The most popular forms of entertainment were radio, film, and music. Together these aimed to keep citizens entertained, informed about the war effort, and motivated. Broadcast radio was an especially powerful communication tool.
Of course, entertainment gave servicemembers a break from the stresses and the boredom of war. Radio programs, movie showings, USO shows, and visits from Red Cross women serving donuts all allowed soldiers to think about something besides the war, to relax, and even to laugh.
During WW2, children played many different games, both in groups and individually. Children commonly played Hopscotch, Four Square, Jump Rope, Chess etc. together, as well as all types of ball games. Young children loved to play jacks, marbles, play school and house, and played with cars or dolls.
Soldiers spent long days marching and drilling, cleaning their kits, attending lectures and labouring on repairs and improvements to trench networks, camps and roads. In their spare time, soldiers wrote letters and diaries, drew sketches, read books and magazines, pursued hobbies, played cards or gambled.
Most games would be played outside or on the roads as there were fewer cars around. Children played traditional games, such as hopscotch, rounders or cricket using whatever materials they could find. Five stones and pick-up sticks were also popular along with ball games, battleships, card games and marbles.
The traditional fun games for families in the 1940s were cards, dice, Pick-up-sticks, Noughts and Crosses, and Jacks. Many of these are still very popular today in the 2020s.
1929: Sorry!
A simple game where players try to move around the board faster than their opponents, Sorry! was trademarked on May 21, 1929, by William Henry Storey in England. British manufacturer Waddingtons initially sold it before Parker Brothers adopted it in North America.
During the warmer months lessons could even be held outdoors. Children's education suffered during the war. One in five of the country's schools were damaged by bombing and many others were requisitioned by the government. Children were crammed into large classes and stationery and books were often in short supply.
Soldiers of all nations and militaries turned to a wide variety of entertainment: from sports, gambling and card games, to music, food and drink, to organized performances and dances.
World War II
In 1944, privates serving in World War II made $50 a month, or $676.51 in 2016 dollars.
The Allies won World War 2.
After a long six years at war, The Allies won the war when Germany surrendered. However, the war still went on in places such as the USA and Japan. Japan finally surrendered on 2nd September, 1945. This was when World War 2 officially ended for all countries.
The boys enjoyed playing with army figures, while the girls liked the brand new Barbie doll. During the war, families were short of money so only the rich children had toys. Other children may have had a football and maybe if lucky, a couple of marbles.
Children in the 1940s experienced food shortages, rationing, lessons in putting on gas masks, and practised evacuation drills.
Some guys like to play video games, others might enjoy painting or woodworking as a profession, while some are into music and art even though it's frowned upon by many members of their unit. The most popular hobby is hunting because they are using most of their military skills on it.
Social Life
There are plenty of on-base entertainment resources available to service members and their families: gyms, movie theaters, bowling alleys, parks and more. In addition to facilities, the Military also works with Armed Forces Entertainment to bring exclusive entertainment shows.
To lessen the boredom, soldiers found recreation in writing letters, reading, playing card games and checkers, making mementoes for their friends, singing, or talking. Civil War soldiers helped to spread a new game called baseball; rule booklets were widely distributed in the camps.
"On average, military personnel sleep approximately six hours" a day, said Dr.
The Department of Defense recommends that when sleep deprivation is required for an operation, soldiers take “tactical naps” of 20 minutes, followed by caffeine.
Biscuits and salt meat were the staples, with the monthly vegetable ration often restricted to two potatoes and an onion per man. Many soldiers developed scurvy, which led to inflamed gums, making the hard biscuits difficult to eat.
During the Holocaust, children were especially vulnerable to death under the Nazi regime. An estimated 1.5 million children, nearly all Jewish, were murdered during the Holocaust, either directly by or as a direct consequence of Nazi actions.
Aboard was a gunner from Texas who would soon become the nation's youngest decorated war hero. Calvin Graham, the fresh-faced seaman who had set off for battle from the Philadelphia Navy Yard in the summer of 1942, was only 12 years old.
Children's rations were slightly different to adults. Children were entitled to extra food that was considered essential for healthy growth, such as milk and orange juice. The National Milk Scheme provided one pint of milk for every child under 5. Fruit and vegetables were not rationed but were in short supply.
The origins of the word 'sorry' can be traced to the Old English 'sarig' meaning “distressed, grieved or full of sorrow”, but of course, most British people use the word more casually.
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