Before World War II, the German-American Bund was one of the most successful pro-Nazi organizations in the United States. On February 20, 1939, American Nazis gathered at Madison Square Garden for a mass rally for “true Americanism.”

Throughout his life, FDR’s Little White House in Warm Springs became an important location from his time as Governor of New York until his death on April 12, 1945.

Shortly removed from Prohibition and with a growing hatred of all things Germans, the United States began a relationship with beer and breweries that lasts still today.

The Museum’s volunteer force includes over 35 Vietnam-era veterans with a wide variety of service experiences, who each bring a unique understanding and connection to their service as volunteers.

Brash, beautiful, and driven, aviatrix Jackie Cochran rose from a childhood of poverty to record-breaking heights in aviation.

On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, that ultimately laid the foundation for the forced removal and subsequent incarceration of over 125,000 individuals of Japanese ancestry, two thirds of whom were American citizens.

The shamrock is the symbol of Ireland and a recurring theme in The National WWII Museum’s collection.

When the Allies desperately needed cargo ships, women bravely stepped up to supply them by working at shipyards across the country, including in Brunswick, Georgia. 

US Marine Corps Women’s Reserve Sgt. and Museum family member Bernice Williams turns 100 years old on March 1, 2021. She says that her 1943-1945 service as a Marine made her a “better person.”

After four years of cancelled celebrations, Mardi Gras returned in 1946. For the veteran flambeaux carriers—a dangerous and physically taxing job—the need for better wages resulted in a historic strike that caused “a post-war rude awakening.”

In the four years of war, Americans on the home front were asked to do their part and to go without certain items for the sake of the war effort. For residents of New Orleans, World War II also meant going without Mardi Gras.

This new series features master’s student papers from the University of New Orleans. The first submission delves into American memory of World War II.