World War II Massachusetts

by James L. Parr

Over 500,000 Massachusetts residents answered the call to military duty in the Second World War, while the rest of the state's citizens fought the war on the home front. Everyone in the family, including pets, found creative and essential ways to contribute. Thousands worked in factories, volunteered for Civil Defense, watched for enemy aircraft, and took part in salvage collections and bond drives, all while dealing with rationing, blackouts, rumors and a host of other wartime inconveniences. And while thousands of service members left to fight overseas, the Bay State also welcomed thousands more to serve on its military bases that were such an important part of our nation's defense. Author James Parr reveals the stories of these brave and dedicated citizens--from the famous to the ordinary--as they faced wartime challenges.

144 pages, Paperback

Published March 4, 2024

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very good overview of the homefront in Massachusetts during World War II. Parr does a great job in giving anecdotes from throughout the Commonwealth and the way the war affected the people and places there. I never knew that George Patton was something of Massachusetts native.

However, there are my quibbles,

Nothing about the Coconut Grove fire. Parr claims that Blimps never attacked U-Boats, they did. And to the claim that Hitler's real last name was Schikelgruber. This was made to highlight the fact that Hitler's father was born out of wedlock. Alois Hitler (Adolph's dad) was the product of a liaison between Maria Schikelgruber, a maid and Hitler's paternal grandmother, and her employer. The name Hitler is an odd alternate spelling of that man's family name. Finally, Ted Williams never shot down any aircraft and he was not awarded the Distinguish Flying Cross.

[Sharon Healy-Yang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parr does a wonderful job recreating the contributions of folks from Massachusetts during WWII. You have details about scrap drives, blackouts, rationing, entertainment, bond drives, people's war experiences, you name it, by folks from Mass. You learn about not just the politicians and generals but sports figures like Ted Williams and Moe Berg, as well as everyday people. The research is thorough and the photos help you envision the world of the time. If you're writing fiction about this period and place, this book is a fun source of information. I thoroughly enjoyed it.