Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 292

Today in World War II History—Aug. 8, 1941

Berlin Zoo flak tower, April 1942 (German Federal Archive, Bild 183-H27779)

75 Years Ago—Aug. 8, 1941: Germans close Uman pocket in Ukraine, defeating Soviet 6th and 12th Armies, taking 100,000 POWs.

Soviet air force bombs Berlin for first time.

Today in World War II History—Aug. 7, 1941

Bruno Mussolini, 1941 (public domain)

75 Years Ago—Aug. 7, 1941: Mussolini’s son Bruno killed in test-flight crash of P-108 bomber near Pisa.

Today in World War II History—Aug. 6, 1941

Wladyslaw Anders, before 1939 (public domain)

75 Years Ago—Aug. 6, 1941: US Navy Catalina and Mariner aircraft based in Iceland began patrols over North Atlantic.

Lt. Gen. Wladyslaw Anders appointed to form Polish army in USSR, which will never be allowed to fight.

C.S. Lewis begins series of BBC broadcasts that will be adapted into Mere Christianity.

Today in World War II History—Aug. 5, 1941

Soviet troops at Smolensk, Russia, 1 Jul 1941 (Russian International News Agency)

75 Years Ago—Aug. 5, 1941: Germans overrun Smolensk pocket as Soviet 16th and 20th Armies surrender; 300,000 Soviet POWs taken.

Today in World War II History—Aug. 4, 1941

North American A-27s of the 17th Pursuit Squadron, US Far East Air Force, at Nichols Field, Philippines, in 1941 (US Air Force photo)

75 Years Ago—Aug. 4, 1941: US commits to send arms to USSR. US Far East Air Force (Philippines) activated under Maj. Gen. Lewis Brereton.

Today in World War II History—Aug. 3, 1941

75 Years Ago—Aug. 3, 1941: Germans capture 38,000 Soviet POWs at Roslovl, Russia.

Catholic bishop Clemens August von Galen of Münster, Germany denounces T4 euthanasia program in a public sermon; he would remain under virtual house arrest for the duration of the war.

Today in World War II History—Aug. 2, 1941

75 Years Ago—Aug. 2, 1941: US Office of Production Management seizes silk supply and takes control of silk industry, restricts use of rayon, reserves steel for government use only. See Make It Do: Stocking Shortages in World War II.

US bans oil exports except to Britain or western hemisphere nations.

Make It Do – Stocking Shortages in World War II

For American women in World War II, a shortage of stockings was a minor inconvenience, but it did affect daily life. Before the war, no well-dressed woman was seen in public without hose, and silk stockings were a necessary part of every woman’s wardrobe.

Nylons Introduced

Nylon was invented by DuPont in 1938, and nylon stockings were demonstrated at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. When they came on the market nationwide on May 15, 1940, over 750,000 pairs were sold on the first day. They sold for $1.25 a pair, the same price as silk, but their shrink-proof, moth-proof nature made them very popular.

Silk Shortage

Japan was the sole supplier of silk to the US, and deteriorating trade relations in 1941 cut off the supply. Silk was used for parachutes and was the best material for powder bags for naval guns. When the guns were fired, the silk completely disintegrated without leaving any damaging residue. To protect this precious resource, the Office of Production Management (OPM) seized the nation’s supply of raw silk on August 2, 1941. This set off such a shopping frenzy for silk stockings that most retailers set a purchase limit of two or three pairs. The price of nylon stockings subsequently rose to $10 a pair or more.

Nylon Commandeered

Nylon was also needed for parachutes, and was produced from chemicals vital to the war effort. In addition, nylon was used to make rope stronger and to supplement rubber (which was also short) in tire production. As a result, the War Production Board (formerly the OPM) commandeered DuPont’s stock of nylon on February 11, 1942. From then on, DuPont’s production of nylon went to war materials.

Collection of Stockings

Used stockings were also valuable. Used silk stockings were made into powder bags for the Navy, and used nylon stockings were melted down and re-spun into nylon thread for parachute production. On November 15, 1942, the War Production Board launched an official collection program for silk and nylon hosiery. When stockings developed holes or runs, women were encouraged to turn them in at the hosiery department of their local store.

Making Do

The famous kiss at Times Square, New York City, 14 Aug 1945 (Photographer: Victor Jorgensen; US National Archives) Note the nurse’s cotton lisle stockings with the seam up the back.

Women treated their remaining stockings with great care, often reserving them for special occasions. Rayon or cotton stockings were worn, but not fondly, as they tended to sag around the knees. The rising popularity of slacks helped, but most women resorted to bare legs, sometimes with ankle socks for more casual wear. To simulate the look of nylons, some women used leg makeup from cosmetics companies such as Max Factor. These “liquid stockings” were reported to last up to three days if the woman didn’t bathe. If possible, a “seam” was painted down the back of the leg with an eyebrow pencil by a friend or family member. This leg makeup was endangered when a lady crossed her legs or when it rained.

Today in World War II History—Aug. 1, 1941

Grumman TBF-1 Avenger with early 1942 markings (US Navy photo).

75 Years Ago—Aug. 1, 1941: First flight of Grumman XTBF-1 Avenger torpedo bomber.

US Naval Air Station established at Midway Island.

Today in World War II History—July 31, 1941

Reinhard Heydrich and Karl Hermann Frank in Prague Castle, 1941 (German Federal Archive: Bild 146-1972-039-26)

75 Years Ago—July 31, 1941: Reinhard Heydrich, SS General of the Police, ordered to solve the “Jewish question.”

Cease-fire in Peru-Ecuador border clash, but Peruvians occupy large part of Ecuador.