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
ch.11 section 4

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