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Class Date: November 4th
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The Women of WWII
The Women of WWII
This week we are still hanging in World War II, but looking at a different group of people that haven’t received as much recognition, similar to the Monuments Men we covered last week. Read on for some more background information about the war and war effort.
1881 - Tuskegee University founded
The beginning of this Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU) can actually be credited to Lewis Adams, a formerly enslaved man, who never received a day of formal education, though he could read and write. W.F. Foster was running for Alabama Senate reelection and asked Adams to help him with the support of the Black community. Instead of asking for money, Adams asked that Foster help establish an educational institution for the Black population. To read more about this and how they recruited Booker T. Washington to teach at the Institute, click here: https://www.tuskegee.edu/about-us/history-and-mission
April 6, 1917 - United States declares war on Germany
Though the United States attempted to avoid becoming embroiled in the conflict ‘over there’, it became impossible. American combat forces arrived in France by June of that year.
Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, and Marie Dressler tour the U.S. to support America’s involvement in the war. Demand for motion pictures increases as Americans seek an escape to wartime news.
1917 - America joins the fight in World War I and send segregated units to Europe to fight
Though the Army had maintained a select few black regiments after the Civil War, so many Black men tried to join the Army in the wake of Wilson’s declaration that the War Department had to stop accepting Black volunteers within a week because they didn’t have enough space to keep the units segregated.
March 1918 - The ‘Hello Girls’
Bilingual American women are recruited to serve as telephone operators for the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in Europe on the Western front. The women, sometimes somewhat derisively known as ‘hello girls’, became known for their bravery and focus under pressure.
To learn more, check out this 15 minute video about them:
November 11, 1918
Germany signs the Armistice at Compiegne, ending World War I. To read more about the Armistice agreement, click here: https://www.theworldwar.org/learn/about-wwi/armistice
1920 - 19th Amendment is passed
The 19th Amendment granted all female citizens the right to vote in U.S. elections. That same year, the League of Women Voters was formed as a grand ‘experiment’ to help women be informed voters.
June 17, 1928 - Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly over the Atlantic Ocean
Amelia was invited to become the first woman passenger to cross the Atlantic on a plane. Though she wasn’t thrilled at the idea of being ‘extra weight’ on the flight, the 20 hour flight made her a media sensation. She later became the first woman to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic. She attempted a world flight in 1937 but disappeared on the flight and was never located.
If you really want to explore more, check out this 90 minute National Geographic episode about the search for Amelia and her plane!
1932 - Franklin D. Roosevelt elected
Roosevelt contracted an illness, most likely polio, in 1921, which resulted in his paralysis from the waist down. After becoming president, Roosevelt helped to found the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, which is now known as the March of Dimes. His leadership and advocacy for this issue is one of the reasons his likeness appears on the dime.
June 14, 1940 - Paris falls to the Nazis
Paris falls to German forces. France surrenders 11 days later, leaving Britain largely on its own to resist the Axis powers.
July 10 - October 31, 1940 - The Battle of Britain
The Germans launch an aerial campaign against Britain. The Battle of Britain comprised four phases:
1. During July Hitler sent his Luftwaffe bombers to attack British ports. His aim was also to assess the speed and quality of response by the RAF.
2. During August the attacks on shipping continued but bombing raids were concentrated on RAF airfields.
3. The Blitz – From September 7th the city of London was heavily bombed. Hitler hoped to destroy the morale of the British people.
4. Night Bombing – With the failure of daylight bombing raids Hitler began a series of nightly bombing raids on London and other important industrial cities.
The RAF defended the skies and by October 31 the raids had ceased.To watch a 10 minute overview of the Battle, click here:
July 31, 1941 - Hermann Goering orders officers to plan the “Final Solution”
To this point, there was no systematic policy for the mass murder of all Jews, but Nazis were looking for a final answer for the “solution to the Jewish question”. SS officers developed the policy that will become known as the “Final Solution”, which is the systematic and widespread mass murder of all Jewish people.
October 1941 - Munson Report is commissioned by President Franklin Roosevelt
Headed by Curtis B. Munson, the commission is dispatched to gather information on Japanese American loyalty. The report concluded that Japanese Americans were loyal to the United States and posed little threat to the United States, should there be a war between the two nations.
December 7, 1941 - Pearl Harbor attacked
The United States declares war on Japan following the attack. Sending weakness from the U.S., Hitler declares war on America 4 days later, forcing America to engage on two fronts.
April 19, 1943 - The Bermuda Conference
Increasing public pressure led to the Bermuda Conference between the United States and Great Britain to discuss the issue of wartime refugees. But the organizers do not allow anyone to mention Jewish refugees, in particular, and neither government will discuss the “Final Solution”. The conference yields no action and does nothing to save any Jews facing extermination.
December 1944 - Battle of the Bulge
Germany launched its final defensive through the Ardennes region of Belgium. However, they were beaten back by the allies.
The History Channel has a great episode (45 minutes) about this final battle that cost many lives toward the end of the war:
That is where our timeline leaves us for this week! Check below for additional reading resources and tune in this week to hear more!
Recommended Reading
Recommended Reading
To read more about this period, here are some great books to get you started:
For kids:
The Courageous Six Triple Eight: The All-Black Female Battalion of World War II by Dr. Artika R. Tyner
When the United States entered World War II, it had to face its own contradictions at home. Opportunities opened up for Black people and women in support of the war effort. But ideas about race and gender didn't change as swiftly. Read the story of the first all-Black battalion in the Women's Army Corps—the Six Triple Eight—and its leader, Major Charity Adams. These women bravely confronted the racism and sexism they experienced. And they did it while creating a system to make sure millions of letters and packages got to soldiers fighting in Europe. From the Women Warriors of World War II graphic novel series, this inspiring story will introduce readers to heroes who were victorious in more ways than one.
The Six Triple Eight: A True Story of the Black Woman Battalion of World War II by Tonya Abari
A powerful and vibrantly illustrated account of the resilience and dedication of the unsung Black heroines who played a major role in World War II. Perfect for fans of Hidden Figures, Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free, and Tyler Perry’s blockbuster film The Six Triple Eight.
In 1944, the United States was facing a unique wartime crisis—too much mail! Millions of letters and packages, stacked from floor to ceiling, sat unsent in cold, dark warehouses, with no one to sort through the backlog and no way to deliver mail to the troops.
Enter the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion.Formed of Black women who had advocated fiercely for their right to enlist in the U.S. military, the “Six Triple Eight” battalion had one special task: sort and send the mail. It wasn’t easy, but the Six Triple Eight got to work!
Putting in long hours to send out each piece of mail in record time, they had a four-word motto that powered them through: “No mail, low morale!” As they helped deliver support to the soldiers on the frontlines, these women proved there was nothing they couldn’t do!
Former teacher turned multigenre writer and editor Tonya Abari and debut illustrator Lance Evans honor these women with a stunning nonfiction picture book sure to educate and inspire future generations.
The Six Triple Eight is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!
For adults:
Recommended Historical Fiction:
Sisters in Arms by Kaia Alderson
“Sisters in Arms is heartwarming but fierce, a novel brimming with camaraderie and fire, starring women you’d love to make your friends. Prickly, musical Grace and bubbly, privileged Eliza may not make the most natural allies, but it’s fight or die when they’re thrown together in the Army’s first class of female officers―and the first Black women allowed to serve their country in World War II. . . . Kaia Alderson’s debut is a triumph!”― Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code
Kaia Alderson’s debut WWII historical fiction novel reveals the untold, true story of the Six Triple Eight, the only all-Black battalion of the Women’s Army Corps, who made the dangerous voyage to Europe to ensure American servicemen received word from their loved ones during World War II.
Grace Steele and Eliza Jones may be from completely different backgrounds, but when it comes to the army, specifically the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), they are both starting from the same level. Not only will they be among the first class of female officers the army has even seen, they are also the first Black women allowed to serve in this powerful piece of Black history.
As these courageous women help to form the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, they are dealing with more than just army bureaucracy―everyone is determined to see this experiment fail. For two northern women, learning to navigate their way through the segregated army may be tougher than boot camp. Grace and Eliza know that there is no room for error; they must be more perfect than everyone else.
When they finally make it overseas, to England and then France, Grace and Eliza will at last be able to do their parts for the country they love, whatever the risk to themselves in this compelling military fiction.
Based on the true story of the 6888th Postal Battalion (the Six Triple Eight), Sisters in Arms explores the untold story of what life was like for the only all-Black, female U.S. battalion to be deployed overseas during World War II.
The Six Triple Eight: The True Story of the 6888th Battalion and Their WWII Mission by Dorian Ashveil
The Six Triple Eight: The True Story of the 6888th Battalion and Their WWII Mission unveils one of the most extraordinary and untold chapters of World War II—one that shines a spotlight on the courage, resilience, and ingenuity of the women who defied the odds to serve their country. This is the gripping true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the first and only all-black, all-female unit to be deployed overseas during the war.
Tasked with an impossible mission—sorting and delivering over 17 million pieces of delayed mail to soldiers across war-torn Europe—these women faced unimaginable challenges. Battling both racial prejudice and gender discrimination, they proved their worth not only as soldiers but as heroes, revolutionising the way women of color were seen in the military. Despite the odds, they succeeded in their mission, restoring morale to thousands of soldiers and completing their task in record time. Yet, their bravery and sacrifices were forgotten, until now.
Through powerful firsthand accounts, interviews, and historical research, The Six Triple Eight brings to life the stories of these trailblazing women and their lasting impact on military history. Their courage broke barriers, and their legacy continues to inspire generations of women and people of color striving to make their mark in the world.
Join us on this remarkable journey of hope, sisterhood, and triumph against all odds. The story of the 6888th is finally being told—and it’s one you won’t forget.
Don’t miss out on this powerful story of courage and triumph—order your copy today and honor the unsung heroes of World War II.
Works Cited
Works Cited
P-Blog/June-2019/The-Rise-and-Fall-of-Hollywood%E2%80%99s-Golden-Age
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/pickford-chronology/
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/19673/quick-10-10-facts-about-yankee-stadium
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/specialfeatures/world-war-ii-major-events-timeline/#
https://www.britannica.com/event/Anschluss
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/adolf-hitler-is-named-chancellor-of-germany
https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/world-war-ii-key-dates
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