Ww1

During W.W.I the Austrian wore the pike gray 1909 pattern tunic and trousers. They have three white stars on the collar which indicate Sergeants rank. Some have leather gaiters worn by mountain troops; others wore the ordinary trousers with the integral gaiter which fastened around the ankle with two buttons. Men and women wore tunics made of khaki serge flannel or cord. Most men, and some women, also wore leather cartridge pouches and a slouched hat. Women were seen wearing long, more fuller skirts. Blouses usually had a high neck line and the sleeves were full length. Women also wore their hair longer but usually pulled it back into a bun or pony tail. Fashions were very conservative. On the Eastern Front, German infantry wore white coats with fur on the inside. They did this for warmth and camouflage. They wore the field gray cap with black/white and red at the top, and state blockade on the band. The band was red for infantry, black for rifles and artillery, and brown for machine gun battalions. The German Army uniform began to change in 1915. They went from buttoned cuffs to a simple turned back cuff. During W.W.I. tobacco was not frequently used, but drinking tea and whisky was used more for entertainment and relaxation. During W.W.II. materials were scarce. Skirt hems were much shorter and skirts were more form fitting. The clothes could not have any cuff, ruffles or flap pockets. Pants could be no more than 19 inches wide. There were also shortages of fabric such as silk, rayon and nylon. American women were starting to become fashionable by wearing military hats, men's pants, and patches. Women also stopped wearing large jewelry such as bangles and beads. Short haircuts were considered much safer at work and less trouble. The short hairstyles became popular during the war. Men's suits were rationed and each man was only allowed one suit per year. Men were allowed to only have four cigarettes per day. The styles during W.W.I were not as conservative as the styles during W.W.II. The styles during W.W.II. indicate a shortage of products which mandated the fashion industry during that era for both men and women. The changing of the fashions from W.W.I. to W.W.II. show that men and women were becoming more in tune with fashion. Styles were not as conservative as they used to be. Women were accepting the shorter hairstyles and more form fitting clothes. Women were participating in the war. Men were learning how to clean, and cook meals in the kitchen. Men and women were taking on roles that the other sex would normally do. The fashions of these two periods reflect war in America by the type of materials that were being used, the availability of the supplies, and how conservative attitudes changed over time. The soft hats, high boots, war metals seen pinned to their jackets, longer coats, long full dresses worn by women reflect the W.W.I war in America. The hard hats, slender fitting clothes, stripes on the collar or sleeve, flashy or low cut costumes worn at parties for entertainment reflect W.W.II. war in America. We can see throughout time, from the changing of styles between W.W.I, and W.W.II that people became more casual. People of W.W.II looked for more ways to have fun, while people from W.W.I were more serious. W.W.I was the best of times. During the best times in W.W.I. large groups of military men would visit cathedrals and write endless and appreciative accounts of what they had seen or done during the war. Memories left by high ranking officers became a tourist attraction, and part of military history. Some of their accounts of good times during the war was playing sports, such as baseball. One officer left memories of seeing the opera Faust. He said the opera was very good and even better than the Boston Opera. Some of the things they experienced during the war were positive accounts according to the memories they left behind. These experiences offered happiness for them and their families during a time of destruction. Weary Soldiers would dance with YMCA girls on the balcony of the Casino, Aix-les-Baines. This was arranged by the YMCA. Several hundred men for seven days lived a life of luxury and pampering, seemingly as free as though they were civilians. The men described some of the best of times as fine hotels, swell boarding houses, pretty parks and mountain scenery. They would enjoy tag dancing or poker in the evening. The girls were scarce (50 to 1 ratio), but their company much enjoyed. The women in America were enjoying all the attention they were getting from the soldiers they were helping by entertaining them, volunteering, or serving time in the Service. This offered some of the best times for the men in the Service, and women in America. They enjoyed the entertainment, volunteer work, parties, and serving time in the Service. W.W.II was the best of times For many GI's, Saturday nights brought a boyhood fantasy come true. Much like the era during W.W.I., beautiful women would try to please them. The GI's would be entertained by Hollywood stars and starlets, and home front volunteers. They would see Broadway musicals and have dates with celebrities. Many celebrities would have parties for the GI's. Women in America were pleased to hear that sometimes the men in their lives were happy during the time they served in the war. (p. 177-188, Life Goes to War). Comments - This became some of the best times for the men that served in the Military. Even the women in their lives did not mind all the attention they were getting as long as they were alive and happy. During W.W.II. Americans had it pretty easy compared to the Chinese and Britons. Wages were higher. Some war plants worked around the clock. Assembly lines were working at full capacity. The factory worker became as much a part of the war as the soldier. There was an influx of unskilled labor, but production climbed steadily producing airplanes, steel, guns, boats and ships. The industrial payroll rose from 13 billion in 1939 to 44 billion in 1944. Full employment now put an end to the Great Depression. These were some of the best of times because the economy was doing very well and the Great Depression was coming to an end. W.W.I's worst of times Three American ships on their way to Texas were destroyed by the Germans in March, 1917. The United States felt their neutral rights were violated, and the US developed a new hatred for Imperial Germany. As war started to break out in the seas, many supplies needed by the Americans became scarce such as food, loans, and war materials. In June, 1917, President Wilson declared that every man in his twenties must register for the draft. He declared that each man drafted would be placed in an area where he would serve his country the best. Many families were torn apart as each district throughout the United States would draw numbers for the selected men to go off to war. W.W.II.'s

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