Mobilizing for WWII

Read Chapter 25-1: Mobilizing for War and note how each of the following contributed to that effort.

1. Selective Service System

They expanded the draft and provided many more soldiers to meet the armed forces needs. The draftees reported to military bases around the country for training.

2. Women

The Women's Army Corps made it able for women to help in noncombat positions. Many women worked as nurses, radio operators, electricians and pilots.

3. Minorities
Minorities felt that they should fight for equality and freedom for themselves, not for white people.

Despite this, many minorities were a large part of the armed forces.

4. Manufacturers

February 1942 was the end of automobile production for private use. The automobile plants were converted to make tanks, planes and boats. Other factories were also converted to war production.

5. Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD)
The ORSD improved radar and sonar to locate submarines underwater. It encouraged the use of pesticides to fight insects. This helped the soldiers to be healthier. They developed the atomic bomb.

6. Entertainment industry

Hollywood made war oriented propaganda films. Movies energized people to join the war effort. Also informational films were made.

7. Office of Price Administration (OPA)
The OPA fought inflation by freezing prices on most goods. Congress raised income tax rates and extended the tax to millions of people who had never paid it before.

8. War Production Board (WPB)

The WPB decided which companies would convert from peacetime to wartime production and allocated raw materials to key industries. The WPB organized drives to collect scrap iron, tin cans, paper rags and cooking fat for recycling into war goods.

9. Rationing

The OPA set up a rationing system that established allotments of goods deemed essential for the military. Households received ration books with coupons used for buying items like meat, shoes, sugar, coffee and gasoline.