Why did American women go to war in World War II?
First, the special historical reason is the opportunity for American women to enter the battlefield.
In ancient China, there was a well-known story that Mulan joined the army.
The story of Mulan joining the army comes from Yuefu Poetry edited by Guo Maoqian in Song Dynasty, which tells the story of Mulan joining the army as her father. There are a few words in it, "I saw the military post last night, and there are many Khan soldiers. The art of war consists of twelve volumes, which contain the names of lords. Grandpa has no eldest son and Mulan has no big brother. "
When Mulan was recruited by the Emperor of Heaven, because there were few men at home, she disguised herself as a man to join the army instead of her father. Women always go to war for special reasons, just like American women go to war, which is also a historical choice.
As German lightning struck Poland and swept across Europe, the United States gradually felt that its neutrality could no longer be maintained. With the fall of Belgium and France, the domestic mood in the United States began to waver, fearing that it would fall next.
Under this concern, the United States began to actively prepare weapons and personnel, knowing that once the war started, personnel would be in short supply. So the U.S. Congress passed a resolution to set up a female-dominated legion. The main purpose of this legion is to supplement the military forces in the rear and not directly participate in the fighting.
Although American women have the right to participate in the war, it does not mean that they can go deep into the front battlefield like men and fight directly with the enemy.
American women have a long history of joining the army. Women can be seen from the War of Independence, the American Civil War and the First World War, but they didn't participate in the war on a large scale until the gunfire of the Second World War started.
After the dispute over World War I stopped, President Roosevelt led the American people out of the Great Depression. At the same time, German militarism is expanding. The United States originally wanted to wait for disputes in European countries so as to enjoy the benefits of fishermen, but the world is changing, how can it allow others to be immune?
Due to the changes in the world pattern, the US government has to formally include women in the regular combat sequence. Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor even dragged the United States into the abyss of World War II.
It is no accident that American women can go to war, but the times have given them more things. When men gallop on the battlefield, women also serve the rear with their unique gentleness and patience.
The brutal war swept across the United States, and everyone could not escape from the shadow of the war.
What is war? It's definitely not just the cool and handsome things we see in movies and TV plays. War is bought with blood. As former Soviet Marshal zhukov said, "War is a huge meat grinder for junior officers and soldiers."
After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, American revenge was ignited. President Roosevelt's declaration of war was approved by most members of the US Congress. All able-bodied men were enlisted in the army, and American factories were once paralyzed. In the extreme shortage of labor, women took over the jobs of men, entered factories and became the national reserve army.
More women take an active part in the war. In this era when all the people are soldiers, who can be immune?
Second, the tortuous course of "Women's Auxiliary Army" is the beginning of American women's independent thought.
Like most countries, before World War II, American women put family first and had no more employment opportunities.
In A Doll's House, Ibsen, a Norwegian dramatist, tells a story of the heroine Nora's brave departure, which seems to be a declaration of women's independence. But in How Nora Left, Mr. Lu Xun commented on Nora's ending like this: "Either fall or come back."
Women's independence cannot be achieved overnight. Before World War II, even during the American civil war of independence, American traditional values still deeply influenced women's independence. Not to mention fighting side by side with men, leaving home is a heinous act.
Because of the outbreak of war, there is a shortage of human resources in the United States, and women have also integrated into society from their families and embarked on the battlefield.
General Marshall first put forward the proposal of establishing women's corps, but in the army, women will not get the same military status as men, but engage in some logistics support work, but this proposal was not taken seriously and was temporarily put on hold.
With the continuous advancement of the war, Congressman Rogers from Massachusetts suggested that women should go to the battlefield and enjoy the same military status as men, so she once again put forward a plan to create a women's corps to Congress.
This plan set off a wave of women's independence in the United States. First of all, it was opposed by the War Department. They rejected Rogers' proposal, thinking that women should not enjoy the same military status as men, and women would only add chaos in the war.
Secondly, the Catholic Church has the strongest opposition. They think that women's joining the army is a threat to the family and the church and a violation of tradition. Especially those simple women who enter the man's world will be threatened and tempted.
Women's participation in the war cannot guarantee normal family chores, which is also opposed by American male groups, especially men with families. It is also proposed that if women enter the battlefield, who will handle the laundry and cooking at home?
These arguments never stopped, and finally they even came to nothing.
It was not until the Pearl Harbor incident broke out in 194 1 that General Marshall once again raised the issue of shortage of human resources to Congress. This time, the establishment of a women's army is imminent and must be done.
After some arguments, it was finally decided in March of 1942, and in May of 12, the bill was instructed by President Roosevelt and came into effect.
Although the bill was passed, the women's auxiliary corps did not have the same military status as men, but was qualified to participate in the war, which was also the first turning point of women's independence.
Things will always develop and change. Philosophically, it is generally believed that nothing is static, including the American women's auxiliary team. At first, it didn't have the same military status as men, but with the deepening of the war, everything changed.
Women's lack of military status also leads to management defects, because there is no effective system to restrain them. Once they make mistakes, they can only be punished by deportation or expulsion.
In view of this situation, another reform was ushered in in June 5438+0943+ 10. After half a year's fierce debate, in March of 1947, the women's auxiliary team officially removed the word "auxiliary" and became the women's army team, which also officially declared the formal status of women in the military and enjoyed the same rights as men, including salary and post-war resettlement.
Third, war makes women go away, but this is a prejudice. In the war, the role of women cannot be underestimated.
In war, women are often regarded as a burden because of their weakness, so Colonel Maxwell said, "We are facing war. War is a man's business, and women will only make things worse. "
This is a great prejudice. In fact, the role of American women in the Second World War cannot be underestimated. When men gallop on the battlefield, women's support in the rear is also the key to victory in the war.
For example, war doctors, typists, dispatchers and even journalists all laid the foundation for the victory of the war.
After receiving professional training, these women quickly went to the battlefield to provide logistical support and guarantee for the front line. They can be seen in the battlefields of the Pacific Ocean in the southwest, the battlefields of North Africa and the Mediterranean, the battlefields of Europe and Southeast Asia.
Women's unique delicacy and attention to detail make their advantages infinitely expanded on the battlefield. Even General Eisenhower couldn't help praising, "During my command of the Army Women's Team, they completed every task and test I assigned, and I witnessed their performance on various battlefields with my own eyes. Their efficiency, skill, spirit and willpower are immeasurable. "
Maybe women are not as strong as men, but their concentration and delicacy can stand the test. In non-combat work, women have greater advantages than men.
It will be more secure for women to be responsible for basic work such as typing, telephone service and nursing. In the war, women also have many advantages in the launch and installation of some precision instruments, and their patience is more prominent than that of men.
With the deepening of the war, women played more and more roles on the battlefield and contributed to the victory of the allied forces in the war.
Fourth, the influence of war on American women.
Before World War II, American women's social status only lingered in the family, with no more job opportunities and no strength to compete with men.
When the smoke of World War II ignited, everything changed profoundly, including the role of women in society.
They found self-confidence and self-worth in fighting side by side with men. Under the influence of this social environment, women re-examine their own lives, so under the collision of these ideas, the seeds of women's independent thoughts are breaking ground.
Every social change will bring pain, so will women's independence. From the initial opposition from all walks of life to the final victory, it has experienced arduous struggles.
War no longer makes women leave. With the beginning of the war, women also drive transport planes and launch precision instruments like men. These once unimaginable things have made American women re-recognize their social values.
Attachment to family is no longer their first choice. For equal job opportunities, women's thoughts are undergoing profound changes.
The war has brought destruction and provided more job opportunities for women, and women's thoughts are gradually changing. Although American society has repeatedly asked women to return to their families after World War II, American women who have experienced ideological changes do not agree with such traditional thinking.
Women began to actively strive for job opportunities and their rights.
It can be said that World War II was a watershed in American women's work. Due to the destruction of the war, the shortage of labor force to rebuild their homes, and the idea of women fighting for equal working rights, the demand for labor posts has also expanded, especially some factories are in ruins.
Although women actively demand their rights, society will not agree with them. Women's participation in the war is only a stopgap measure. It doesn't mean that the traditional concept has been changed by a war, and women's equal rights is still a long process.
World War II made women's thoughts no longer confined to the family, and there were more ideological changes. With the intensification of various social contradictions, it also provides fertile soil for American women's independence.
World War II provided American women with the opportunity to participate in the war, and also made American women move from their families to the battlefield. Although there have been voices of opposition, even if they did not enjoy the same military rights as men, they were obstructed by the public, but this did not affect their role in the war. In the test of blood and fire, women's participation is like a rose in scorched earth, dazzling.