The Second World War Generation

Flashcards on the Second World War Generation

Second World War Generation

The generation born between 1910-1925 who inherited the burden of fighting in WWII.

Defining a Generation

Understanding a generation through changes from the past, lived experiences, governmental responses, and the difficulty in defining a generation.

Key Pre-War Events

Stock Market Crashes of 1919 and 1929, and Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939.

WWI

A profound and defining moment for those born around 1890.

Lingering Trauma (1920s)

Marked by traumatized families dealing with alcoholism, domestic violence, venereal diseases, and PTSD.

Challenges for Able-Bodied Veterans

Lack of support, low pay, no relevant work experience, and societal stigmas.

Post-War Recession

Allied governments' faulty economic demobilization policies leading to a false economic boom followed by recession.

Victorian idealism and the Progressive Era

Influenced the upbringing of children of the WWI generation.

The Radio

Widely relied-upon source of news, entertainment, music, and educational programs by 1928.

WWII Generation's Connection to Radio

Shaped the WWII Generation's disposition and expectations for world news and culture, and influencing morale.

Newsreels

Video footage of the war providing visual information.

Limited Suffrage (WWI Era)

Select women were allowed to vote in wartime elections.

"Floaters" and "Flappers" (WWII Era)

Challenged social and sexual norms, leading to greater female participation in the war effort.

The Great Depression

Caused widespread suffering, including sickness, poverty, and starvation, with 20% unemployment in the 1920s.

Social Welfare Generation

The shared hardship of the Great Depression shaped this generation's outlook and fostered a desire for social welfare.

Shift in Political Outlook

Experience of the Depression contributed to a shift from the more conservative post-WWI outlook towards the socialist left.