Georgia’s Role in WWII

1. Georgia’s Role in WWII • After the declaration of war, 320,000 Georgian’s volunteered for military service: • 7,388 died in battle • 8 received the medal of honor

2. War in GA • In 1942, a German submarine sank the S.S. Oklahoma and the Baton Rougue(2 American ships) off the coast of St. Simmons island. • Community rallied together to aid those injured in these attacks

3. POW Camps in Georgia • Fort Oglethorpe, Fort Benning, Fort Gordon, Camp Wheeler and Fort Stewart were all used to house German, Austrian, and Italian soldiers captured by the Allies during the war. • At one point we held 4,000 prisoners • At the end of the war, the POWs were “re-educated” about what to expect when they returned to their war-torn countries. • Some POWs decided to stay in GA

4. Economic Boost • WWII boosted GA’s economy because millions of federal dollars came to the state for the production of military bases, such as: • Fort Benning, Camp Gordon, Fort Stewart, Warner Robbins Air Field • Fort McPherson became a major induction center for newly drafted soldiers from all over the nation

5. Georgia Supports the War Effort • Farmers grew peanuts (for their oil), vegetables, cotton, and livestock to help feed the U.S. and our allies • By 1944, this raised the annual farm income to $454, over three times what it was in 1940 • Georgians donated 13 million pints of blood • Rationing: everyday items such as gasoline, shoes, meat, butter, and sugar were limited • Georgia students made care packages for soliders