk of mass starvation looming, Allied bomber aircraft launched an operation to drop food from the skies, saving millions from a slow death. This operation, named “Manna” after the miraculous feeding of the Israelites described in the biblical book of Exodus, provided vital physical nourishment for the resilient Dutch people. A remarkable event in its time, what can Operation Manna teach us today?

The End of the “Hunger Winter”

In May 1940, the German military invaded the Netherlands, and for the remainder of the war the country was under Nazi occupation. The Dutch became accustomed to seeing Royal Air Force (RAF) and other Allied bombers flying high above, heading towards targets in Germany, while their own survival became increasingly difficult.

After the June 1944 D-Day invasion gave the Allies a foothold in France, German forces in the Netherlands sought to block Allied advances by intentionally flooding more than 2,000 square kilometres (780 square miles) of land in western Holland. Flooding this territory, home to major cities and canals, severely disrupted transportation and exacerbated food shortages for the 4.5 million living in the region.

The situation worsened in the winter of 1944 after German forces imposed an embargo on food shipments and severely limited fuel supplies. The harsh winter froze canals and rivers, making transportation even more challenging. During this period, known as the Hongerwinter (“Hunger Winter”), an estimated 20,000 civilians—mostly the elderly—died from cold, malnutrition, and related diseases. Hundreds of thousands more suffered long-lasting health effects. Some Dutch citizens resorted to eating grass, tulip bulbs, sugar beets, and even pets to survive.

With the end of the war in Europe drawing near, the conditions in western Holland became increasingly dire, and Prince Bernhard and the exiled Dutch government appealed to Allied leaders Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt for help. Despite German resistance, the Allies began to prepare for a humanitarian mission. Moving provisions by sea was complicated by mines in the shipping lanes and damage to the ports—so, instead, the Allies decided to drop food supplies from the air.

On April 17, 1945, RAF Air Commodore Andrew Geddes was summoned to General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s headquarters, where he was tasked with organizing a food airlift using the combined resources of RAF Bomber Command and the U.S. Eighth Army Air Force. There was a logistical challenge, however—no parachutes were available for the airdrops. The aircrews—which also included Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, and Polish airmen—were experienced at dropping ordnance from 6,000 metres (20,000 feet), but for this mission they would need to fly at low altitudes, sometimes as low as 120 metres (390 feet), to be sure that the food would reach the ground safely.

With the help of Dutch officials, designated drop zones and flight corridors were established, and on April 29, 1945, Operation Manna commenced. On that day, RAF Lancaster and Mosquito bombers dropped 535 tons of food. The operation scaled up the next day, with 1,021 tons of food dropped across five locations. Between April 29 and May 8, the RAF, and then American B-17 Flying Fortress bombers conducting Operation Chowhound, dropped more than 10,000 tons of provisions.

The supplies consisted of basic foodstuffs such as flour, egg powder, and canned goods. On the ground, these were distributed by barges and carts, with the aid of Dutch civilians and monitored by German soldiers. The success of the mission was evident in the reactions of Dutch civilians, many of whom waved flags and sheets by the drop zones to express their gratitude.

On May 5, 1945, German forces in the Netherlands capitulated. The airdrops ceased shortly afterward, and food was then able to be delivered by truck.

True Bread from Heaven

The name “Operation Manna” was not chosen randomly. It was a reference to the biblical account of the Israelites’ miraculous sustenance during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. In the book of Exodus, we are told that God provided the Israelites “manna,” which they described as tasting like wafers made with honey.

God told Moses, “I will rain bread from heaven for you” (Exodus 16:4). The manna was an essential provision sustaining the Israelites as they journeyed through the wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula, allowing them to survive in an otherwise inhospitable environment.

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ called to mind this miracle when He referred to Himself as the “bread of life.” In the Gospel of John, after supernaturally feeding a crowd of thousands, Jesus used His miracle as an opportunity to teach about a deeper, spiritual nourishment, contrasting His eternal gifts with the temporary nature of physical food.

Jesus told the crowd, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you” (John 6:27). He then went on to say, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger” (John 6:35). Jesus explained that, just as the Israelites ate manna in the wilderness and survived, those who partake of Him—believing in His words and following His teachings—will receive the gift of eternal life.

Christ declared, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever” (John 6:51). His statement connects Him to the manna in the wilderness, but with an even greater promise in that feeding on Christ—the “bread which came down from heaven”—gives eternal life (John 6:57–58).

Jesus teaches us that feeding on the bread of life as spiritual sustenance is as essential as physical nourishment. Just as the Israelites had to rely on the manna to survive physically, Christians are called to “feed” on Christ, filling their minds with His words (Psalm 19:14) and seeking a deep, ongoing relationship with Him (Jeremiah 29:13).

As we approach the eightieth anniversary of Operation Manna, we have an opportunity to ponder the deeper spiritual lessons embedded in this story. Just as the Dutch people were saved by the “manna” dropped from the sky, we are reminded that our true nourishment must come from the God of Heaven. The “bread of life” that Jesus offers, which provides more than temporary relief, is the source of eternal life. And at every Passover, true Christians keep a memorial of the sacrifice Christ made to give His people access to that “bread of life.” So, we should ask ourselves: Are we feeding on the “bread” that truly satisfies? Are we prioritizing our relationship with God, who offers us the gift of eternal life?

The story of Operation Manna serves as a powerful symbol of hope. Just as the Israelites relied on manna in the wilderness, we also must rely on the true bread from Heaven for spiritual nourishment. The true Gospel that Christ preached nearly 2,000 years ago has real meaning for your life, but you need to seek it out and feed on it. To discover how that Gospel can transform your life today, request our free booklet Do You Believe the True Gospel? or access it now at TomorrowsWorld.org.