World War II- Life in NY during the war

My mom's note  about the picture below

My parents still managed to decorate this war time Christmas tree in their Elmhurst Apartment. It is stands in stark contrast to the lavish trees of my childhood ten years later. They both look pretty somber in this photo, despite encouragements in the news to keep spirits bright.

 Times during the war were hard- but at least my father was able to be home. I remember asking him what he did during the war, and he explained that his job at Shell was considered a necessary occupation for the war effort. Mom's brother, Ken, however, was serving in the South Pacific. He came to visit them when he was on leave in N.Y. in 1943.

Ken Allen- Buckroe Beach in Hampton, Va. was a training and defense facility during the war

Pauline Allen Garrison and "Ken" Allen in Elmhust -1943

        While the soldiers fought the war, those at home put their savings into bonds to raise money for the war.

I remember Mom talking about rationing during the war. In 1942, the first ration books were issued to allow for limitations and fair distribution of items. The first item to be rationed was sugar. Next came coffee, then meat, cheese, canned milk, and processed foods. Housewives had to do some creative cooking, and special cookbooks came out to help plan meals with ration stamps.

With the Japanese take over of rubber plants in southeast Asia, rubber rationing quickly became important. Civilians were asked to turn in old tires, rubber garden hoses, and even bathing caps. Every scrap was needed.

Mandatory speed limits of 35 mph were imposed. Gasoline rations limited non essential vehicles to four gallons of gas a week.  Since Dad took the subway to work, they were able to save their rations to go visit Dad's sister Aletheia and her husband Fred out in Garden City, or go for rides to sightsee outside of the city.

 Oil was needed in the war, and Dad's work in the transportation department helped get fuel to the troops. Meanwhile, thermostats back home were turned down in the winter time to conserve fuel oil.

There were clothing shortages as well. Nylon was needed for parachutes, so ladies nylons had to go. Women painted "fake" stockings on to be stylish. Old nylon stocking were donated for scrap.

World War II- News Headlines from the Brooklyn Eagle

                                        1939-1941

I tried to picture this chain of events from my parents perspective- which meant not knowing what might happen next from day to day. Newspapers, radio broadcasts, and the occasional newsreel at the cinema would have vied with rumors and chatter on the street.
 I thought I might get an idea of what they may have been seeing with front page newspaper headlines from the Brooklyn Eagle....

 An ominous cloud had been gathering in Europe for some time. Hitler and the Nazi party had been increasing their power in Germany since the early 1930's, but in September, 1939, the same month that my parents celebrated their wedding, Germany invaded Poland, a British ally.  Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand and Canada declared war on Germany. Still, many Americans felt far removed from the situation as FDR vowed to keep America out of the war in Europe.

Shipping across the Atlantic was no longer safe, as German subs and U boats attacked vessels.

                                                                    1940

 
In the spring of 1940 Italy joined the war. German soldiers cut a pathway through Europe, attacking and conquering country after country. President Roosevelt was jolted out of isolationism and America moved rapidly into a defensive position.

By June, the Germans had entered Paris, forcing France to sign an armistice. 

 

 

By July, the Battle of Britain had begun. Soon the "Blitz" produced air raids on major British cities. Between 1940 and 1941, over a million homes were destroyed, and 40,000 civilians killed. 

Battle of Britain - Churchill's speech 

             
                  In September 1940, Japan joined the Axis, bringing the war to the Pacific.

It became increasingly clear that America might headed toward war.... and in that case, New York City would be a prime target for enemy aggression. German U-boats were already plying the Atlantic. A draft was set up that fall to provide for U.S. troops in the event of a war. A generation of young men now registered for the draft.

In the midst of this tension, America faced a presidential election in November 1940. Roosevelt won and began his third and final term of office.

                                                                        

1941

In response to America's financial aid to Britain, German aggression struck closer to home.

As the war raced through the mideast and Africa, on Long Island, preparations for defense began amidst continued hopes for peace.

Pacific Concerns

 July 1941

Aug 1941

Nov 26 1941

Nov 27

Nov 28

Nov 30

 Dec 2

 Dec 4

 Dec 5

Dec 6

Dec 7

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on  the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. People in NY who had radios would have listened to the emergency broadcast by the government, telling of the attack, and advising local citizens to remain calm and wait for any emergency instructions.

Newsreel of Pearl Harbor Attack

Dec 11

 

                           America was at war and life in NY was changing. The next day, panic struck Long Island, as air raid sirens blasted amidst rumors of attack. The mayor ordered a million gas masks for civilians and evacuation plans were made to be put in to place in case of an attack.