“Total War” A war in which every available weapon is used and the nation’s full financial resources are devoted. The term has evolved in the 20th Century to include almost all aspects of a society. The following slides explain aspects of total war.
Crimes Against Humanity Includes crimes such as murder, extermination, enslavement, torture and any other inhumane act committed against civilians, in a widespread or systematic manner, whether or not the country is in a state of war, and regardless if the act is in violation of the territorial law in force at the time. The acts may have been committed by state officials or private individuals, and against their own nationals of other states.
War Crimes Criminal Acts committed during international armed conflicts (war between states) and civil wars, which violate the rules of war as defined by international law. These acts include the ill-treatment of civilian populations within occupied territories, the violation and exploitation of individuals and private property, and the torture and execution of prisoners.
Genocide The deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, whether committed in times of peace or in times of war, by state officials or private individuals.
Mobilization of Human & Industrial Resources Material superiority of the Allies was a result of converting the world’s largest industrial economy to mass production of weapons & war equipment Whole societies worked for the war effort: recycling, reducing, Victory Bonds Full employment; ingenuity; ‘can do’ Ability of Allies to defeat the Germans in the Battle of the Atlantic kept lines open
Role of Women
Rosie the Riveter Poster, produced by Westinghouse for the War Production, created by J. Howard Miller. Image courtesy of US National Archives. Modifications © Jone Lewis 2001.
http://vantech.vsb.bc.ca/ss/pm/ss11/online/ss11/history/work.jpg
"Finding a place to live in Toronto is next to impossible but finding a wartime job is not hard. If I'd taken a course in welding or riveting I'd make more than the twenty-five dollars a week I'm offered for work in the blueprint office at John Inglis, a lakeshore plant that has gone into ammunitions. An apartment is out of the question &-- no one wants two children." - Gwen Lambton. Oct. 29, 1942. ("War Work in Toronto" in The Memory of All That ed. Ruth Latta) (Source: Valour and Horror)
Conditions in Occupied Countries Nazis in Soviet Union rounded up and murdered Communists & Jews by the thousands by killing squads Jews sent to camps declared war of annihilation (wipe out/ruin) Prisoners of war were mistreated As Germans retreated at the end of the war they burned buildings & crops (scorched earth tactics) People lived in constant fear
Conditions in Occupied Countries Japanese in Asia Citizens massacred in China, in Manila, and in Singapore Used biological warfare-- caused many deaths (bubonic plague, cholera) Preventable famine in Vietnam & Indonesia (people made to work on farms but couldn’t keep what they produced) Civilians homes were looted Comfort women terror
Propaganda Artist: McClelland Barclay Year: 1942 For: Navy Recruiting Bureau
Artist: Vanderlaan Year: Unknown For: Douglas Aircraft Company
Artist: Wesley Year: 1943 For: Office of War Information
Mass Communication Media used to ‘put out the word’ Doctoring of the message; appeals to emotion Painting enemy as ‘sub-human’; blaming