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| WWII Rosie the Riveter poster / Wikipedia |
World War II
created many sacrifices and worries at home in the United States. Americans came
together for the war effort, grew much of their own food and everything was
rationed. We supported our soldiers in every way possible. Americans also had
to be alert since we never knew if the enemy would invade our country or not.
There were many posters that taught us what to do and rally us during the war. World
War II posters will show what life was like during World War II in the U.S.
What Was Life Like in the United States During World War II
Life in the United States during World War II was full of fear,
anxiety, commitment and determination. Life was very different than it is
today, and most people alive today have never experienced anything like it, and
hopefully never will again. This was what life was like in the United States between 1941 and 1945.
Posters had a big
effect on both the military and civilian population during World War II. These
World War II posters give a real sense of what life was really like in the United States during World War II.
The hardships, the
fear and sense of duty and commitment every American had to deal with. They
also served as reminders of what to do during the war and to boost the camaraderie
among those at the home front. This was not some made for TV movie, this was
real life.
World War II Posters Rallying American Women
The We Can Do It
poster was a rallying poster for women who were now working in what were
traditionally men’s jobs. With most men serving in the military, women had to
take the jobs that the men were no longer there to do.
Another poster for
women was to encourage them to join the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer
Emergency Service).
World War II Posters Calling for Conservation of Materials
Conservation of
materials and food was another important aspect of World War II posters in the United States. During World War II, there was the
rationing of meats, sugar, tires, gas, rubber, coffee, nylon stockings and
about anything else you can think of.
Everyone had a ration book; you just
couldn’t walk into the grocery store and buy what you wanted and how much you
wanted every day. You couldn’t go to the gas station and buy new tires and fill
your tank with gas whenever you wanted to. You had to abide by the rations you
were given.
For non-essential
cars, which was about half of the cars in the United States, you were entitled to 4 gallons of gas per
week. You could not drive over 35 mph; this was done to conserve rubber. The
Japanese had taken over the Dutch
East Indies which
is where the United States got 90% of its rubber for tires from.
Americans were told
to save the fats from cooking. These fats were used to make bombs and bullets.
Americans were encouraged to turn in all scrap metal, paper and cloth.
Since food was also
in short supply and most food was shipped to soldiers at war, Americans grew
what were called victory gardens for their own vegetables.
Loose Lips Sink Ships
There were many
posters reminding Americans of how important it was not to leak information.
Being quiet about war plans was a main rule as the saying “Loose Lips Sinks
Ships” reminded everyone of.
The disclosure of any type of information could
lead to American deaths. The information could be in a letter from a loved one
in the war or news of something being manufactured in a plant.
The Enemy Attacks the United States Mainland
The United States had been attacked and the fear of being
attacked again was very real during World War II. German submarines were
spotted off the east coast and Japanese submarines and airplanes were spotted
off the west coast of the United States.
World War II was
not like today with 24 hour news cable channels and a hundred satellites
watching everything. In fact, there wasn’t even television during World War II.
Americans got their news from radio, newspapers and what were called newsreels
at movie theaters. News didn’t travel as fast and the United States was much more rural than it is today. The
enemy could land a plane or boat at an isolated spot and come ashore in the United States and Canada.
Japanese submarines
attacked American ships off the coast of California, shelled the Elwood oil fields near Santa Monica, California, Fort Stevens, Oregon and the Esteven Point Lighthouse in British Columbia, Canada.
Japanese seaplanes
flew over and dropped incendiary bombs near Brookings, Oregon in an attempt to start forest fires.
In 1944 and 1945, the
Japanese sent 300 balloons with explosives attached towards the United States west coast. One of the balloons exploded in
Oregon killing 5 children and a woman. Canadian
military reported some of the balloons landed as far east as Saskatchewan.
German espionage
and sabotage missions were uncovered in the United States and people could see battles between American
and German ships from the east coast beaches of the United States.
In 1942 and 1943,
there were also German U-Boats in the Gulf of Mexico where at least 20 U-boats sank 56 American oil tankers. In May
1942, a German U-boat torpedoed and sank the American oil tanker Virginia at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
Because of the
threat of enemy attacks, Americans had what were called “blackout curtains”.
You had to cover your windows with these blackout curtains without any light
showing through at all.
Blackout wardens would patrol and make sure that
everyone’s black out curtains were keeping the light from showing out. You
could be fined if you didn’t have your blackout curtains blocking all light.
Fear at the Home Front
There was a lot of
fear in the United States not only from being attacked and losing the
war but everyday things we take for granted today. Like having enough doctors
around and not having to pay black market prices.
Send Letters to Soldiers in the War
Another poster of
World War II reminded Americans how important it was to write letters to those
far off fighting the war. This had a very positive effect on the soldiers
overseas. There was what was called V-mail or Victory mail.
These were forms
that you filled out and wrote you letter on. These were then put on micro-film
and sent overseas and reprinted which saved room on cargo planes and time to
get to the war front.
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| V Mail World War II poster / public domain |
It is hard to imagine how scary this time in history was. Looking at these posters should bring home the fear and commitment everyone shared during World War II.
Many of
the posters of World War II depicted the enemy in disgusting ways, you have to
remember what it was like, not knowing if the enemy would be marching down your
street or not. World War II posters were all about anger and fear.
The fear for both sides of World War II was of losing the war and actually
having their country taken over.
Copyright © 2010-2014 Sam Montana
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