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When Books Went To War: Raising Morale in WWII through Reading In-Person
While fascist Germany was burning books by the millions, the US sent even more books to U.S. troops serving in the war.
Reading books was vital for WWII soldiers, offering an escape from the war's stress, boredom, and trauma, providing inspiration and reminding them why they fought, and serving as a means of education and exposure to new ideas. The Armed Services Editions program distributed affordable, pocket-sized books to troops, demonstrating the U.S. military's recognition of reading as a crucial tool for maintaining morale and spirit during the war.
Learn what books were sent, how the paperback was reinvented to be less cumbersome to carry, which books servicemen liked best and which authors gained thousands of pen pals.