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1945 : The Merriest Christmas in History
History Spotlight by Doug Humes
World War II, the bloodiest and cruelest war in history, ended in August 1945, when Japan surrendered in the face of nuclear annihilation. President Harry Truman encouraged “Operation Magic Carpet,” to bring home as many of our military servicemen and women as possible from Asia and Europe in time for Christmas, causing massive traffic jams and delays in all forms of transportation.
Christmas Eve 1945 headlines
Photo courtesy of Chester Times
To help all those travelers contact home, “Bell Telephone Company and Western Union had reserve and part-time operators standing by to handle probably the heaviest… Christmas Day business in their history.” The weather did not cooperate: By December 20th, the heaviest snowfall in 10 years covered the county, the first white Christmas since 1930, and the deepest snow since 1900.
For further reading -- Christmas 1945: The Story of the Greatest Celebration in American History by Matthew Litt
Photo courtesy of Matthew Litt
The country had not yet returned to pre-war normal. It takes time to re-tool factories from wartime to peacetime products, so there was still a scarcity of toys and the much-sought-after nylon stockings. Newspapers apologized for the lack of Christmas greetings from advertisers, due only to a newsprint shortage. People were allowed to light up their homes with Christmas lights, as wartime blackouts ended. And that year, there were enough turkeys available, and gas was no longer rationed, so you could visit your family and friends.
A war-ravaged earth, wreathed in “Peace”
Photo courtesy of Chester Times
The Chester Times reported: “Delaware County’s first peacetime Christmas in four years promises to be one of the most joyous and meaningful celebrations of the birth of the Prince of Peace. With hundreds of servicemen and women home for the holiday, a picturesque blanket of snow covering the area, and plenty of turkey and gifts for all, Christmas 1945 will be one long to be remembered. …Churches were filled on Sunday …as thankful Delaware Countians turned to prayer – for continued peace throughout the world, for those hospitalized …and for the families of those who gave their lives to bring about once again peacetime Christmases.”
The 1945 White House card
Photo courtesy of The White House
There was finally Peace on Earth, for the first time in years. As President Truman noted at the tree-lighting ceremony, “This is the Christmas that a war-weary world has prayed for.”
