The policy of soldats d'abord refers to the method of rationing by the Imperial government during the French Civil War, specifically in its draconian food rations of the civilian population and its preference to give soldiers fighting the rebels the majority of the food. Food shortages in metropolitan France became common as the war continued due to the cutoff from traditonal agricultural hub Russia and many historians argue that the soldats d'abord policy helped turn public opinion towards the European Alliance as the war dragged on, in particular after the disastrous winters of 1941-42 and 1942-43.