UK Planned to Wipe Out Germany with Anthrax Cattle Cakes
Operation Vegetarian: World War Two Shame
By George Rosie
Introduction
As the world recoils at the horrific possibility of al-Qaeda terrorists waging anthrax war against United States citizens, the Scottish Sunday can reveal that Britain manufactured five million anthrax cattle cakes during the Second World War and planned to drop them on Germany in 1944.
Operation Vegetarian
The aim of Operation Vegetarian was to wipe out the German beef and dairy herds and then see the bacterium spread to the human population. With people having no access to antibiotics at the time, this would have caused many thousands, perhaps even millions, of German men, women, and children to suffer awful deaths.
The anthrax cakes were tested on Gruinard Island, off Wester Ross, which was finally cleared of contamination in 1990. Operation Vegetarian was planned for the summer of 1944 but, in the event, it was abandoned as the Allies' Normandy invasion progressed successfully.
War Office Files
Details of the wartime secret operation are contained in a series of War Office files (WO 188) at the Public Record Office in Kew. Some of the files are still classified.
Dr. Paul Fildes and The Implementation
The man whose task was to carry out Operation Vegetarian was Dr. Paul Fildes, director of the biology department at Porton Down near Salisbury in Wiltshire. Fildes had previously been in charge of the Medical Research Council's bacterial chemistry unit at Middlesex Hospital.
In early 1942, Fildes began searching Britain for suppliers and manufacturers of linseed-oil cattle cake to make five million small anthrax cakes. Large quantities of the bacillus itself had to be produced, while special containers to carry the cattle cakes had to be designed and made. Some RAF bombers had to be modified to deliver the anthrax-infected payload, and everything had to be done as cheaply as possible.
The raw material for the cake was provided by the Olympia Oil and Cake Company in Blackburn. The contract to cut the cattle cake into small pieces went to J & E Atkinson of Bond Street in London, perfumers and toilet-soap manufacturers and suppliers to the royal family. The Atkinsons calculated that they could produce 180,000 to 250,000 cakes in a 44-hour week, and pledged to deliver 5,273,400 cakes by April 1943.
The Manufacturing Process
By the middle of July 1942, the Atkinsons informed Fildes that they were producing at the rate of 40,000 cakes per day. The anthrax was manufactured by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries at its veterinary laboratory in Surrey.
An Oxford academic named Dr. E Schuster was set to work devising the pump to inject the bacilli into the cattle cakes. The Porton Down scientists settled on cube-shaped cardboard containers, 18cm square, to carry the infected foodstuff. Each container held 400 cakes and was fitted with a steel handle for easy handling with thick gloves.
Thirteen women were recruited from various soap-making firms, sworn to secrecy, and given the job of injecting the cattle cakes with anthrax spores. At the same time, Fildes and his team were working on the best way to deliver the diseased cattle feed to the German herds. The RAF's research unit came up with a simple solution - easily made wooden trays that fitted on to aircraft flare chutes. Bomber Command Lancasters, Halifaxes, and Stirlings were chosen for the job.
By the beginning of 1944, Operation Vegetarian was ready to be executed. It was crucial to mount any attack in the summer months, as the cattle needed to be caught in the open grazing fields when the lush spring grass was on the wane. Fildes calculated that the aircraft flying to and from Berlin would pass over 60 miles of grazing land in the concentrated cattle regions of Oldenburg and northwest Hanover.
The Outcome
If Operation Vegetarian had gone ahead, one Lancaster bomber returning from a raid on Berlin would have been able to scatter 4000 anthrax-infected cakes over a 60-mile swathe in less than 20 minutes. A dozen aircraft would have been enough to litter most of the north German countryside with anthrax spores.
However, by the time Fildes's operation was ready to go in the summer of 1944, the Normandy invasion had taken place, and Allied armies were making significant progress in the war against Nazi Germany through conventional means. As a result, Operation Vegetarian was abandoned, and at the end of 1945, the five million anthrax-infected cattle cakes were incinerated in one of Porton Down's furnaces.
Hotels and Travel
Nowadays, people can safely travel to Germany without fear of anthrax or any biological weapons. Germany is a popular tourist destination with a vibrant hospitality industry offering a range of hotels for visitors.
From luxurious five-star hotels in Berlin to cozy family-run guesthouses in the Bavarian countryside, travelers can find accommodations suitable for every budget and preference. The well-developed transportation network, including trains and domestic flights, makes it easy to explore various regions of Germany.
Visitors can immerse themselves in German culture, with its rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and world-renowned cuisine. Whether it's exploring historic castles, indulging in beer and pretzels at Oktoberfest, or taking a leisurely stroll along the charming streets of towns and cities, Germany has much to offer to tourists.
Additionally, Germany has a strong commitment to environmental sustainability, with many hotels focusing on eco-friendly practices. Travelers can choose from a wide selection of eco-hotels and accommodation that promote sustainable tourism.
In conclusion, while Operation Vegetarian was a shocking plan during World War Two, Germany has since transformed into a safe and welcoming destination. Travelers can experience the country's rich culture and history while enjoying comfortable stays in the numerous hotels and accommodations available throughout Germany.
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