Braakhuis, Wilfried. “The World at War: History of WW 1939-1945.” 2001.
                  Netherlands: Elite Engineer Publishing. 20 April 2006.

• The war against Japan was fought over two-thirds of the world's surface, with America and her allies taking part in vast air, land and sea battles.
• But on the morning of September 1st 1939, the world was forever changed as Germany invaded Poland and executed its first "Blitzkrieg" or "Lightning attack", quickly crushing Polish resistance.
• And the entry of France and Britain into the conflict on 3 September, marked not so much the beginning of a new war as opening of a more intensive phase of a war that already in progress.

“Censorship and Propaganda.” 19 April 2006.  http://www.johndclare.net/wwii12.htm

• Churchill's speeches inspired people.   What few people know is that Churchill was too busy to record the speeches for the BBC, and many of them were recorded by an impressionist.
• As soon as the war began, the government formed the Ministry of Information to regulate all the news and propaganda.   At its height, 3000 people worked for the MoI
• One technique - which came as a bit of a surprise - was to tell people bad news as well as good.   People believed what they heard when it was not all good, and the MoI found that people could cope with setbacks.
• Certain pieces of news were not broadcast because the MoI thought they would damage morale (e.g. the government covered up reports of ships sunk by Japanese kamikaze pilots).
• Certain photos were banned (e.g. those showing dead children, and one of a bomb which had broken through into an Underground station).
• Early in the war, the MoI kept the invention of radar secret - instead, it said that RAF pilots had been eating carrots and could see in the dark.

“Home front during World War II.” 19 April 2006. Wikimedia Project. 20 April 2006.
                  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Front_during_World_War_II

• Rosie the Riveter" became the symbol of women laboring in manufacturing.

• Labor shortages were particularly felt in agriculture. At the same time many agricultural commodities were more needed for the military and for the civilian populations of allies. In some areas with specialty crops, such as potatoes or apples, schools were temporarily closed at harvest time to enable students to work.
• Metal parts of weapons were coated with a protective layer of beeswax to prevent rust while in route on ships; at one point the government considered confiscating the nation's beehives to melt down for additional wax. However, after consultation with the department of agriculture, the pollination loss was understood with corresponding loss of crop production.
• In the US, the Civil Air Patrol was established, which enrolled civilian spotter in reconnaissance. Towers were built in coastal and border towns, and spotters were trained to recognize enemy aircraft, so as to report if any were seen.

Schultz, Stanley K. “World War II: The Impact at Home.” 1999.Board of Regents of the          University of Wisconsin System.” 19 April 2006.           http://us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/lectures/lecture21.html

• Once the United States was fully committed to the war in December of 1941, patriotism soared in American society. Americans' willingness to carry out blackout and civil defense drills; to recycle metals, paper, and even cooking fats; to work longer hours, but to have fewer consumer goods to buy with their salaries demonstrated the nation's strong support for the war.
• The necessities of war even influenced American fashion. In the spring of 1942, the War Production Board became the nation's premier clothing consultant by dictating styles for civilian apparel that would conserve cloth and metal for the war effort. For example, menswear rid itself of vests, elbow patches on jackets, and cuffs on pants. Women's clothing also relied on fewer materials and skirts became shorter and narrower.
• War Bonds provided a crucial source of revenue for the war effort. By sponsoring public stunts such as celebrity auctions, the federal government used War Bonds to sell the war to the American public instead of relying on American involvement in the war to sell bonds.

Yaggi, Dennis P. Personal Interview. 20 April 2006.

• 10 years old when war ended.
• Brother Bob dropped out of high school (Cathedral) as a junior to join the Navy
• Rationing of food, especially sugar
• All lights out during air raids, Warden came around to check
• Laughing and crying on the day the war ended, mixed feeling but mostly relief and joy
• Most everyone supported the war, happy to do their part to help the war effort

 

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