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Women and World War II

Women's roles in World War II - in the military, in support services, in factories back home, in concentration camps, and keeping the home fires burning.
World War II Rosie the Riveter and Her Sisters: Picture Gallery
Pictures of women working in production work in factories during World War II, part of the homefront war effort.
Women and World War II
Women and World War II: how women's lives changed during World War II.
World War II Homefront: Women at Home
Women's lives changed during World War II. This article summarizes the changes to women's lives on the homefront.
Women and World War II: Women at Work
One way life changed for many women after World War II was in the workplace. More women went to work, and many worked in jobs previously closed to women.
Women and World War II: Women and the Military
Women served in many positions in the military during World War II. Here are some of the ways women served.
Women and World War II: Women in the Government
During World War II, women in government played important roles, including attending to the morale of constituents.
Women and World War II: Women Celebrities and the War
Celebrities used their star status to entertain troops, raise funds at home, make films promoting patriotism, and generally support the war.
Women and World War II: Opponents
Women filled many roles in World War II, and some served as spies and resistance fighters, or were traitors, or opposed their country's participation in the war.
Women and World War II: Concentration Camps
Gender issues related to the Nazi concentration camps and the Holocaust
Women and World War II: Japanese Relocation Camps in the United States
America forced Japanese who were American residents and citizens into relocation camps during World War II. Here are some thoughts on the gender issues related to these camps.
Women and World War II: Comfort Women
During World War II, comfort women served the Japanese military sexually. While the Japanese government disclaims responsibility, many or most of the women were forced into this service.
World War II Posters Women Roles
Find a collection of images of World War II posters, showing women in many different roles: in the military and on the homefront. Also on this site: more links on World War II poster art featuring women's roles.
"Tokyo Rose" - Iva Ikuko Toguri D'Aquino
"Tokyo Rose" was a name given by the Allies to many women who broadcast Japanese propaganda to the Allied troops during World War II. One woman was convicted of treason for her broadcasts, but a campaign in the 1970s cast significant doubt on the charges against her.
Simone Weil Quotes
Quotes by Simone Weil, a philosopher and religious mystic who waa part of the resistance against Nazi occupation of France.
American Women in the War
1944 article by Eleanor Roosevelt, reviewing the contributions of Americans in the military, in civilian hospitals, women working in the war effort at home, and the woman at home who "meets war difficulties with a smile, who does her best with rationing and other curtailments...."
Army Nurse Corps
From the U.S. Army's web site, a history of the Army Nurse Corps and its contribution to the World War II effort.
Battling Bastards of Bataan
This site focuses mainly on the men who died on the Bataan Death March or were imprisoned in camps by the Japanese. Dedicated to the men and women who fought in defense of Bataan, both American and Filipino.
Bibliography
This is a good list of research resources on women in World War II.
Fly Girls
A PBS "American Experience" film. On this companion website you'll find a timeline, maps, info on people, events, and the film, and a teacher's guide.
German Women
Five women with very different experiences reflect on life for German women during World War II.
Hobby, Oveta Culp: Biography
Portrait and biography of Oveta Culp Hobby, first commanding officer of the Women's Army Corps, first secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and chairman of the board of the Houston Post.
Living Through the Third Reich
Ursula Grosser Dixon writes of her personal experience as a woman in 1943-1945. More stories of her experience are at this site, as well as stories of German history.
Nursing Posters from World War II
Serving as a nurse was one way that a woman could serve in a supportive role in the military during World War II.
The Home Front
Peter Caddick-Adams of the BBC details life on the home front in World War I and II Britain, with attention to contrasting the status and roles of women in the two time periods.
Oveta Culp Hobby Biography
Portrait and biography of Oveta Culp Hobby, first commanding officer of the Women's Army Corps, first secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and chairman of the board of the Houston Post.
Ruins of the Reich: Women in Berlin
A summary of the experience of German women when the Red Army overran Berlin at the end of the war.
Violette Szabo
A rich and deep site on Violette Szabo, a British woman with half French heritage who volunteered during World War II. She parachuted into France twice, and, after she lost a gun battle with the Germans, she was sent to Ravensbrück where, in 1945, she was executed.
Gertrude V. Tompkins - Missing in Service
Photo and article about the only WASP who disappeared on a mission. Includes details about her last flight and some information about recent searches for wreckage.
Women Who Served
From the National Archives and Records Administration, a site honoring women who served on often-dangerous missions in World War II.
Women's Army Corps
Judith A. Bellafaire on the role of women in the army in World War II.
WWII Women's Recruiting Posters
Women during World War II were actively recruited to the women's services -- see more than 20 images of recruiting posters.
Woman's Place After the War
Eleanor Roosevelt, in 1944, considering what will happen to the changed attitudes about working women, once the men come home. Her prediction: married women will keep jobs only if the family needs the money.
Women at War
Article by Peter Caddick-Adams details the role of British women in World Wars One and Two: the roles women served in, why they were excluded from combat, how World War One provided new opportunities 0nd how the participation of women was essential in World War II.

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