World War I was touted as “the war to end all wars,” and yet 21 years after its conclusion, another world war began in which 12 countries participated and over 60 million people died.
World War II took the lives of 405,000 Americans, and although no battles were fought on American soil, the war affected all phases of American life. It caused shortages that required Americans to deal with rationing. Ration stamps were issued to allow families to purchase items in short supply like sugar, meat and gasoline.