Total War and its Effects

Total war is the practice of war where nearly all
the resources of a society are employed to
defeat an opponent. This also means that any
resources used by the enemy are also legitimate
targets of war. As a result, factories, pipelines,
railroads, bridges, etc. become legitimate targets in
war.

This does not mean that all is permitted,
however. For instance, the deliberate targeting of
civilians, religious buildings, hospitals, POW camps,
etc. are all still illegal under the law of
war. Mistreatment of surrendered soldiers who
qualify as Prisoners of War is still a war crime. Spies
and other illegal combatants still may be denied POW
protections and may even be executed. The deliberate
targeting of chaplains and medics was still strictly
forbidden though such soldiers were routinely killed
by random battlefield conditions or by simple
mistake.

Total war does mean the near-total
mobilization of the population. All are
expected to do their part to help with the 'war
effort.' Children collected war materials,
civilians were subjected to rationing of most
goods, nearly all were expected to buy
government issued bonds to fund the war.

The entire economy in Total War is subject to
the needs of the government. Consumer goods
are hardest hit by Total War. For instance, in the
US no automobiles were built in 1943 and
1944 as those factories were needed to build tanks
and other military vehicles. Refrigerators
and other appliances were either not built, or
severely restricted. Silk stockings were simply
unavailable and the nylon-stocking replacements were
in very short supply. Intake of meat and other
expensive food items were strictly
rationed. Rubber was to be turned over to the
governments as a rule and speed limits were placed on
automobiles to encourage the use of public
transportation in order to save on rubber
tires. Clothing was also strictly rationed as
material had to be saved for military purposes.

Perhaps the biggest impact of Total War is on
civilians. With food, transportation,
factories and even vehicles legitimate targets
of Total War, cities therefore took a
tremendous beating. Since cities have so many
war-related targets they were the targets of repeated
heavy bombings. Initially, both sides wanted to spare
civilians the terror of aerial bombing as targeting was
greatly narrowed and restricted to daylight attacks to
reduce the chances of missing targets. Hitler even
court-martialed some bomber crew members for
accidentally bombing British civilian areas during the
Battle of Britain. However, the British
retaliated with an air attack on Berlin that
hit civilian areas. After this attack the gloves
came off between Germany and Britain for
the remainder of the war as both sides
targeted entire cities. Daylight attacks were so
dangerous for bomber crews that both side resorted to
notoriously inaccurate night attacks (the British only
had a 60% accuracy rate even though counting as a
"hit" any bomb that struck inside the city!) Germany
came out the worse here as in cities such as
Hamburg and Berlin 90% of all homes had
been destroyed or damaged by the end of the
war. The Unites States persisted throughout the war
in daytime attacks though suffering ferocious
casualties in the process. In return for such heavy
losses, the Americans had only a 25% hit rate on their
targets (though the US only counted bombs which hit
the particular factory, etc.) On the other hand,
Germans reported after the war that US attacks hurt
German morale as it was clear the Americans goal was
a military target; British raids on entire cities actually
stiffened German morale.

In the Pacific, the Japanese attitudes on Total
War were magnified by their racial theories
which excused nearly any barbarism against
their enemies. Japan refused to follow the Geneva
Conventions on War. Japan practiced chemical
and biological warfare against the Chinese
and routinely abused or murdered enemy
soldiers who had surrendered. Those taken
captive by the Japanese were simply prisoners and
were not treated as Prisoners of War. Japanese
treatment of Filipino civilians was brutal especially in
Manila as the Allies recaptured the city. Japanese
soldiers almost never surrendered, or if they
did so it was to get closer to kill one last
American. Japanese routinely targeted
chaplains and medics (medics in the Pacific
did not wear their Red Cross emblems as
Japanese snipers would single them out). It
was very common for Japanese soldiers to mutilate
dead Americans. Japanese soldiers also would use
civilians for cover against the Americans as
they would hole up in caves alongside women
and children and fire on US troops. On
Okinawa one third of the civilian population died in
the fighting as they were kept close to Japanese
soldiers even in combat zones. Many a US soldier
learned to be heard-hearted about firing into a cave
filled with civilians if they refused to come
out. Sometimes Japanese or Okinawan
civilians would kill themselves and their
entire families rather than be captured by the
Americans. As a result, the war became
brutal on a level that shocked US troops who
came from the "civilized" fighting in Europe.
On the next two pages, I compiled some of the comments
typed (spelling mistakes included…sheesh!). As you read
them, keep in mind that WWII was considered a total war,
people were told that no task was too small to help, and
almost your entire life has been lived while your country
was considered “at war with terror” and we’ve been asked
to sacrifice very little, if anything at all! We haven’t
rationed anything, we’ve been encouraged to spend our
money as usual, and no tax increase has been passed to
help fund the War on Terror.
Most Effective Overall
Most Effective to Me Personally
I think "I'm Proud of You Folk Too" would be the best
because every normal family can relate to it, Also it
probably motivated families to do even more so the
soldiers would be even more proud of them.
"I'm proud of you folks too" was most effective to
motivate me. It shows soldiers and Americans work
together to win the war.
I think "Rosie the Riveter" would be the most
motivational because she is considered an icon still
today. And she shows how strong our country is
because she is a women helping with the war effort to
help win.
I think "This is Your War" was the most effective duuring
the time of war was because it showed people that this
is not just for the soldiers to fight. This poster let
everyone in the U.S citizens, troops, the goverment
know that they all need to fight for this war.
I believe that "I'm proud of you folks too!" was the most
effective because it made the common folk feel like
helping. The soldiers appreciate the help that those who
aren't fighting are giving them.
I believe that "Remeber December 7th" was most
effective because it was such a tragic day for America,
and many lives were lost, but the America wasnt going
to let the enemies win. This motivated america to fight
for what japan did to us .
I think This is your war was the most effective because it
shows how important production in factories was in order
to win the war. Also it encourages the people to keep
working and shows them they can help win the war.
"Rosie the Riveter" Was the most effective to me
because it gave woman a chance to show that they can
help as equally as men could in the war.
I think that "Save Waste" would motivate me the most. It
shows how insignificant things such as grease and tin
cans can help a lot in the war effort, giving people a
sense of patriotism and "doing their part".
"Rosie the Riveter" was the most effective to me
because it showed that women were just as capable as
men during this time period. This poster is still very
popular and used today.
"I'm Proud of You Folks Too" seems to be the most
motivating to me. It really shows that just because you
aren't a soldier physically fighting in the war, you are still
contributing a lot to help win the war.
Save your waste effected me the most. my family goes
through a lot of meat every day/week and if needed for a
war i believe we would be very quick to help
Least Effective Overall
Least Effective to Me Personally
To me it doesn't seem that getting fats from your people
of the country will help. It seems just as easy to when
you slaughter an animal to take its fat and use it for
explosives instead of asking people to save it
I think that asking for people to save fats is pretty stupid
and to me it doesn't seem that people will save all of
their fats to send to war, if anyone even would. The army
could easily get its fats from somewhere else from going
door to door asking for their grease.
Win with tin because although they help the war effort, I
think there are other more effective ways to do so than
saving tin.
The Victory garden wasn't really effective. It doesn't
really motivate citizens t do anything, sure it will help
give more food to the troops but it won't do anything
else.
the fighting "filipinos" is the least effective overall,
because many people still dislike the filipinos, and poster
about them wont chang their opinon on the matter. I feel
people would rather support their own troops instead of
their allys.
I believe that Save Waste was the least effective poster
because I doubt people actually saved there waste let
alone put it in a mason jar every time they donated
waste. Also I believe many thought it was a silly idea.
I chose "China: First to Fight" because of the deeprooted prejudice towards the Chinese at the time. The
opinion of the American people could not be so easily
changed.
"Remember December 7th" was the lease effective. The
poster was telling the people something they most likely
already remember because it was so tramatic.
I think that the victory garden promotion dosen't explain
what they will necessarily do. Alot of people probably
knew what they were, but the ad itself dosen't seem to
show any reward for doing it, like poor people getting
food or something like that. Without an effect of Victory
Gardens in the ad, I think that it is not vary motivating.
I think that the China: First to Fight is the least effective
for me personally because it doesn't give any real
background to why they're fighting. Also the poster is not
very eye catching.
"A Needless Loss" is least effective to me, because
people will still gossip about whats happening in the war.
The majority of people don/t even think about it whe the
accidently give a military secret, so a poster wont be
very effective.
I believe Victory Garden because if I grew a small
garden I would eat the food myself rather than give it to
the army. Food was scarce back then.
For me the victory garden was least effective, even
though each one contributed to the war. Being as it was
such a small thing to do, I feel like one could simply skip
over it as so many people would already do it.
To me "Victory Gardens" were the least effective to me
personally. It seems like a small thing to do.
I think "Win With Tin" was not very effective. Many U.S.
people would see this as a minor example of helping in
the war, there are many more productive ways people
can do to help.
"Win With TIn" was the least effective for me because it
was such a miniscule way to help. I also think this
because it is something that could be forgotten about or
skipped over easily.
WWII Rationing
With the onset of World War II, numerous challenges
confronted the American people. The government found
it necessary to ration food, gas, and even clothing
during that time. Americans were asked to conserve on
everything. Everyone was considered part of the war
effort, and rationing meant sacrifices for all.
In the spring of 1942, the Food Rationing Program was
set into motion. Rationing would deeply affect the
American way of life for most. The federal government
needed to control supply and demand, prevent hoarding,
ease the threat of public anger at perceived shortages,
and allow all (not just the wealthy) to purchase the goods
they needed.
While industry and commerce were affected, individuals
felt the effects more intensely. People were often
required to give up many material goods. Individual
efforts evolved into clubs and organizations coming to
terms with the immediate circumstances. Joining
together to support and maintain supply levels for the
troops abroad meant making daily adjustments. Their
efforts also included scrap drives, taking factory jobs,
goods donations and other similar projects to assist
those in combat.
The War Production Board sponsored ads, radio
shows, posters and pamphlet campaigns urging the
American people to comply. With a sense of urgency,
the campaigns appealed to America to contribute by
whatever means they had, however small, without
complaint. The propaganda was a highly effective tool
in reaching the masses.
Rationing regulated the amount of commodities that
consumers could obtain. Sugar rationing took effect in
May 1943 with the distribution of "Sugar Buying Cards."
Registration usually took place in local schools. Each
family was asked to send only one member
for registration and be prepared to describe all other
family members. Coupons were distributed based on
family size, and the coupon book allowed the holder
to buy a specified amount. Possession of a coupon
book did not guarantee that sugar would be available.
Americans learned to utilize what they had during
rationing time.
While some food items were scarce, others did not
require rationing, and Americans adjusted accordingly.
"Red Stamp" rationing covered all meats, butter, fat,
and oils, and with some exceptions, cheese. Each
person was allowed a certain amount of points weekly
with expiration dates to consider. "Blue Stamp"
rationing covered canned, bottled, frozen fruits and
vegetables, plus juices and dry beans, and such
processed foods as soups, baby food and ketchup.
Ration stamps became a kind of currency with each
family being issued a "War Ration Book." Each stamp
authorized a purchase of rationed goods in the quantity
and time designated, and the book guaranteed each
family its fair share of goods made scarce, thanks to the
war.
War ration
books like
this one
were
distributed
to American
families
In each
ration book
were
stamps like
these. It
was
impossible
to purchase
household
items like
sugar and
butter
without the
required
stamps
Everyone
had a role
to fill, and
everyone
was
expected to
make
sacrifices to
contribute
to the war
effort
Civilian
vehicles
with this
sticker were
allowed
only 4
gallons of
gasoline
each week.
At 15 miles
per gallon,
that allowed
for up to 60
miles of
driving
each week
*NO JOB “TOO SMALL” TO HELP THE WAR EFFORT!*
Name ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Knowing what you know now about Total War, the expectations of civilians during WWII, and the role of the War Production Board, go
back through the posters on pages 293-296 in your study guide. Have you changed your opinion?
CATEGORY
MOST EFFECTIVE
OVERALL IN THE
COUNTRY AT THE
TIME
WINNER
BECAUSE (DOES NOT NEED TO BE IN SENTENCE FORM
MOST EFFECTIVE
TO MOTIVATE
ME PERSONALLY
LEAST EFFECTIVE
OVERALL IN THE
COUNTRY AT THE
TIME
LEAST EFFECTIVE
TO ME
PERSONALLY
Did you change your mind on any? If so, which? (Circle any that apply)
Most effective at the time
Most effective to me personally
Least effective at the time
Least effective to me personally
Pick one and on the lines below, explain in 3-5 sentences why you changed your mind, OR why you are more sure of your opinion now.
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