The sixth, and critical, winter of war settled upon Europe with chilling rains, hunger and uncertainty. Dutch citizens were rationed to 1,040 calories of food daily, less than half enough.

he sixth, and critical, winter of war settled upon Europe with chilling rains, hunger and uncertainty. It was different from any winter since 1939, for the focus of despair had shifted from German-occupied countries to Germany. But retreating Nazis left chaotic disruption, vital shortages, and something more portentous. Liberated Europe…