The Great Plains during World War II explores civilian and military life in the region from Germany’s invasion of Poland in September 1939 to the surrender of Japan in August 1945.  This project emphasizes life on the home front, agriculture, and military affairs.  It provides access to congressional debates about isolationism, newspaper articles concerning the major issues of the day, and government documents that inform us about important public policies that affected the men, women, and children who lived in the Great Plains during the war years.  The photographs, posters, and illustrations provide visual access to the past through the eyes of contemporaries while the textual information helps the reader learn more about life in the region during World War II.

Topics:  Isolationism, war industries, women, home defense, daily life, rationing, agriculture, and military affairs.

Project Director: R. Douglas Hurt, Purdue University