WW2 History ProjectThis page is intended to help high school students doing a history project of world war two. On this site and in particular the links below, you can find a collection of personal accounts of the war. Personal stories recorded in letter format have some advantages over those recited from memory. They were written at the time and thereby not subjected to the same natural idealization of times past. They contain facts such as exact dates and times that simply would not be re-called by even the most sharpest of memories. Thereby many people consider, letters written by soldiers during times of war to be a natural library of first person accounts of conflicts. There are however two important things to keep in mind when using these accounts. Firstly these letters are normally addressed to loved ones back home, either a girlfriend or a family memeber and soldiers would be naturally relucant to scare with precise details or dangers that they faced. Secondly, Government and Army censors for whatever reason during world war two were particular strict over those previous. Perhaps they were terrified that soldier movements would be leaked to the enemy or maybe to keep their propaganda and idealogies strong in the minds of their people and fighting force. You will see censor stamps on most letters below. To start research for your project, choose an account from the short summaries below. It is up-to-you how you interprete these bodies of letters. So Best of luck with your WW2 history project. |
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Lot 4 Sixty letters mostly to Miss Margie Krumpleman of Kentucky, a young woman of 18-20 from various cousins and brothers fighting in World War II predominately posted from early 1943 to late 1945. Some are stationed arround the USA, guarding P.O.W camp, Los Alamos (site of the 1st nuclear explosion) and others brothers and cousins are stationed abroad and see alot of action. Lot includes letters from China, England. France, Belgium and Germany. Letters from brother a soldier with the first American regiment into Paris. read more Lot 1 Five envelopes with two letters from September 1942 to September 1943 from Engish soldier Bill Appleyard of the Middlesex Yeomanry, Att. 104th stationed in the North Arfican desert to his Mother living in Liverpool England. read more Lot 15 Thirty-Eight letters from 1939 to 1943 between Herbie, Cleo(his soon to be wife) and his parents. Writting style improves considerable with time. Early letters are courtship letters between Herbie and Cleo expressing their love and effection for one another. Contains letters where Herbie got in trouble with police. Some early letters are dated but unposted. Apparently hidden in secret locations for their lover to find. They later marry and letters are mailed from Army locations. Letters are uncensored. Talks of Salt Peter "A substance intended to surpress emotions in soldiers" being put in food. Being issued 1917 rifles. Goes into great detail about life and expected behaviour. He meets famous generals and officers. read more Lot 14 Twelve V-mail letters from an American soldier Private First Class George Steany of the 1st service platoon stationed in London to his love interest Miss Judith Jones of Chicago from 1943 to 1945. Letters speak both of his longings to return to the USA and to marry her as well as his great appreciation for the beauty of the city of London. He speaks quite a lot about the different social events he attended and his relaxed, indulgent lifestyle in London after the announcement of the end of the war in Europe. read more Lot 11 Eight ww2 letters from Corporal Amos H. Ebers to his sister in St. Louis, Missouri during 1942 and 1943. At first he is stationed at Drew Field, Florida after which he is moved abroad. He is stationed in a jungle location so perhaps the south pacific. read more Lot 9 Eighty Letters to Miss Madonna Joan Beer of Chicago, Illinois from Nov 1944. Most early letters are from a love interest Verne R. Brooks 36991754 of 101st Infantry stationed in Germany, Austria and Czechoslavakia, although by mid 1945 the vast majority of letters are from Verne's friend James P. Casey 46073231, who flys as a bomber. He is stationed at several locations arround the Pacific, particularly the island of Luam. He write quite alot from various cities in Japan in 1946. After he marries another girl he met, his letters become less frequent. read more Lot 5 A lot of 42 letters from American soldier Phillip T White 31482518 to his young daughter and wife in Groton, Vermot. Letters tell the story of his training in early 1945 at Camp Gordan in Massachusetts, his disperate attempts to get home to see his wife go into labour and his work in Viernheim, Hiedelberg and Mannheim, Germany. Very little military information is mentioned in these letters, but filled with emoition and love for his family at home. read more |