Images of America: Washington, DC During The World War II Years
The Nation's Capitol was obviously central in the county's planning and preparations for World War II, with the creation of new government agencies such as the War Food Administration or the dramatic expansion of existing ones, most of which doubled their number of workers and ordered the construction of hundreds of temporary facilities across the city, and on its treasured Mall. Washington residents witnessed the local population nearly double in a few short years, as a mostly female work force descended on the city, while its male population went off to combat in Europe and the Pacific. The city was protected by military personnel armed with antiaircraft guns, while its occupants started Victory gardens and scrap drives and suffered the effects of severe rationing, as did the rest of the Nation. Washington also witnessed the largest office building in the world being completed in just 16 months, the famous Pentagon. Washington, DC: The World War II Years captures nearly 200 fascinating images from this era, from the beginning stages of preparation, little known civic defense organizations, to the VE and VJ celebratory parades at a time when America honors what is coined the greatest generation on with the unveiling of the first WWII Memorial on the Mall.