ISSUE NO. 15
PAPER CLIP
SEPTEMBER 1, 1939 – SEPTEMBER 2, 1945
WORLD WAR II: WHAT HAPPENED?
NATALIE GLOCKLER F BLOCK
By Natalie Glockler | F Block
World War II: What Happened? By Natalie Glockler | F Block
World War II: Background Information Did you know that over 60 million people were killed during World War II? World War II was a series of battles between different countries in the world. It was a time of depression and violence because there was an irritating disease called trench foot, there were many violent weapons such as a grenades, and life was hard for family members of soldiers.
Trench Foot Trench foot was a disease many soldiers got during World War II. This disease is caused by exposure of the feet to wet, cold environments. Your feet may feel numb or itchy if you have trench foot. They might blister or open sores will appear. “Many soldiers get it.” Page 133. It was said in the book that it was common for soldiers to get trench foot after standing in their wet shoes and socks for days. Soldiers could die from trench foot, but also from other various weapons that were used at the time. An illustration of someone's foot diagnosed with Trench Foot
Grenades Grenades were a type of weapon used during World War II. Hand grenades were most commonly used, and were what killed a lot of soldiers at the time. It was stated in an article by science.howstuffworks.com, “To ensure maximum damage, the grenade is
designed to launch dozens of small metal fragments in every direction when it explodes.” Hand grenades were It wasn’t just at the battlefield where people were getting damaged, it also happened back at home.
A Cross Section of a hand grenade used in World War II
The War at Home Even though the families of soldiers weren’t fighting in the war, they still felt emotions from the war. A PBS.org article stated, “During the war, you just kept thinking that life
cannot begin until this is over. You just had to see, again all the boys that you had known and been fond of and know they were home safely.” - Katharine Phillips. Families were always worrying if their children or relatives were going to stay safe. Also, woman had new responsibilities when their husbands or children went to war. This is because they were left with the duties the men would usually do. The war also opened up many opportunities for women.
Did You Know.. For every five German soldiers who died in WWII, four of them died on the Eastern Front.
Concluding... Overall, the war was difficult for families at home and difficult for the soldiers because of trench foot and grenades. Many soldiers got trench foot, and many soldiers were killed because of grenades. The women at home with husbands or children in war, had many more responsibilities and opportunities, but also worried about their loved ones. Would you sacrifice your life to keep others safe?
Works Cited PBS. Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 05 June 2017. "99 Interesting Facts about World War II." Interesting Facts. Web. 05 June 2017. Harris, Tom. "How Grenades Work." HowStuffWorks Science. HowStuffWorks, 22 Jan. 2002. Web. 05 June 2017. "Thread: Argentinian Hand Grenade FMK 2." Inert Ordnance Collectors RSS. Web. 05 June 2017. "United States History." The American Family in World War II. Web. 05 June 2017.