{"id":2871,"date":"2024-08-24T06:27:20","date_gmt":"2024-08-24T10:27:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/?p=2871"},"modified":"2024-08-24T06:27:24","modified_gmt":"2024-08-24T10:27:24","slug":"philadelphia-during-world-war-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/eternal\/philadelphia-during-world-war-ii","title":{"rendered":"Philadelphia during World War II"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>After one of the largest wars in human history, peace didn\u2019t last long in the second half of the 20th century. Even the tragic experience of the last campaign didn\u2019t stop the parties from another total conflict. For American society, it became a personal confrontation against hostile aggression. The City of Brotherly Love regained its industrial potential, while its residents began to fight and help the Allies. Learn more about what happened in the city at the beginning of the US entry into World War II at <a href=\"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\">philadelphiayes.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_76 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a1441f18fa4b\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a1441f18fa4b\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/eternal\/philadelphia-during-world-war-ii\/#How_did_the_city_live_during_wartime\" >How did the city live during wartime?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/eternal\/philadelphia-during-world-war-ii\/#Racial_discrimination_during_the_war_How_was_it_fought\" >Racial discrimination during the war. How was it fought?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/eternal\/philadelphia-during-world-war-ii\/#Postwar_times_in_Philadelphia\" >Postwar times in Philadelphia<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/eternal\/philadelphia-during-world-war-ii\/#Losses_during_the_war\" >Losses during the war<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_did_the_city_live_during_wartime\"><\/span>How did the city live during wartime?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked American aircraft at the military base in Pearl Harbor. As a result, the United States entered the war against the Nazis and their allies. In the capital, then-President Roosevelt issued an order to militarize society. This plan primarily included the development of industry in the regions. Everything had to be for the frontline. The Philadelphia industrial region, which had already been successful during the First World War, regained its power once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The City of Brotherly Love revived textile enterprises. The factories switched from the production of civil machinery to military ones. The access to the sea contributed to the creation of a naval shipyard base here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allied ships damaged by enemy attacks in the Atlantic were repaired in Philadelphia. From the beginning of its existence, the shipyard had grown from a few thousand workers to more than fifty thousand. There was even a naval airfield, where airplanes were made and the creation of the first atomic bomb took place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the same time, the events of the Great War, which turned out to be not the last, were repeated. Firstly, the male population of the city was mobilized and their jobs were occupied by migrants and women. Secondly, as a result of the latter, social conflicts and disputes grew again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The local government lost its authority because the US government took control of such economically and militarily important regions. Military decentralization meant that the city was managed by military commanders who were appointed by the ruling party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After the US entry into the world war, such an important region began to develop a civil defense, as there was a threat of bombing by enemy aircraft. A special Defense Council was introduced to prevent this. It was the first time that local officials consolidated efforts with the military.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.philadelphiayes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2023\/09\/1_jyqfqs_zj7fj8jssovssh1j2wtw6dhfo2zovpz0qud8z29vt1h2jmlbplwwdksiuva7zzo7rgfelyudtijdaincaq2kqh9a-calondtjbmoq7dthhznwoosjmt12yq5x91-pwrfgs8qb_z2jnz_kn2o.png\" width=\"567\" height=\"647\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Racial_discrimination_during_the_war_How_was_it_fought\"><\/span>Racial discrimination during the war. How was it fought?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>During the Second World War, more than 350,000 townspeople were involved in strengthening the city\u2019s defense, but still, it wasn\u2019t enough. Then Franklin Roosevelt published a draft law according to which employers had to hire African Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the days of the world wars, racial discrimination was another problem that prevented society from being called civilized. The aforementioned legal implementation forced Philadelphia entrepreneurs to move with the times against their will. They had to develop not only their businesses but also their worldviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thus, African Americans and, by the way, women, who also faced gender inequality before the war, got the opportunity to work for decent wages. Roosevelt&#8217;s law reduced the level of unemployment, which was born in the difficult days of the Great Depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Special trade unions dealt with company owners who didn\u2019t want to hire African Americans. For example, during the war, the city had an employment commission that did its best to force some of the largest defense contractors to change their policies. As a result, the local companies made concessions after some consultations. Some of them were such famous companies as American Telephone and Telegraph, the Radio Corporation of America \u200b\u200band the Pennsylvania Railroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.philadelphiayes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2023\/09\/1_adpwnc8_2hgldbwjdmjwvqagkq3yqdjauculehp1hra53ae0hlt4xzhgyroojw3ti43cwihqzjxfs7is_m1ktqdhmbgxyw_0v7d_co7sklddt7pk0yjacupdqtya7mauw62nbtl29u-98f4satzfwa4.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"552\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Postwar_times_in_Philadelphia\"><\/span>Postwar times in Philadelphia<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When World War I ended, Philadelphians faced a flu epidemic and an economic crisis. Fortunately, after 1945, the disease wasn\u2019t large-scale, but many workers were left without work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The city\u2019s factories, which once produced large volumes of technical and other equipment for the front, faced staff reductions. The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard reduced its workforce to almost pre-war level. Most of the defense contractors eventually closed their businesses and thousands of African Americans found themselves on the social sidelines. One of the reasons was the inability of the Philadelphia authorities to adapt to the post-war period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1945, the City of Brotherly Love reached a record population. However, due to the decrease in industrial jobs, many townspeople migrated south, while others just passed away. In the mid-20th century, more than 2,000,000 people lived in the city, but in the new millennium, the figure dropped to 1,517,550. So, the population decreased by 34% in 50 years. Although the 2010 census reported a modest increase to 1,526,000, long-term population loss has made Philadelphia the 9th most populous place on the East Coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.philadelphiayes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2023\/09\/1_yzlthwzqgy5xwdmikqvx9fuz2v7j7li561temlb7slon4izrabvknhbt3yajnaj2gok8hf55fp4f_uya1y5frktr34eikdbpdb-mauffa737jsnm33ed72vsm881vcvnqdocxtnarjn5ftsmub4y-uo.png\" width=\"456\" height=\"522\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Losses_during_the_war\"><\/span>Losses during the war<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Wartime Philadelphia was mostly remembered for its economic progress and industrial development of Pennsylvania. Workers from almost every American state sought to get there to work for high wages and to be able to climb the career ladder. A large number of enterprises, as well as an illusory narrative about &#8220;the best years in the history of Philadelphia&#8221; strongly contributed to this. However, 3,500 residents of the first capital of the United States of America gave their lives for the prosperity of this city and the entire country. Those Philadelphians placed their destinies on the altar of peace on earth. Nowadays, the townspeople hold annual commemorative events to remember the contribution of their countrymen to freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.philadelphiayes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/51\/2023\/09\/1_hmmjrounvskuuogg9w10vnmwbtlu200ngpflj12jii5d58mhkanzceeb9mo8_dww-zk0jfxit0gjysrvqolld__mbpg7vmbm-e_xayyr39amcyr843l9wcf6o3yhjshdyomfgwx_blv9jbimx38kcea.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After one of the largest wars in human history, peace didn\u2019t last long in the second half of the 20th century. Even the tragic experience of the last campaign didn\u2019t stop the parties from another total conflict. For American society, it became a personal confrontation against hostile aggression. The City of Brotherly Love regained its [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":290,"featured_media":2607,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[498],"tags":[822,817,820,825,816,818,821,824,823,819],"motype":[491],"moformat":[730],"moimportance":[101,104],"class_list":{"0":"post-2871","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-voenna-istoria","8":"tag-from-the-beginning-of-its-existence","9":"tag-how-did-the-city-live-during-wartime","10":"tag-japan-attacked-american-aircraft-at-the-military-base-in-pearl-harbor","11":"tag-military-decentralization-meant","12":"tag-philadelphia-during-world-war-ii","13":"tag-the-city-of-brotherly-love-regained-its-industrial-potential","14":"tag-the-factories-switched-from-the-production-of-civil-machinery-to-military-ones","16":"tag-the-shipyard-had-grown-from-a-few-thousand-workers-to-more-than-fifty-thousand","17":"tag-while-its-residents-began-to-fight-and-help-the-allies","18":"motype-eternal","19":"moformat-c-l","20":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","21":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2871","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/290"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2871"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2871\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2872,"href":"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2871\/revisions\/2872"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2607"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2871"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2871"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2871"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=2871"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=2871"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/philadelphiayes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=2871"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}