Author: Carol Harris
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 0750952814
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 199
Book Description
Long before the outbreak of the Second World War, official calculations showed Britain would be short of the manpower needed to fight the enemy and keep up production of weapons, food and other essentials. It was hoped that women volunteers would full the gaps and so they volunteered as workers in Civil Defence, the Women's Land Army, munitions factories and non-combatant roles in the Forces.But by 1941, the Government had to face facts: any effective response would have to involve conscription of British women. All females between the ages of fourteen and sixty-four were registered and soon the vast majority had work to do. They collected tons of salvage, knitted and sewed, and raised money for warships and weapons. Women ran fire stations and drove makeshift ambulances while cities burned and enemy bombs exploded around them. They kept their families going, often as single parents while their husbands were away for years in the armed forces.By the end of the war, some of the most experienced rat-catchers in the country were female; others were accomplished engineers, carters, rail workers and bargees.When it was over, these wartime roles were not commemorated in films and books. There has been little official acknowledgement of the enormous and crucial contribution those British women made to the lives we live now. Many are getting on in years and their precious first-hand memories will go with them. Their stories are worth telling now for that alone. But they are also tales of love, death, sacrifice and romance, of humour and horror, and of an extraordinary time, when ordinary women did extraordinary things.
Women at War 1939-1945
Author: Carol Harris
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 0750952814
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 199
Book Description
Long before the outbreak of the Second World War, official calculations showed Britain would be short of the manpower needed to fight the enemy and keep up production of weapons, food and other essentials. It was hoped that women volunteers would full the gaps and so they volunteered as workers in Civil Defence, the Women's Land Army, munitions factories and non-combatant roles in the Forces.But by 1941, the Government had to face facts: any effective response would have to involve conscription of British women. All females between the ages of fourteen and sixty-four were registered and soon the vast majority had work to do. They collected tons of salvage, knitted and sewed, and raised money for warships and weapons. Women ran fire stations and drove makeshift ambulances while cities burned and enemy bombs exploded around them. They kept their families going, often as single parents while their husbands were away for years in the armed forces.By the end of the war, some of the most experienced rat-catchers in the country were female; others were accomplished engineers, carters, rail workers and bargees.When it was over, these wartime roles were not commemorated in films and books. There has been little official acknowledgement of the enormous and crucial contribution those British women made to the lives we live now. Many are getting on in years and their precious first-hand memories will go with them. Their stories are worth telling now for that alone. But they are also tales of love, death, sacrifice and romance, of humour and horror, and of an extraordinary time, when ordinary women did extraordinary things.
Publisher: The History Press
ISBN: 0750952814
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 199
Book Description
Long before the outbreak of the Second World War, official calculations showed Britain would be short of the manpower needed to fight the enemy and keep up production of weapons, food and other essentials. It was hoped that women volunteers would full the gaps and so they volunteered as workers in Civil Defence, the Women's Land Army, munitions factories and non-combatant roles in the Forces.But by 1941, the Government had to face facts: any effective response would have to involve conscription of British women. All females between the ages of fourteen and sixty-four were registered and soon the vast majority had work to do. They collected tons of salvage, knitted and sewed, and raised money for warships and weapons. Women ran fire stations and drove makeshift ambulances while cities burned and enemy bombs exploded around them. They kept their families going, often as single parents while their husbands were away for years in the armed forces.By the end of the war, some of the most experienced rat-catchers in the country were female; others were accomplished engineers, carters, rail workers and bargees.When it was over, these wartime roles were not commemorated in films and books. There has been little official acknowledgement of the enormous and crucial contribution those British women made to the lives we live now. Many are getting on in years and their precious first-hand memories will go with them. Their stories are worth telling now for that alone. But they are also tales of love, death, sacrifice and romance, of humour and horror, and of an extraordinary time, when ordinary women did extraordinary things.
Greatcoats and Glamour Boots
Author: Carolyn Gossage
Publisher: Dundurn
ISBN: 1459712943
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 299
Book Description
Women in the military? To many, never was too soon. But by 1940, British women were out "doing their bit" for the war effort, and Canadians battled for that same right. Young Canadian women wanted to serve their country, "to free a man to fight," as the recruiting posters urged. By the war’s end almost 50,000 of them were in the forces. Carolyn Gossage has compiled a fascinating collage of anecdotal and documentary material. The colourful story of Canada’s "forgotten women" - those who volunteered for service during World War II in the RCAF Women’s division, the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC) and the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (Wrens) - entertains and enlightens.
Publisher: Dundurn
ISBN: 1459712943
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 299
Book Description
Women in the military? To many, never was too soon. But by 1940, British women were out "doing their bit" for the war effort, and Canadians battled for that same right. Young Canadian women wanted to serve their country, "to free a man to fight," as the recruiting posters urged. By the war’s end almost 50,000 of them were in the forces. Carolyn Gossage has compiled a fascinating collage of anecdotal and documentary material. The colourful story of Canada’s "forgotten women" - those who volunteered for service during World War II in the RCAF Women’s division, the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC) and the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (Wrens) - entertains and enlightens.
Women at War 1939–45
Author: Jack Cassin-Scott
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9780850453492
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Though for centuries fighting was considered primarily a man's job, the world wars of the 20th century demanded women's involvement in the war effort. By World War II women were playing a major auxiliary role in all branches of the armed forces. From the daring female fighter pilots of besieged Russia to the heroic American nurses on the front line, this book looks at the vital jobs that women undertook at a time of national crisis. Numerous fascinating photos and eight full colour plates detail the uniforms and equipment of the British, American German and Russian women who participated in this global conflict.
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9780850453492
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Though for centuries fighting was considered primarily a man's job, the world wars of the 20th century demanded women's involvement in the war effort. By World War II women were playing a major auxiliary role in all branches of the armed forces. From the daring female fighter pilots of besieged Russia to the heroic American nurses on the front line, this book looks at the vital jobs that women undertook at a time of national crisis. Numerous fascinating photos and eight full colour plates detail the uniforms and equipment of the British, American German and Russian women who participated in this global conflict.
Jambusters
Author: Julie Summers
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 085720047X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 434
Book Description
The compelling true story that inspired the hugely successful major ITV drama series HOME FIRES – now in its second season. The Second World War was the WI's finest hour. The whole of its previous history - two decades of educating, entertaining and supporting women and campaigning on women's issues - culminated in the enormous collective responsibility felt by the members to 'do their bit' for Britain. With all the vigour, energy and enthusiasm at their disposal, a third of a million country women set out to make their lives and the lives of those around them more bearable in what they described as 'a period of insanity'. Through archive material and interviews with many WI members, Julie Summers takes us behind the scenes, revealing their nitty-gritty approach to the daily problems presented by the conflict. Jambusters is the fascinating story of how the Women's Institute pulled rural Britain through the war with pots of jam and a spirit of make-do-and-mend.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 085720047X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 434
Book Description
The compelling true story that inspired the hugely successful major ITV drama series HOME FIRES – now in its second season. The Second World War was the WI's finest hour. The whole of its previous history - two decades of educating, entertaining and supporting women and campaigning on women's issues - culminated in the enormous collective responsibility felt by the members to 'do their bit' for Britain. With all the vigour, energy and enthusiasm at their disposal, a third of a million country women set out to make their lives and the lives of those around them more bearable in what they described as 'a period of insanity'. Through archive material and interviews with many WI members, Julie Summers takes us behind the scenes, revealing their nitty-gritty approach to the daily problems presented by the conflict. Jambusters is the fascinating story of how the Women's Institute pulled rural Britain through the war with pots of jam and a spirit of make-do-and-mend.
Mobilizing Women for War
Author: Leila J. Rupp
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 1400870976
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 257
Book Description
To discover how war can affect the status of women in industrial countries, Leila Rupp examines mobilization propaganda directed at women in Nazi Germany and the United States. Her book explores the relationship between ideology and policy, challenging the idea that wars improve the status of women by bringing them into new areas of activity. Using fresh sources for both Germany and the United States, Professor Rupp considers the images of women before and during the war, the role of propaganda in securing their support, and the ideal of feminine behavior in each country. Her analysis shows that propaganda was more intensive in the United States than in Germany, and that it figured in the success of American mobilization and the failure of the German campaign to enlist women's participation. The most important function of propaganda, however, consisted in adapting popular conceptions to economic need. The author finds that public images of women can adjust to wartime priorities without threatening traditional assumptions about social roles. The mode of adaptation, she suggests, helps to explain the lack of change in women's status in postwar society. Far-reaching in its implications for feminist studies, this book offers a new and fruitful approach to the social, economic, and political history of Germany and the United States. Originally published in 1978. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 1400870976
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 257
Book Description
To discover how war can affect the status of women in industrial countries, Leila Rupp examines mobilization propaganda directed at women in Nazi Germany and the United States. Her book explores the relationship between ideology and policy, challenging the idea that wars improve the status of women by bringing them into new areas of activity. Using fresh sources for both Germany and the United States, Professor Rupp considers the images of women before and during the war, the role of propaganda in securing their support, and the ideal of feminine behavior in each country. Her analysis shows that propaganda was more intensive in the United States than in Germany, and that it figured in the success of American mobilization and the failure of the German campaign to enlist women's participation. The most important function of propaganda, however, consisted in adapting popular conceptions to economic need. The author finds that public images of women can adjust to wartime priorities without threatening traditional assumptions about social roles. The mode of adaptation, she suggests, helps to explain the lack of change in women's status in postwar society. Far-reaching in its implications for feminist studies, this book offers a new and fruitful approach to the social, economic, and political history of Germany and the United States. Originally published in 1978. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.
Women's Experiences of the Second World War
Author: Mark J. Crowley
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
ISBN: 1783275871
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 245
Book Description
Using a very wide range of detailed sources, the book surveys the many different experiences of women during the Second World War.
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
ISBN: 1783275871
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 245
Book Description
Using a very wide range of detailed sources, the book surveys the many different experiences of women during the Second World War.
The Women's War
Author: Deborah Montgomerie
Publisher: Auckland University Press
ISBN: 9781869402440
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 212
Book Description
"This book explains the ambiguities of wartime changes in the private and public lives of New Zealand women. It considers women as mothers, wives and lovers, as well as workers, using many examples from real lives. Deborah Montgomerie's main argument is that despite the changes, the war was essentially a conservative period, pointing out that understanding the continuities in gender relations is as important as cataloguing female 'firsts'. Her book stylishly challenges accepted wisdom and offers a clear, fresh view of a period often viewed through the blurry lens of nostalgia and anecdote."--BOOK JACKET.
Publisher: Auckland University Press
ISBN: 9781869402440
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 212
Book Description
"This book explains the ambiguities of wartime changes in the private and public lives of New Zealand women. It considers women as mothers, wives and lovers, as well as workers, using many examples from real lives. Deborah Montgomerie's main argument is that despite the changes, the war was essentially a conservative period, pointing out that understanding the continuities in gender relations is as important as cataloguing female 'firsts'. Her book stylishly challenges accepted wisdom and offers a clear, fresh view of a period often viewed through the blurry lens of nostalgia and anecdote."--BOOK JACKET.
Debs at War
Author: Anne de Courcy
Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
ISBN: 178022575X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 411
Book Description
An extraordinary account - from firsthand sources - of upper class women and the active part they took in the War Pre-war debutantes were members of the most protected, not to say isolated, stratum of 20th-century society: the young (17-20) unmarried daughters of the British upper classes. For most of them, the war changed all that for ever. It meant independence and the shock of the new, and daily exposure to customs and attitudes that must have seemed completely alien to them. For many, the almost military regime of an upper class childhood meant they were well suited for the no-nonsense approach needed in wartime. This book records the extraordinary diversity of challenges, shocks and responsibilities they faced - as chauffeurs, couriers, ambulance-drivers, nurses, pilots, spies, decoders, factory workers, farmers, land girls, as well as in the Women's Services. How much did class barriers really come down? Did they stick with their own sort? And what about fun and love in wartime - did love cross the class barriers?
Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
ISBN: 178022575X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 411
Book Description
An extraordinary account - from firsthand sources - of upper class women and the active part they took in the War Pre-war debutantes were members of the most protected, not to say isolated, stratum of 20th-century society: the young (17-20) unmarried daughters of the British upper classes. For most of them, the war changed all that for ever. It meant independence and the shock of the new, and daily exposure to customs and attitudes that must have seemed completely alien to them. For many, the almost military regime of an upper class childhood meant they were well suited for the no-nonsense approach needed in wartime. This book records the extraordinary diversity of challenges, shocks and responsibilities they faced - as chauffeurs, couriers, ambulance-drivers, nurses, pilots, spies, decoders, factory workers, farmers, land girls, as well as in the Women's Services. How much did class barriers really come down? Did they stick with their own sort? And what about fun and love in wartime - did love cross the class barriers?
Women in Wartime
Author: Jane Waller
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 134
Book Description
"The unsung heroes of the Second World War were the women who were left behind. Isolated from the action, fearful for the lives of their menfolk and hopeful for a future at peace, they adapted well to a rapidly changing world. This book provides a full commentary onhome life during those wartime years. Drawing on an unrivalled collection of contemporary women's magazines, the authors have extracted features, fashion tips, morale-boosting stories, mottoes and recipes to present a panoramic view of women's shifting roles. Emotional reaciton, the practicalities of working and maintaining a home, relationships with Allied troops and, of course, love, leisure and fashion are all included, together with advertisments and readers' letters from the war years. As never before, the portrait that emerges of women in wartime is one of immense courage, good humour and ingenuity"--Back cover.
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 134
Book Description
"The unsung heroes of the Second World War were the women who were left behind. Isolated from the action, fearful for the lives of their menfolk and hopeful for a future at peace, they adapted well to a rapidly changing world. This book provides a full commentary onhome life during those wartime years. Drawing on an unrivalled collection of contemporary women's magazines, the authors have extracted features, fashion tips, morale-boosting stories, mottoes and recipes to present a panoramic view of women's shifting roles. Emotional reaciton, the practicalities of working and maintaining a home, relationships with Allied troops and, of course, love, leisure and fashion are all included, together with advertisments and readers' letters from the war years. As never before, the portrait that emerges of women in wartime is one of immense courage, good humour and ingenuity"--Back cover.
World War II Allied Women's Services
Author: Martin Brayley
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9781841760537
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
The contribution of women to the Allied war effort during World War II (1939-45) was massive. Apart from their many vital roles 'on the home front', about a million Soviet, 500,000 British and 200,000 American women, and tens of thousands from other Allied nations, served in uniform with the armed forces. To put these figures in perspective: enough American women served to free sufficient able-bodied men to form 15 infantry divisions. It was not only in the USSR that their duties took them into harm's way; hundreds of British Commonwealth and US servicewomen died, and many were decorated. This book gives a concise introduction to the organisation and uniforms of these services, with an emphasis on the British and US forces.
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9781841760537
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
The contribution of women to the Allied war effort during World War II (1939-45) was massive. Apart from their many vital roles 'on the home front', about a million Soviet, 500,000 British and 200,000 American women, and tens of thousands from other Allied nations, served in uniform with the armed forces. To put these figures in perspective: enough American women served to free sufficient able-bodied men to form 15 infantry divisions. It was not only in the USSR that their duties took them into harm's way; hundreds of British Commonwealth and US servicewomen died, and many were decorated. This book gives a concise introduction to the organisation and uniforms of these services, with an emphasis on the British and US forces.