Helluva Town: The Story of New York City During World War II

by Richard Goldstein

In the stirring signature number from the 1944 Broadway musical On the Town , three sailors on a 24-hour search for love in wartime Manhattan sing, " New York, New York, a helluva town." The Navy boys’ race against time mirrored the very real frenzy in the city that played host to 3 million servicemen, then shipped them out from its magnificent port to an uncertain destiny. This was a time when soldiers and sailors on their final flings jammed the Times Square movie houses featuring lavish stage shows as well as the nightclubs like the Latin Quarter and the Copacabana; a time when bobby-soxers swooned at the Paramount over Frank Sinatra, a sexy, skinny substitute for the boys who had gone to war. Richard Goldstein’s Helluva Town is a kaleidoscopic and compelling social history that captures the youthful electricity of wartime and recounts the important role New York played in the national war effort. This is a book that will prove irresistible to anyone who loves New York and its relentlessly fascinating saga. Wartime Broadway lives again in these pages through the plays of Lillian Hellman, Robert Sherwood, Maxwell Anderson, and John Steinbeck championing the democratic cause; Irving Berlin’s This Is the Army and Moss Hart’s Winged Victory with their all-servicemen casts; Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! hailing American optimism; the Leonard Bernstein–Jerome Robbins production of On the Town; and the Stage Door Canteen. And these were the days when the Brooklyn Navy Yard turned out battleships and aircraft carriers, when troopships bound for Europe departed from the great Manhattan piers where glamorous ocean liners once docked, where the most beautiful liner of them all, the Normandie , caught fire and capsized during its conversion to a troopship. Here, too, is an unseen New physicists who fled Hitler’s Europe spawning the atomic bomb, the FBI chasing after Nazi spies, the Navy enlisting the Mafia to safeguard the port against sabotage, British agents mounting a vast intelligence operation. This is the city that served as a magnet for European artists and intellectuals, whose creative presence contributed mightily to New York’s boisterous cosmopolitanism. Long before 9/11, New York felt vulnerable to a foreign foe. Helluva Town recalls how 400,000 New Yorkers served as air-raid wardens while antiaircraft guns ringed the city in anticipation of a German bombing raid. Finally, this is the story of New York’s emergence as the power and glory of the world stage in the wake of V-J Day, underlined when the newly created United Nations arose beside the East River, climaxing a storied chapter in the history of the world’s greatest city.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, American History, Military History

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Paul Hasbrouck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a great deal about WWII, but this excellent book details a lot untold stories about the great city of New York, during the conflict. The reader will learn of the millions of soldiers that left the states through the port, the ships that were built and repaired in the Brooklyn Naval Yards, the theaters, the shows, the night clubs filled the dim-out city with entertainment for soldiers and civilians alike. One of my favorite stories is about the small drug company, Pifzer, who became a key player in the mass production of that new miracle drug-PENICILLIN. From it's small plant in Brooklyn, it's deep fermentation process, Pifzer would send millions of doses to the battlefronts around the world to save the wounded. There are stories of the dark side of the war: the crushing of Axis spy rings, murders, anti-Semitic attacks, and in 1943 a race ripped through Harlem.
By the end of the book New York has risen to one of the most powerful cities on Earth, but still filled with heart to welcome both the returning G.I's and then to honor the fallen that helped to save world. A great read.

[Dachokie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Somewhat "Ho-Hum" Tale of the "City that Never Sleeps" ..., May 31, 2011
can home-front during World War II, I immediately conjure up images of the small rural towns that sacrificed so many of its young men to the war and inevitably, New York City, the iconic symbol of American power, freedom and prestige. I was eager to read HELLUVA TOWN as a means of illustrating how this magnificent city and its millions forged through such a tumultuous period of time and arguably emerge as the most important city in the world. While Goldstein's book does provide an adequate and interesting overview of the city's life during the war, I was a little disappointed in that the book never delivered the zeal and fascination I anticipated.

Goldstein starts by providing a pre-war overview of New York City by introducing its domineering wartime mayor, Fiorello La Guardia and giving us a glimpse of what seemed to be a rather sleepy city at the time. Once war breaks out in Europe, however, it seems the city starts to awaken and the "bustle" the usually characterizes New York begins to take shape. While there was a general lull throughout the United States between Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939 and the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, American port cities in the east were already in defensive state of war due to the German U-Boat scourge in the Atlantic and New York was at the center of the action. Some of the most interesting segments in HELLUVA TOWN are events occurring during this period. I found the incidents of U-Boats silently creeping off the shores of the harbor to unload German spies on New York's shores quite intriguing, especially the recollections provided by those who were involved. But, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, when one would expect New York City to kick into high gear, the book, for the most part, falls flat. Sure, there are some exciting instances such as the fire that destroyed the French luxury liner/soon-to-be troopship SS Normandie in the New York harbor. The riots in Harlem and the B-25 bomber that crashed into the Empire State Building are two other events that I found quite captivating. For the most part, however, I never felt the excitement and energy the city must have exhibited by being a major send-off point for millions of GIs heading to North Africa and Europe. I was hoping for more recollections of soldiers' experiences in the city prior to being shipped off ... especially from those who lived in small rural towns seeing New York for the first time. Most of the recollections are from New Yorkers themselves and while their input is essential in this story, a great deal of balance could have been added with contributions of outsiders visiting the city during this time. From what it appears, New Yorkers pretty much took World War II in stride, as the accounts of the VE and VJ Day celebrations never conveyed the jubilation and relief that pictures of those events reveal. The most poignant and fitting part of the entire book is its ending, with the war being over, the confetti and ticker-tape gone, the crowds of civilians and returning veterans have disbursed to their peacetime worlds and a lone troopship quietly docks in the harbor. On board this ship are the bodies of American servicemen coming home from the battlefields of Europe. Goldstein does a magnificent job in relaying the somber procession of the flag draped coffin of a Medal of Honor recipient (symbolically representing all the deceased on the ship) being respectfully marched off the ship and down a main street before a silent, but growing crowd of those paying their respects ... a sober reminder of the real toll New York paid for the war.

Having seen numerous LIFE magazine pictures over the years characterizing the city as being the heart and soul of America during World War II, I wanted to feel that exuberance when reading. HELLUVA TOWN is an interesting account of New York City during the war, but it never delivered the power I was expecting. In the end though, maybe I'm guilty of letting my imagination build New York City as being more exciting that it really was during World War II and, in reality, it was no different from any other American city/town ... but somehow, I don't think so.

[Jill H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love NYC, the Big Apple, Baghdad on the Hudson, you will love her even more after a romp through this word picture of the city during WWII. NYC was buzzing with activity from the outfitting of ships in the navy yards to the Broadway plays dedicated to patriotic themes; air raid alerts which no New Yorker acknowledged (no one would have the nerve to bomb NYC); Mayor La Guardia grabbing headlines scampering about in his fireman's uniform; the thousands of soldiers and sailors who descended upon the city prior to shipping out to Europe; the nightclub scene and cafe society which continued to proliferate; the Stage Door Canteen: and the American Bund of Nazi sympathizers who met in Madison Square Garden.
It's a fascinating look at the world's most fascinating city.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Goldstein's "Helluva Town: The Story of New York City During World War II" is a fascinating account of every day life for civilian and soldiers living and traveling through New York City during World War II. Goldstein touches upon the Nazi groups working to infiltrate and indoctrinate citizens, German and Russian spy rings, the collaboration of the Mafia and U.S. Navy to secure New York harbor, the role of actors and musicians in entertaining and boosting the morale of soldiers on their way through to war or back home again, as well as the role of penicillin in saving the loves of many wounded soldiers. And so much more.

Goldstein's writing style is crisp and melodic. It is easy to get caught up in his narrative and with the story itself. These are the things often left out of history lessons but would make history more interesting if they were included. I highly recommend this book to any reader who is even remotely interested in the story of New York City during World War II and the city's transformation from a U.S. city to the world's capital.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice collection of stories about various aspects of New York City during WWII. You don't need to be a history buff to enjoy this book. The chapters are fairly short and can be read mostly independently, so you can dip in and out of the sections according to your interests. They are grouped by topic, such as The Threat (as the US entered the war), The Harbor, The Stage, The Night, etc. He tells the sometimes laughable plans for air raid warnings and other civil defenses. There are stories about U-boats lurking close to the harbor, spies coming ashore on Long Island in the dead of night, and US Naval Intelligence asking the Mafia for help fighting sabotage on the docks. The Stage section gives a lot of back stories about people who would go on after the war to become stars of stage and screen, and has just as many tales of those who were famous at the time. The Tensions section is about the many incidents of discrimination based on race, religion or national background; sad to say this section sounded almost as if it had been ripped from a recent news broadcast.

[Nat Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

More a collection of imagery and highlights than an exhaustive account or "street-level" view. If you're already passingly familiar with wartime New York, this book won't offer any revelations, and if you want to go deeper I suggest looking elsewhere. However, for what it is it's well written and somewhat nuanced (though not as much as I'd like). All in all, a decent primer, but not what I wanted.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not much of a non fiction reader but this was an interesting account of NYC during WW2. It covers all aspects of the war on society so it’s an interesting read about culture, not just military history.

[Jenny E · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much information. I enjoyed it, but I was sometimes overwhelmed by it. I will probably read it again. I like history.

[Diane Yancilla Zuchnik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating history of NYC during WW2.

[Tami R Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read about the history of NYC during the Second World War. Goldstein does attempt a very broad sweep which encompasses military history, city history and political history. His primary focus is the military and perhaps too much time on the "feelgood" parts of this tumultuous period and not as much on those who were against the war or lived through very difficult times during these years, though he does do justice to the 1943 Harlem Riot.[return][return]When one finishes the book, one feels as though there is so much more that could have been said on the topic and that there is perhaps another book contained within entitled "The History of the Armed Forces in NYC During World War II".[return][return]Nonetheless, there are many entertaining anecdotes and memories recounted by those who lived through them and it is certainly worth a read for anyone who loves the city.

[WW2 Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read about the history of NYC during the Second World War. Goldstein does attempt a very broad sweep which encompasses military history, city history and political history. His primary focus is the military and perhaps too much time on the "feelgood" parts of this tumultuous period and not as much on those who were against the war or lived through very difficult times during these years, though he does do justice to the 1943 Harlem Riot.[return][return]When one finishes the book, one feels as though there is so much more that could have been said on the topic and that there is perhaps another book contained within entitled "The History of the Armed Forces in NYC During World War II".[return][return]Nonetheless, there are many entertaining anecdotes and memories recounted by those who lived through them and it is certainly worth a read for anyone who loves the city.

[Gregory Delaurentis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book with a great deal of detail about certain events in the war years in New York City. Many little known points are brought out with a level of clarity and verve that makes the reading quite flawless. Except for midway through the book where it takes a turn onto the entertainment industry in New York, and gets mired down with how they contributed to the war effort, the story here seems to drag on an on. But After the exhausting detour, Mr. Goldstein gets right back on track with interesting points and events that carry the book to its satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed the book overall immensely.

[Andrew Rothstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those of us whose parents grew up in New York in the 30's and 40's, they shared a nostalgia for the city that ran deep. Richard Goldstein describes the city during the war years from many vantage points, rounding out the perspective many of us got, though Goldstein's affection for the city comes through.

While not offering some broader historical concept or theme, the book is certainly engaging, with many stories worth reading.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

World War II from New York City's perspective. Definitely interesting to read about the war preparations - the boot camps, the harbors, the blackouts, etc. Something new I learned was that Chicago had an internment jail for Chicagoans who were Japanese, German and Italian. My favorite bits by far were the Stage Door Canteen, USO and Broadway chapters.

[Judith Singer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Useless. A collection of unrelated accounts of various activities in NYC during WWII, with undue emphasis on actors and musicians, and no structure to give overall meaning to the stories. The stories do not even add any new insights or gems of information.

[Al Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anecdotal history of the greatest city in the world during WW II (the Big One). A light read - provides a lot of interesting details about how life in NYC was affected by the war.

[Steven Spector · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't expect anything too academic here. It's a nice overview - heavy on the entertainment industry on NYC during WWII. That's it. A nice "doctor's office" read.

[Keith McGowan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this book purports to be about New York City, it is much more about life on the home front during World War II.

[Brynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Covered some info that Over Here didn't, but not as well written.