Wartime Music: Patriotic American Songbook
- Music History Hall
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
The War Years
World War II was the deadliest military conflict in the world. A total of 70-80 million people died or about 3% of the world’s population in 1940. Most of the deaths were civilian deaths – about 50 million – due to the Holocaust, bombings that killed civilians, disease, and starvation. There were 20-25 million military deaths including 5 million soldiers who died as prisoners of war. This was the deadliest time in modern history.
Music played an important role during the war years. Army bands entertained the troops and were used strategically as propaganda for the war effort. Glenn Miller performed big band swing and broadcast short plays dramatizing President Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms. Frank Sinatra crooned and The Andrews Sisters encouraged the soldiers with their swinging boogie-woogie harmonies.
Women joined the war effort and went to work to support the country. Women served in uniform, joined the Army Nurse Corps., and worked in factories. Most workers in the aircraft industry in 1943 were women. Women working during World War II were crucial to the war effort - allowing for the production of essential war materials and contributing significantly to the Allied victory.
The USO was created in 1941 as a network of stateside clubs where servicemembers could relax and socialize. Bob Hope and many Hollywood celebrities toured overseas and entertained the troops. By V-E Day, the USO was putting on 700 shows per day all around the world.
On May 7, 1945, the unconditional surrender of the German Third Reich was signed. (V-E Day) On August 6, 1945, an American B-29 bomber left for Hiroshima, Japan. The atomic bomb exploded at 8:16 AM and in an instant – up to 140,000 people were killed and up to 100,000 more were seriously injured. On September 2, 1945, formal surrender documents were signed aboard the USS Missouri, designating the day as the official victory over Japan. (V-J Day) The war was over.
The WW II era had been a time of great sorrow amidst patriotism and love of country. Army bands and entertainers at home and abroad served an important role during this time.
