This document summarizes the impact of World War II on civilian populations and home fronts across major countries. It discusses how the war led to total mobilization of societies and economies. More women entered the workforce to support the war effort. Civilian deaths increased greatly compared to past wars, including many children killed. The Soviet Union and United States fully mobilized their economies and societies for industrial production and military support. Germany and Japan mobilized later and faced greater challenges maintaining civilian support and production due to strategic shortcomings.
1. The Home Front and the Aftermath of the War
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2. THE MOBILIZATION OF PEOPLES
WWII was a total war
The bombing of civilians made the home front more
dangerous
Impact on civilians was much higher than other wars
More women working
More civilians killed (20 million)
− Many civilians who were killed were children
3. THE SOVIET UNION
Widespread industrial mobilization of the nation
“battle of machines”
Emphasis on military goods caused food and housing
shortages
Women were used both in industry and fighting
Leningrad- 900 days of siege.
Inhabitants got so desperate for food that they ate dogs,
cats and mice.
1.5 million people died in the city
4. THE UNITED STATES
The US was not fighting in its own territory
Became the arsenal for the allies
− Built 6 ships a day and 96,000 airplanes a year
Widespread migration- men and women moving to
join the military or to work in new factories
Over 1 million African Americans moved out of the
South for industrial jobs
Increased racial tensions and led to riots
Japanese Americans were put in internment camps
110,000 put in camps, 65% of whom were US born
5. GERMANY
Hitler refused to mobilize economy at the start of the
war
Began increasing armament production in 1942
Mobilized too late to save Germany
Views towards women changed over the course of
the war
Worked to keep women out of jobs before
Women began to be welcomed in the workplace slowly
− Numbers still increased only very slightly
6. JAPAN
Highly mobilized society
Planning board controlled prices, wages, labor and
resources
Kamikaze (“divine wind”)- suicide pilots
Japan did not want to mobilize women
General Hideki Tojo believed weakening the family system
would weaken the country
Brought in Korean and Chinese laborers to help with
labor shortages