How was WWII fought at home?
The political and economic decisions made by national governments during World War II were vital to the maintenance of both the homeland and its citizens, as well as for the support of front line warfare against opposing powers. Both the Allied and Axis Powers made sure to allocate resources as efficiently as possible, sometimes across entire countries. These resources include people (both laborers and soldiers), food in the form of rations distributed by the government, and technology (weapons and communications).
This enormous transportation of resources is known as mass mobilization, a tactic commonly used by nations in an effort to convert manpower into economic and military output. Utilizing their massive economies, the Allied and Axis Powers spurred their working class labor forces (both men and women), which would fuel the bloodiest six-year war in all of history.
This enormous transportation of resources is known as mass mobilization, a tactic commonly used by nations in an effort to convert manpower into economic and military output. Utilizing their massive economies, the Allied and Axis Powers spurred their working class labor forces (both men and women), which would fuel the bloodiest six-year war in all of history.
Labor and Industry |
With the advent of World War II, production became the primary concern of the major powers, who realized that economic power translated directly into military prowess and progress on the battlefield. Unemployment no longer became a problem plaguing post-Depression era citizens, as millions of jobs were made available in factories to support the war effort.
World War II saw the integration of women into the production cycle, especially in the U.S., and they were enlisted in factories to produce munitions and even aircraft. Foreign workers and even prisoners of war were even invited to join a country's workforce. The automobile industry was transformed completely, as large companies shifted gears and began producing fuselages, engines, and other technology necessary for warfare. World War II brought with it the national backing of its citizens in their country's efforts to win the war. “Powerful enemies must be out-fought and out-produced" ~ President Roosevelt in an address to Congress, December 1941 |
The decline of unemployment and growth of wages during WWII.
Ford Motor Company factory in Britain
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Propaganda and Political Manipulation |
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While civilian populations were inclined to work in factories to help their nations, they did not do so completely out of their own accord. The clever use of propaganda and political cartoons sought to inspire millions to help join the war effort, featuring scenes of young men and women work in factories under the basis of preserving the glory of the nation. In Germany, Nazi propaganda remained prevalent since Hitler's rise to power, and was organized by the head of the propaganda ministry, Joseph Goebbels.
Meanwhile, in the U.S., the rise of women in the workforce was spearheaded by the Rosie the Riveter propaganda campaign, often seen and mentioned even today. The radio served as a means of communicating directly to the homes of the people; F.D.R.'s Fireside Chats in the U.S. and Edward R. Murrow's news reports in Great Britain proved to be vital in maintaining civilian morale throughout the war. |
Rations |
One primary strategy used to efficiently store and distribute goods was a system of rationing. The artificial restriction of civilian demand allowed more resources to be allocated to the front lines, without damaging civilian morale. In fact, this unified system of sacrifice only tied families further with their home countries. Items, ranging from food, to gas, to clothing, were accumulated by the government and supplied to soldiers, while civilians were encouraged to buy war bonds and supplied with ration stamps to get by during the war.
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Ration books containing stamps to be exchanged for ration portions
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Problems of the Homefront
Despite the seemingly unstoppable force of the civilian population's nationalistic sentiments, the homefront was far from being a utopia. The pride and glory that citizens placed in their home countries can often become overwhelmingly intolerant of other nationalities, as in the case of the plight of Japanese-Americans beginning from February 19, 1942. Two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, American citizens began accusing Americans of Japanese descent of being spies, and due to the immense negative response produced across the U.S., President Roosevelt was forced to authorize the deportation and incarceration of hundreds of thousands of seemingly innocent citizens. The issue of the internment of the Japanese-Americans would not be resolved until 1988, when President Reagan issued a formal apology and recompensed all survivors of the internment.
On the British homefront meanwhile, civilian morale suffered from numerous, crippling attacks during The Blitz, a series of strategic aerial bombings from German Luftwaffe from early September 1940 to late May 1941. During this time, Great Britain experienced more than 44,000 civilian deaths after enduring a total of nearly 100 bombings, 71 of which took place in London. Although the Germans' intended goal was to elicit a surrender from Great Britain, the country's civilian population remained headstrong in the face of suffering, a characteristic that would prove to be vital in ending the war against Germany.
On the British homefront meanwhile, civilian morale suffered from numerous, crippling attacks during The Blitz, a series of strategic aerial bombings from German Luftwaffe from early September 1940 to late May 1941. During this time, Great Britain experienced more than 44,000 civilian deaths after enduring a total of nearly 100 bombings, 71 of which took place in London. Although the Germans' intended goal was to elicit a surrender from Great Britain, the country's civilian population remained headstrong in the face of suffering, a characteristic that would prove to be vital in ending the war against Germany.
Interactive World Map of WW II
The second World War was truly a global conflict, as shown above. It spanned the circumference of the planet in unprecedented fashion. In the map below, courtesy of History, explore the world wide connections and how they affect civilians.
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