United States
After being attacked by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States was forced into the war. The following day, America and Great Britain declared war on Japan. It was now that life in America suffered a drastic change. However, it was a voluntary change, and one that the American people made without hesitation. Fear of a Japanese attack on mainland America pushed the American people to make sacrifices. Rationing programs were established, rationing gas, food, and clothing. A common saying on posters across America was, “Do with less – so they’ll (the troops) have enough”.
American production would have a huge impact on the war, and with having so many young men leave the workforce for the army, something had to be done. The women of America rose to the occasion without hesitation, becoming welders, electricians, and riveters in defense plants. Women began filling up factory jobs all across the country due to the lack of men. Women also took over in sports, as a women’s baseball league started up to help distract from the war.
The war affected the nation in bigger ways than ration stamps unfortunately. Soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese-Americans began to be persecuted. Internment camps were set up in seven states across American, and Japanese-Americans were sent to live in them, often losing all they had (History.com Staff.).
American production would have a huge impact on the war, and with having so many young men leave the workforce for the army, something had to be done. The women of America rose to the occasion without hesitation, becoming welders, electricians, and riveters in defense plants. Women began filling up factory jobs all across the country due to the lack of men. Women also took over in sports, as a women’s baseball league started up to help distract from the war.
The war affected the nation in bigger ways than ration stamps unfortunately. Soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese-Americans began to be persecuted. Internment camps were set up in seven states across American, and Japanese-Americans were sent to live in them, often losing all they had (History.com Staff.).
U.S.S.R.
World War II had an even greater impact on the women in the Soviet Union. Unlike the other major powers in the war, Russian women participated in large numbers as fighters in the armed forces. Around one million Soviet women served in the Red Army. Soviet women, like American women, also played a key role in the workforce. They worked in factories and on farms, and eventually four out of five workers on collective farms were women.
The home front for the U.S.S.R. was very harsh, around 14 million civilians died throughout the course of the war, largely due to starvation and cold. Sever rationing was the chief cause of this, however the German invasion compounded on it. In the end, the Soviet home front was very instrumental in the war, and had it not been for women in the U.S.S.R., the war could have gone an entirely different way. However, this did not come without a cost, as millions of Russian civilians died ("Soviet Union, Women and the Home Front during World War II.").
The home front for the U.S.S.R. was very harsh, around 14 million civilians died throughout the course of the war, largely due to starvation and cold. Sever rationing was the chief cause of this, however the German invasion compounded on it. In the end, the Soviet home front was very instrumental in the war, and had it not been for women in the U.S.S.R., the war could have gone an entirely different way. However, this did not come without a cost, as millions of Russian civilians died ("Soviet Union, Women and the Home Front during World War II.").
Great Britain
The British home front was a very influential part of the World War II for Great Britain. Propaganda campaigns ran large and wide, as it was believe civilian population needed to be mobilized and morale needed to be boosted. On May 14, 1940, the Home Guard was created. The Home Guard was made of men of varying ages who were not enlisted in the military. The one and a half million men who joined made preparations in case of a German invasion.
Women, like in most countries during WWII, played an important role. British women were constantly rationing, recycling, growing food, and more. Women went to work as well, taking the jobs of men who left for the war. Several different women groups were formed throughout the war. Two of these were the Women’s Land Army, and the Women’s Voluntary Service, both of which helped out in whatever way possible. These groups were especially helpful during the Blitz, a bombing campaign by Nazi Germany on Britain ("British Home Front.").
Women, like in most countries during WWII, played an important role. British women were constantly rationing, recycling, growing food, and more. Women went to work as well, taking the jobs of men who left for the war. Several different women groups were formed throughout the war. Two of these were the Women’s Land Army, and the Women’s Voluntary Service, both of which helped out in whatever way possible. These groups were especially helpful during the Blitz, a bombing campaign by Nazi Germany on Britain ("British Home Front.").
Japan
The Japanese home front was very similar to the other home fronts during the war, but especially the American one. When the war started, a large number the Japanese men joined the war effort, leaving behind jobs that needed to be worked. These vacancies were filled by the Japanese women, much like what happened in America. The involvement of Japanese women was far less than that of their American counterparts, but due to the strict traditionalism of Japan, the change was far more drastic, and even revolutionary. Even so, Japanese women were payed far less than the men that remained in the workforce, and had to constantly deal with the struggle of finding food.
After the war ended, American forces occupied the nation of Japan, which was largely in rubble. An attempt at implementing change for Japanese women was made, as the American forces liberated the Japanese women by giving them rights similar to those of American women. However, conditions didn’t see much change as time went on ("Japanese Women and the Japanese War Effort.").
After the war ended, American forces occupied the nation of Japan, which was largely in rubble. An attempt at implementing change for Japanese women was made, as the American forces liberated the Japanese women by giving them rights similar to those of American women. However, conditions didn’t see much change as time went on ("Japanese Women and the Japanese War Effort.").
Germany
The German home front changed just as much as the other countries, if not more, seeing as they were the main aggressor. The German territory was expanded throughout World War II due to the land they occupied prior to the war, and during. Concentration camps were built across Germany and its occupied countries in order to house enemies of the Nazi Party. The war greatly affected the citizens as well, as severe rationing was put in place. Food, namely meat, clothing, water, soap, and even toilet paper were rationed.
Propaganda was widespread in Germany, supporting Hitler and the Nazi party, persecuting Jews, and encouraging the German people. Propaganda posters promoted saving resources and working harder than ever. More drastic measures were taken in order to shift the focus on the war. Sports were shut down, as well as some magazines and even candy shops. Women were also affected in Germany, but did not serve as big of a role as women in other countries at the time. Women went to work, but it was believed their main duty was to bear children for the Nazi Party.
Towards the end of the war, many German cities were bombed, including Berlin, Hamburg, and Dresden. These bombings, and the advance by the allies, led to the German people losing hope for the war ("War and It's Impact on Life in Germany.").
Propaganda was widespread in Germany, supporting Hitler and the Nazi party, persecuting Jews, and encouraging the German people. Propaganda posters promoted saving resources and working harder than ever. More drastic measures were taken in order to shift the focus on the war. Sports were shut down, as well as some magazines and even candy shops. Women were also affected in Germany, but did not serve as big of a role as women in other countries at the time. Women went to work, but it was believed their main duty was to bear children for the Nazi Party.
Towards the end of the war, many German cities were bombed, including Berlin, Hamburg, and Dresden. These bombings, and the advance by the allies, led to the German people losing hope for the war ("War and It's Impact on Life in Germany.").
Citations
"War and It's Impact on Life in Germany." BBC. BBC, n.d. Web. 11 May 2016.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/tch_wjec/germany19291947/3waryears3.shtml>.
"British Home Front." HISTORY. N.p., 05 Apr. 2014. Web. 12 May 2016.
<http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/british-home-front>.
"Japanese Women and the Japanese War Effort." - Engineering and Technology History Wiki. N.p., 17 Sept. 2015. Web. 12 May 2016.
<http://ethw.org/Japanese_Women_and_the_Japanese_War_Effort>.
"Soviet Union, Women and the Home Front during World War II."Whatwhenhow RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2016.
<http://what-when-how.com/women-and-war/soviet-union-women-and-the-home-front-during-world-war-ii/>.
History.com Staff. "The U.S. Home Front During World War II." History.com. A&E Networks, 2010. Web. 12 May 2016.
<http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/us-home-front-during-world-war-ii>.
"War and It's Impact on Life in Germany." BBC. BBC, n.d. Web. 11 May 2016.
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/history/tch_wjec/germany19291947/3waryears3.shtml>.
"British Home Front." HISTORY. N.p., 05 Apr. 2014. Web. 12 May 2016.
<http://www.history.co.uk/study-topics/history-of-ww2/british-home-front>.
"Japanese Women and the Japanese War Effort." - Engineering and Technology History Wiki. N.p., 17 Sept. 2015. Web. 12 May 2016.
<http://ethw.org/Japanese_Women_and_the_Japanese_War_Effort>.
"Soviet Union, Women and the Home Front during World War II."Whatwhenhow RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2016.
<http://what-when-how.com/women-and-war/soviet-union-women-and-the-home-front-during-world-war-ii/>.
History.com Staff. "The U.S. Home Front During World War II." History.com. A&E Networks, 2010. Web. 12 May 2016.
<http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/us-home-front-during-world-war-ii>.