CHILDREN IN WORLD WAR II

Children in World War II

Abstract

Since the beginning of the 2nd World War II in September 1939, the U.S. supported the European Allies against the Axis powers. In late 1939, Congress took part in the embargo regulations neutrality laws back, so France and Britain could be supplied with arms. In September 1940, the U.S. destroyers to Britain were drawn from 40 and received in return for long-term leases for naval and air bases on British territory. During these times other children and their families faced their own trials in Germany, undoubtedly with similar longings for times past. For some families the reasons were more profound.

Table of Contents

Abstractii

Introduction1

Discussion2

Ideology of World War II2

Germany at War3

Experiences of other Children and their families8

Jewish children in World War II13

Conclusion14

References18

Children in World War II

Introduction

This paper will discuss the impact of World War II on children giving real life examples of children who suffered during that era. World War II was a military conflict from 1939 to 1945 that resulted killing of 62 million people on the battlefield, in massive bombings of civilians in cities, and by genocide. There were two hostile camps; the Axis Powers of Germany, Italy, Japan, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Finland (cobelligerent), Thailand, and others; and the Allied Powers of the British Empire and common wealth. The global reach of the empires of France, Italy, and Britain meant that non-European areas became directly involved with battles fought in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Organized civilian resistance movements in occupied countries (notably Yugoslavia, France, and Greece) made important contributions to the war effort.

On April 27, 1950, twenty-year-old Ilse Maria Roedler bid farewell to her family and boarded The Washington, anchored at the German harbor of Hamburg. She was embarking on a ten-day Atlantic Ocean journey, returning to her birthplace, the United States of America. With reservations, balanced by determination, Ilse Maria was striking out on her own. She had last seen her birthplace as an infant as her German parents prepared to end their curtailed stay abroad for the securities of home, Hildesheim, Germany.

Unknown to the Roedlers, the security of their treasured homeland was about to be severely shaken. The Roedler family was returning home from the United States of America in 1931 to a Germany on the verge of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party coming to political power. German military aggression under Hitler would follow, leading to Germany's prolonged involvement in World War II. During this turbulent and perilous time the Roedlers took precautionary measures, but neither their wealth nor leaving the industrial city of Hildesheim for the nearby quaint village of Osterwald provided protection. Their comfortable life would soon erode away and the harsh realities of living in a country at war became the norm, followed by an equally harsh life in post war tom Germany. Throughout these trying times Ilse Maria and her family persevered.

Discussion

For the Roedlers, and the numerous other families living through the era of World War II, a unique story ...