LIFE1936-1948

So-called “budget” furs were being introduced in 1940 including this wolverine coat on the cover…it never caught on. By late 1940 the shipyards of England and Germany were in a desperate race to build the most ships. If Germany had been successful in their bombing of the shipyards of England and Scotland they would have won the Battle of Britain. The Germans were focusing on submarine construction to sink the ships. With the loss of the French navy to Germany, England came very close to losing the race. But Hitler was setting his sights on Russia and under appreciated the impact that submarine warfare was having on British control of the sea. Meanwhile, in New York Harbor, the world’s largest and fastest liner, the Queen Elizabeth, had it’s luxury interior ripped out and refitted with long bunk rooms to be used as a troop carrier. In March, 1940, the ship was sneaked out of England to New York.

Over 500 young men were commissioned in June, 1939, at the US Naval Academy. The prospect of war was probably more real to these men than other Americans their age, but still not a reality. Current US Navy building programs gave new attraction to the Navy as a career. After four years of rigid Naval Academy routine June Week meant female companionship and a welcome round of parties to celebrate college commencement. This class paid a heavy toll and 48 were killed in action in WWII, almost 10% of the class. Another 30 were killed in the Korean conflict and other engagements. The two ads depict cars of the time that have vanished from the American scene. The slow selling LaSalle lasted until 1940, and  Studebaker hung on until 1966. Studebaker was acquired by Packard in 1954, demonstrating that a merger of two floundering companies is not a recipe for success.

Fiorello LaGuardia was New York’s mayor from 1934 to 1945 and the most colorful politician of his time. His nickname, “The Little Flower,” was a translation of his first name and may have also referred to his 5′ 2″ stature. Although a Republican, he was a strong supporter of the New Deal and garnered many public works projects for the city. He served as a Major in WWI in the Army Air Corps. His wife died of TB in 1921 and he plunged into alcoholism for over a year and then became a teetotaler for the rest of his life. In 1941, during the run-up to WWII, President Roosevelt appointed LaGuardia head of the new Office of Civilian Defense. In this capacity he prepared Americans to protect themselves in the event of invasion. It is said he spoke seven languages which was invaluable in New York with it’s large immigrant population.

While Tom Harmon was solidifying his legend at Michigan as America’s greatest football player in the fall of 1940, Britain began evacuating it’s children as Germany bombed London and other key areas. America offered to take up to 200,000 children but the sinking of an evacuation ship in September, 1940, cost the lives of 77 British children. As a result, only about 3,000 made it to America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. The rest were sent to the English countryside. Harmon went on to serve in the Army Air Corps, was shot down twice, and was awarded the silver star and purple heart. He did some acting and then launched a long career in sports broadcasting.

Norway had just been invaded by Germany in the spring of 1940 and everyone was wondering what would happen to Sweden. As it turned out, Sweden remained neutral during the war, was never invaded, and was able to get through it much like Switzerland…trading with the Axis (iron ore and ball bearings) and avoiding death and destruction. In return they received various German manufactured goods. Sweden was surrounded on all sides by Germany and it’s allies and had a military that was of no great threat to anyone, which was a result of almost 200 years of neutrality by Sweden. Germany also blockaded Sweden forcing it to deal only with the Axis.

Canada declared war in late 1939 against Germany but the actual fighting had not begun. At this point, Canada was attempting to ready 60,000 troops in case real war broke out. By 1945 1.1 million Canadians served their country. Most Canadian troops did not see action until the invasion of Normandy in mid 1944. It is estimated that 40% of eligible men between the ages of 18 to 45 served their country. Flight training was given priority and to speed up qualification air-training was compressed from 500 to 150 hours.