During the war, women worked in factories throughout much of the West and East.
Home front is the name given to the activities of the civilians in a state of total war. In World War II this was a significant part of the war effort for all participants.
United Kingdom
In Britain women joined the work force in jobs that the men overseas used to occupy. Food, clothing, petrol and other items were rationed. Access to luxuries was severely restricted, though there was also a significant black market. Families also grew victory gardens, small home vegetable gardens, to supply themselves with food. Civilians also served as Air Raid Wardens, volunteer emergency services and other critical functions. Schools and organizations held scrap drives and money collections to help the war effort. Many things were conserved to turn into weapons later, such as fat to turn into nitroglycerin.
From very early in the war it was thought that the major cities of Britain, especially London, would come under air attack. Provisions were therefore made for the evacuation of children from urban centres to more rural and remote areas.
North America
In the United States and Canada women also joined the workforce to replace men who had joined the forces, though in fewer numbers. Franklin D. Roosevelt stated that the efforts of civilians at home to support the war through personal sacrifice was as critical to winning the war as the efforts of the soldiers themselves. "Rosie, the Riveter" became the symbol of women laboring in manufacturing. The war effort brought about significant changes in the role of women in society as a whole. Upon the end of the war, many of the women were replaced by returning veterans.
Labor shortages were particularly felt in agriculture. At the same time many agricultural commodities were more needed for the military and for the civilian populations of allies. In some areas with specialty crops, such as potatoes or apples, schools were temporarily closed at harvest time to enable students to work.
Metal parts of weapons were coated with a protective layer of beeswax to prevent rust while en route on ships; at one point the government considered confiscating the nation's beehives to melt down for additional wax. However, after consultation with the department of agriculture, the pollination loss was understood with corresponding loss of crop production. Beekeepers were simply encouraged to expand, and given preferential treatment in some areas, including draft deferments and extra ration coupons. Many commodities, such as sugar, gasoline, and tires were rationed, and this was generally supported by the civilian population, although there was some black marketing.
Automobile plants ceased production of passenger cars, creating a shortage of them in the consumer market. Wartime efforts were focused on trucks and tanks. Industrial production of wartime needs was established more quickly than any time before in history, however it was not without problems. In many plants, periodic shortages of parts would bring the assembly lines to a halt, then require overtime from the employees (to meet quotas) when the parts arrived.
In the US, the Civil Air Patrol was established, which enrolled civilian spotter in reconnaissance. Towers were built in coastal and border towns, and spotters were trained to recognize enemy aircraft, so as to report if any were seen. Civilian aircraft were also used as spotters for submarines, and in a few cases, actually armed with depth charges and bombs, which did attack subs on occasion and sometimes succeeded in destroying them. Blackouts were the common civilian response when warnings of potential enemy attack came. All lighting had to be extinguished to avoid helping the enemy in targeting at night.
The wartime effort brought about a coalition of the government and industry that became an important power in its own right, and President Eisenhower warned about the danger of too much power in the Military-industrial complex.
Germany
In Germany, at least for the first part of the war, there were surprisingly few restrictions on civilian activities. Most goods were freely available.
Civilian populations were subject to propaganda from both sides. Children were expected to go to houses collecting materials for production of war equipments.
See also
The content of this page is retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Front_during_World_War_II under GFDL
