Georgia War Effort and Liberty Ships
During World War II, while American soldiers were fighting in Europe and in the Pacific, the war effort in the US helped supply airplanes, ships, and other supplies to the army. The Southern States were especially helpful with the war effort, as over 320,000 soldiers from Georgia served in the Armed Forces. During World War II, every main city in Georgia had some sort of military installation, such as Fort Benning in Columbus and Robins Field near Macon, which recruited over 13,000 people. The University of Georgia in Athens trained 2,000 pilots, and Hunter Field and Camp Gordon in Savannah and Augusta enlisted hundreds of thousands of men.
One of the biggest contributions of Georgia was the production of 200 Liberty Ships, which were used to carry troops and supplies to Europe and the Pacific. Originally, they were designs given to the US by the British through an order for 60 steamers. During production, the US Maritime Commission made changes on the designs, creating the design for the Liberty Ships. Many of the differences included using welding instead of riveting. This change helped decrease the cost in building the ships, and needed less skilled workers. and the In Savannah, over 15,000 people built 88 ships over the period of 3 years, and in Brunswick, a company built 99 ships in 2 years. The first shipThe fast production of the Liberty Ships throughout the US allowed ships to be built faster than they can be sunk by German boats. Because of the rapid pace at which the Liberty Ships could be built, and the fact that they can send a steady supply of troops and cargo was crucial in helping the allies win the war.
Women also benefited from the war effort, since while men were fighting overseas, women took the place of men in the industry to meed production needs. By the end of the war, women in the workforce jumped from 24% to 36 %. However, women worked in a controlled environment, and were more restricted than men in the workforce. After the war, some women retired from the workforce and went back to take care of their house. The women that were still in the workforce usually got only half as much salary as the men. African American, like women, also benefited from the war effort, but many workplaces were segregated. In some cases, African American Women were rejected from high paying jobs altogether.
The war effort in the US were crucial for the victory for the Allies in World War II, since the construction of the Liberty Ships allowed the shipment of cargo and troops at a faster pace. It can be said that the Southern States benefited greatly from the war effort, since the production improved the economy, and the increase in the workforce increased population as well. Without the war effort in the US, the outcome of World War II could have been different.
One of the biggest contributions of Georgia was the production of 200 Liberty Ships, which were used to carry troops and supplies to Europe and the Pacific. Originally, they were designs given to the US by the British through an order for 60 steamers. During production, the US Maritime Commission made changes on the designs, creating the design for the Liberty Ships. Many of the differences included using welding instead of riveting. This change helped decrease the cost in building the ships, and needed less skilled workers. and the In Savannah, over 15,000 people built 88 ships over the period of 3 years, and in Brunswick, a company built 99 ships in 2 years. The first shipThe fast production of the Liberty Ships throughout the US allowed ships to be built faster than they can be sunk by German boats. Because of the rapid pace at which the Liberty Ships could be built, and the fact that they can send a steady supply of troops and cargo was crucial in helping the allies win the war.
Women also benefited from the war effort, since while men were fighting overseas, women took the place of men in the industry to meed production needs. By the end of the war, women in the workforce jumped from 24% to 36 %. However, women worked in a controlled environment, and were more restricted than men in the workforce. After the war, some women retired from the workforce and went back to take care of their house. The women that were still in the workforce usually got only half as much salary as the men. African American, like women, also benefited from the war effort, but many workplaces were segregated. In some cases, African American Women were rejected from high paying jobs altogether.
The war effort in the US were crucial for the victory for the Allies in World War II, since the construction of the Liberty Ships allowed the shipment of cargo and troops at a faster pace. It can be said that the Southern States benefited greatly from the war effort, since the production improved the economy, and the increase in the workforce increased population as well. Without the war effort in the US, the outcome of World War II could have been different.
One of the liberty ships made by the georgians
External Video links
GPB War Effort Video:
http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/videos/women_of_world_war_two
http://www.gpb.org/georgiastories/videos/women_of_world_war_two