OJSH Home

2023 - Volume 6 - Number 2

Connecticut’s Contribution to World War II: A Historical Analysis

Nathaniel Marchese * ORCID: 0009-0009-2122-1746
Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury, UNITED STATES

Open Journal for Studies in History, 2023, 6(2), 57-68 * https://doi.org/10.32591/coas.ojsh.0602.03057m
Received: 27 September 2023 ▪ Revised: 1 December 2023 ▪ Accepted: 5 December 2023

LICENCE: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

ARTICLE (Full Text - PDF)

ABSTRACT:
Connecticut, also known as the “Arsenal of Democracy,” played a vital role in the Allied victory during World War II. As one of the industrial powerhouses of the United States, Connecticut’s manufacturing capabilities ramped up to meet the war effort’s needs. The state produced everything from ammunition to airplanes, and its labor force played a crucial role in keeping the war machine running. This article will explore Connecticut’s critical role in World War II by examining its economy, industry, military contributions, and social impact.

KEY WORDS: Connecticut, World War II, social impact, manufacturing capabilities.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Nathaniel Marchese, Naugatuck Valley Community College, Waterbury, UNITED STATES.

REFERENCES:

Botticelli, Susan. Yale and the War Effort. Yale Alumni Magazine, November/December 2014. https://yalealumnimagazine.com/articles/3982-yale-and-the-war-effort.

Connecticut Digital Archive - World War II Collection

World War II Collection, Connecticut Digital Archive. https://collections.ctdigitalarchive.org/islandora/object/20002%3A86011.

Connecticut in World War II: Connecticut Veterans Historical Project

Connecticut Veterans Historical Project: World War II, Central Connecticut State University. http://content.library.ccsu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/VHPWWII.

Connecticut Goes to War: The African and Middle Eastern Theater, Connecticut History, The Connecticut Historical Society, accessed  March 7, 2021. https://connecticuthistory.org/connecticut-goes-to-war-the-african-and-middle-eastern-theater/.

Connecticut History Online

World War II, Connecticut History Online. https://connecticuthistory.org/topics/world-war-ii/.

Connecticut Historical Society

Connecticut in World War II, Connecticut Historical Society. https://chs.org/browse-items/connecticut-wwii/.

Connecticut Homefront during World War II. Connecticut History.org, accessed August 16, 2021. https://connecticuthistory.org/connecticut-homefront-during-world-war-ii/.

Connecticut Humanities. “Connecticut in World War II.” Accessed April 2, 2023. https://connecticuthistory.org/topics-page/connecticut-in-world-war-ii/.

Connecticut Industry in World War II,” ConnecticutHistory.org, accessed March 29, 2023. https://connecticuthistory.org/connecticut-industry-in-world-war-ii/.

Electric Boat. “Electric Boat: From the 1800s to Today.” Accessed April 4, 2023. https://www.gdeb.com/about/history.

General Electric Bridgeport Works, ConnecticutHistory.org, accessed September 29, 2021. https://connecticuthistory.org/general-electric-bridgeport-works/.

Henry Wojtusik, Connecticut State Library, accessed March 3, 2023. https://libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/hg/medalofhonor/wojtusik.

Leavenworth, William. “Connecticut and the Manhattan Project.” The Connecticut Magazine, January 1948, 26-35.

Melillo, Mark J. “The Manhattan Project in Connecticut.” University of Connecticut Digital Commons. Accessed March 30, 2023. https://digitalcommons.uconn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5035&context=dissertations.

National Park Service. “Manhattan Project Sites in Connecticut.” Accessed March 25, 2023. https://www.nps.gov/articles/manhattan-project-sites-in-connecticut.htm.

Pratt & Whitney, National Museum of the United States Air Force, accessed March 12, 2023. https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196254/pratt-whitney/.

Shelden, Rachel. “Connecticut and the Manhattan Project.” ConnecticutHistory.org. Accessed March 17. 2023. https://connecticuthistory.org/connecticut-and-the-manhattan-project/.

Sikorsky. “Sikorsky Aircraft: 90 Years of Innovation.” Accessed April 1, 2023. https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/sikorsky-history.html

Tomes, Jason J. “Connecticut and the Second World War: A State Divided?” Connecticut Explored 8, no. 2 (Spring 2010): 46-53.

The Electric Boat Company in World War II, ConnecticutHistory.org, accessed March 11, 2023. https://connecticuthistory.org/the-electric-boat-company-in-world-war-ii/.

The Connecticut Historical Society. “Connecticut’s Role in World War II.” Accessed April 3, 2023. https://chs.org/connecticuts-role-in-world-war-ii/.

The Connecticut Historical Society. “The Rise and Fall of Connecticut Industry.” Accessed April 4, 2023. https://chs.org/2019/03/the-rise-and-fall-of-connecticut-industry/.

 The North African Campaign, National WWII Museum, accessed March 5, 2023. https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/north-african-campaign.

Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site: Connecticut. National Park Service, accessed March 29, 2023. https://www.nps.gov/tuai/learn/historyculture/connecticut.html.

 The USS Connecticut: An American Battleship in World War II. The New England Historical Society. accessed March 28, 2023. https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/uss-connecticut-american-battleship-world-war-ii/

U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office. “The U.S. Coast Guard and World War II.” Accessed September 29, 2021. https://www.history.uscg.mil/Complete-Time-Line/Time-Line-1941-1950/USCG-in-WWII/.

Wainwright, Natalie E., and Paul G. E. Clemens. “Guide to the Manhattan Project in Connecticut.” Yale University Library. Accessed March 22, 2023. https://guides.library.yale.edu/c.php?g=295784&p=1971227.

Yale Medical School Goes to War, Yale News, March 19, 2023. https://news.yale.edu/2010/05/27/yale-medical-school-goes-war.