Chapter 14 – Louisiana’s World War II Era

SECTION 1 – LOUISIANA IN WORLD WAR II

INTRODUCTION

  • Beginning of WWII
  • Leaders – Adolf Hitler (Germany), Franklin Roosevelt (U.S.)
  • WWII started when Hitler attacked Poland (1939)
  • The U.S. remained neutral but tried to help the Allies (Britain and France)
  • Effects on the U.S.
  • Allies’ need for supplies brought the economy out of the Great Depression
  • First peacetime draft law passed (1940)
  • U.S. military began preparing troops for possible fighting

“THE MANEUVERS”

  • Two “mock wars” (military training exercises) held in northern & central LA (1941)
  • Reasons: Good climate and large rural areas with few people to disturb
  • Some soldiers came with cavalry horses and some with new two-man jeeps
  • Leaders – U.S. Generals Dwight Eisenhower and George Patton
  • Results of the exercises
  • The army stopped using horses in battle; new equipment was better
  • The experience saved thousands of American lives during real war
  • Effects on Louisiana
  • 5 military training camps and 10 flying fields in LA by the end of the war
  • Barksdale Field in Bossier Parish now serves as the U.S. 8th Air Force HQ
  • Other flying fields became local airports after the war

“REACTION TO PEARL HARBOR”

  • U.S. entrance into WWII
  • Japan planned to invade Indonesia to seize badly-needed oil
  • Launched surprise attack on U.S. navy fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (1941)
  • U.S. declared war on Japan the next day
  • Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S. a few days later
  • Security measures taken to protect against attack
  • Near Barksdale, extra guards watched water supply, bridges, defense plants
  • Concerns about sabotage (deliberate damage or destruction)
  • Older men watched for enemy planes and enforced blackout rules
  • Cities practiced air raid blackouts; loud air raid sirens announced blackouts
  • In blackouts, city is completely dark at night to avoid sight by enemy planes
  • Louisiana citizens serving in war
  • First hero – Gen. Chennault led the “Flying Tigers” in air battles with Japan
  • Almost 275,000 LA citizens served in military; over 4,000 were casualties

“THE HOME FRONT”

  • Manufacturing war supplies
  • Shipbuilding – N.O.- Andrew Higgins developed largest shipbuilding plant in world
  • Defense plant – Webster Parish/north LA – large shell-loading plant
  • Egg dehydration plant – Ruston/north LA – dried eggs prepared as food for soldiers
  • Women’s roles – filled jobs previously done by men who had gone off to war
  • Civilian sacrifices
  • Because of war needs, many goods had to be rationed (consumption limited)
  • Tires – one of first items rationed – affected supply of bicycles
  • Sugar, coffee, canned fruit and vegetables, butter, meat – had “meatless days”
  • Shoes – 3 pairs per person/year, then 1 pair – families used rations for kids
  • Civilian efforts / participation
  • Victory gardens–most families planted these for their own use
  • Supplied over 40% of America’s fresh vegetables during the war
  • Largest garden – 250 acres at Barksdale Field – supplied mess halls there
  • Children participated
  • Boy Scouts delivered blackout booklets
  • High school boys made airplane models for civil defense training
  • Schools collected scrap metal, rubber, and paper
  • Patriotism / support for troops
  • Star lapel pin or banner in window – indicated son or husband away in service
  • Huge 7-story flag hung on Canal Street, patriotic signs everywhere
  • United Service Organizations (USOs) – places of entertainment for soldiers
  • Provided by communities for soldiers stationed nearby
  • Provided dancing and music (“Big Band sound”); a place to rest and relax
  • POW camps (for prisoners of war) – several located in Louisiana

“THE END OF THE WAR”

  • Celebration – hugs, confetti, prayers – at war’s end (1945)
  • Assistance for returning soldiers
  • Servicemen’s Readjustment Act (known as “G.I. Bill”) passed by Congress (1944)
  • Provided unemployment pay and education allowances for veterans
  • Provided home, farm, and business loans for veterans
  • Return of Mardi Gras – had not been celebrated in N.O. from 1941-1945