Life in the War

Cooke, Tim. Life in the War. Part of the World War II: The Full Story series. 2015. 48p. ISBN 978-1-78121-233-2. Available at 940.53 LIF on the library shelves.

At times of war, life for the civilian population would be dramatically different. Civilians endured sieges, slaughters, pillages, and other violence. The Second World War, however, was unique in the way it affected the daily lives of just about every civilian in the world, from those caught in the bombing and destruction to those fleeing the front lines. Even civilians far from actual combat endured privations and worries about their love ones in the various military services.

Governments of both Axis and Allies nations attempted to make the lives of their civilian and military populations easier. Propaganda was used by both sides to boost the morale of their population while vilifying the other side. Movies, radios, newspapers, magazines, and leaflets were all employed by various government-sponsored entities to sway public opinion to continue the struggle against the enemy. Programs such as relocation, medical support, and food stamps ensured that civilians who were directly affected by destruction would be able to cope. Children were evacuated from cities. Women entered the workforce in record numbers. Rationing, various drives for resources, and blackouts were The exchange of letters continued apace, and even the German army, in its final collapse, delivered mail to its soldiers on May 7, 1945, the day Germany capitulated. Soldiers were also affected. Intense bouts of combat were followed by long periods of inactivity. Shows were organized to prop morale near the front line. Soldiers were generally better fed than the average civilian.

When the war finally came to an end, million of soldiers had to be demobilized and returned home. Allied soldiers benefited from programs such as the G.I. Bill to help them reintegrate civilian society. Axis soldiers were on their own. By the end of the war, an estimated 52 million people had died, forever changing the fabric of civil societies around the world.

Other books in this series include Home Front, War in the Pacific 1941-1945, and North Africa and Europe 1940-1945.