Research Starters: The Draft and World War II | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans (2024)

The Draft and WWII

On September 16, 1940, the United States instituted the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, which required all men between the ages of 21 and 45 to register for the draft. This was the first peacetime draft in United States' history. Those who were selected from the draft lottery were required to serve at least one year in the armed forces. Once the U.S. entered WWII, draft terms extended through the duration of the fighting. By the end of the war in 1945, 50 million men between eighteen and forty-five had registered for the draft and 10 million had been inducted in the military.
Although the United States was not at war, many people in the government and in the country believed that the United States would eventually be drawn into the wars that were being fought in Europe and East Asia. Isolationism, or the belief that American should do whatever it could to stay out of the war, was still strong. But with the fall of France to the Nazis in June 1940, Americans were growing uneasy about Great Britain’s ability to defeat Germany on its own. Our own military was woefully unprepared to fight a global war should it called upon to do so. National polls showed a growing majority in favor of instituting a draft.
Take a look at some of the primary documents related to the draft from the Museum’s Education Collection.

Research Starters: The Draft and World War II | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans (2024)

FAQs

How much time do you need at ww2 Museum New Orleans? ›

A full day at the Museum allows you to see all of our soaring pavilions and enjoy one of our incredible add-on experiences.

Who was the founder of the ww2 Museum in New Orleans? ›

Stephen Ambrose

Ambrose's role as founder of the institution that would later become The National WWII Museum was strengthened in many ways by his celebrity as a bestselling historian who was sought after as a speaker and film consultant.

Why is the World War 2 Museum in New Orleans? ›

Why is the Museum located in New Orleans? New Orleans is home to the LCVP, or Higgins boat, the landing craft that brought US soldiers to shore in every major amphibious assault of World War II.

How much did WWII soldiers get paid? ›

TABLE 1. Single men
Net annual earnings - after deduction of normal expenditures out of pay
In service within USIn foreign service
Buck private$420$540.00
Private first class and seaman second class468597.60
Corporal and seaman first class612770.40
4 more rows

Is it safe to walk to WWII Museum from French Quarter? ›

Is it safe to walk to the WWII Museum from the French Quarter? Yes, it is safe to walk from the French Quarter from the museum.

Is the WWII museum worth it? ›

This is a must see! The museum takes you in chronological order through WWII. Very interesting and educational. You leave with a sense of pride to be an American and a heart of gratitude to the brave men and women who keep us free.

How many WWII veterans are still alive? ›

Every day, memories of World War II are disappearing from living history. The men and women who fought and won this great conflict are now in their 90s or older; according to US Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, 119,550 of the 16.4 million Americans who served in World War II are alive as of 2023.

Is the National World War II Museum legitimate in America? ›

Our Campus

Designated by Congress as the official WWII museum of the United States, The National WWII Museum is located in downtown New Orleans on a six-acre campus, where six soaring pavilions house historical exhibits, on-site restoration work, a period dinner theater, and restaurants.

What is the final mission at the ww2 museum New Orleans? ›

Final Mission: USS Tang Submarine Experience places visitors aboard the most successful submarine in World War II for its fifth and final war patrol on October 25, 1944.

How did WWII affect New Orleans? ›

New Orleans served as a Port of Embarkation for tens of thousands of soldiers and millions of tons of cargo and supplies to be transported overseas. Over one-third of all Americans who served in the war travelled through Louisiana or New Orleans for training and/or deployment.

What is the ranking of the World War II museum? ›

The 2018 TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards ranks the Museum No. 3 in the nation and No. 8 in the world. For more information, call 877-813-3329 or 504-528-1944 or visit nationalww2museum.org.

Do drafted soldiers get paid? ›

The President's Commission on an All-Volunteer Armed Force estimated that the military pay for draftees is only half that which they could receive in civilian work.

Did ww2 POWs get back pay? ›

What Compensation Benefits Do POWs Recieve? As a first matter, POWs receive back pay that accrued during their period of captivity. They were on active duty, possibly in a combat zone, and are entitled to all the pay that they earned during that time regardless of their captive status.

Do WWII veterans get a pension? ›

World War II (WWII) was the most widespread war in history with more than 100 million people serving in military units. About 16 million Americans served during WWII, and many of those Veterans are now receiving VA benefits including Pension and Health Care.

Does the New Orleans trolley go to the WWII Museum? ›

The 12 is the first Streetcar that goes to The National WWII Museum in New Orleans.

How long do people spend at the Imperial War Museum? ›

Visiting Imperial War Museum

Recommended visiting time is at least three hours, as there is a ton of material to read and look at. Recommended visiting time for the First World War and Holocaust galleries are around 90 minutes each, and try to reserve an additional hour for Levels 1 and 2.

How big is the ww2 museum? ›

Designated by Congress as the official WWII museum of the United States, The National WWII Museum is located in downtown New Orleans on a six-acre campus, where six soaring pavilions house historical exhibits, on-site restoration work, a period dinner theater, and restaurants.

How long does the World War 1 Museum take? ›

We spent at least 5-6 hrs walking , reading some display descriptions, viewing video, but nothing in great detail. If you were to read it all, i am going to bet could be 2 days. This includes the tower and the 2 additional buildings which are definitely worth it.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kelle Weber

Last Updated:

Views: 5931

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kelle Weber

Birthday: 2000-08-05

Address: 6796 Juan Square, Markfort, MN 58988

Phone: +8215934114615

Job: Hospitality Director

Hobby: tabletop games, Foreign language learning, Leather crafting, Horseback riding, Swimming, Knapping, Handball

Introduction: My name is Kelle Weber, I am a magnificent, enchanting, fair, joyous, light, determined, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.