Allied Forces' Homefronts
United States After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the U.S. was thrown into World War II. The United States citizens were scared by the Japanese attack so close to the mainland, and it propelled them to prepare for war. In early 1942, the United States started rationing to set limits on gas, food, and clothing. The ration stamps given to families were used to buy things like meat, fat, sugar, butter, vegetables, fruit, gas, tires, clothing, and oil. Citizens were prompted to use what they get wisely.
In the businesses, manufacturers like Ford Motor Company began making things like planes and tanks, instead of cars. The industry went from peacetime to wartime. Also, as men were encouraged to go fight in the war, women began to receive a larger role in the workplace. The war and the attack on Pearl Harbor led Americans to feel nervous about Japanese living in America. This led to Japanese internment camps where all Japanese-Americans were forced to live until around the end of the war. The war also had a major effect on professional sports as many athletes went overseas to fight. Another major area it affected was in the film and radio business. The film business often kept people updated on the war and made movies about specific battles and even comedic cartoons. People used the radio to receive reports from the front line. The American home front was greatly affected by the war, they were key to the United States’ success in the war. |
Soviet UnionThe home front of the Soviet Union was very instrumental to their success. Even before World War II broke out they already put much of their focus on expanding their military. This led to them having the largest army in the world. However, they didn’t have great numbers when it came to tanks and aircraft. The Soviet Union invested a large amount of money into World War II, around $15 billion. The huge area of Russia and the placement of the Ural Mountains were essential to their ability to keep fighting against Germany after the German invasion of the Soviet Union. They were able to move many of their supplies out of the Nazis’ range and it helped them stay afloat. The United States played a large role in this as well as the Soviets received Lend Lease aid. The Soviet Union’s ability to defend Russia, was essential to continuing their fight against Germany. The home front was largely affected by the German invasion however, especially in places where Germany invaded, like Leningrad, Moscow, and Stalingrad. One reason for the Soviet’s huge army, was Stalin’s control over the Soviet Union.
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Great Britain In 1940, Winston Churchill stressed that the British civilians must be mobile for the Allies to win the war, as Britain was a very important battleground. On May 14, 1940, The Home Guard was formed to help prepare Britain towns and civilians for war. The Home Guard built weapons and created concrete pillboxes. Women helped the cause by rationing and reusing. In 1941, women were even used as mechanics, engineers, and munition workers, among other things. Over 80,000 women joined the Women’s Land Army. Whose job was to do exactly those things listed above. The Blitz, by Nazi Germany, did extreme damage to the British home front. The fear that the Blitz caused, actually helped the British to band together. The British sent over 3.5 million children to live on the countryside. The British were forced to continue rationing until 1954 to help rebuild their economy.
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Works Cited
History.com Staff. "The U.S. Home Front During World War II." History.com. A&E Television Networks, 01 Jan. 2010. Web. 12 May 2016.
<http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/us-home-front-during-world-war-ii>.
"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>.
"World War II: Soviet Home Front." CIH--WW II. N.p., 2005. Web. 12 May 2016.
<http://histclo.com/essay/war/ww2/cou/sov/sov-home.html>.
Page by SH
<http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/us-home-front-during-world-war-ii>.
"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>.
"World War II: Soviet Home Front." CIH--WW II. N.p., 2005. Web. 12 May 2016.
<http://histclo.com/essay/war/ww2/cou/sov/sov-home.html>.
Page by SH