Dennis Saul
During World War II, New York City became a major center of military, industrial, and civilian activity. The city operated around the clock to support the war effort. Its factories produced equipment, weapons, and uniforms. Its ports shipped out troops and supplies. Its people worked, volunteered, and served in countless roles, both overseas and at home.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard was one of the busiest shipyards in the country. It built and repaired warships, including battleships and aircraft carriers. Thousands of workers, including many women, filled its docks every day. They welded steel, operated cranes, and worked in loud, fast-moving conditions. The ships built there were sent into combat in both the Atlantic and Pacific.
On the west side of Manhattan, the piers were used to load troops onto transport ships. Soldiers marched down city streets to board the ships. Crowds gathered to cheer them. Families said goodbye, not knowing when or if they’d see each other again. The ships left from the Hudson River, bound for Europe or North Africa.
Factories across the city changed their production to match wartime needs. Clothing plants in the Garment District began making military uniforms. Small machine shops made airplane parts. Chemical companies produced rubber and plastics. Even toy companies stopped making games and instead made gear for the military.
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The city also dealt with strict rationing. Food items like meat, sugar, and coffee were limited. People used ration books with coupons to buy these items. Gasoline was rationed too, and many people walked or used public transit more often. Blackout drills took place regularly. Lights in buildings and streetlamps were turned off or dimmed to make it harder for enemy planes or submarines to spot the city at night.
New York’s harbor was closely watched. German submarines had sunk ships just miles off the coast in early 1942. Military patrol boats guarded the waters, and lookouts were placed in key locations. Some merchant ships were attacked just after leaving port, and sailors were lost. Oil from sunken tankers sometimes washed ashore.
Many New Yorkers joined the armed forces. Men and women from every borough enlisted. Some served overseas, while others took jobs in military offices and hospitals. Nurses trained in the city’s hospitals before being deployed. The military used Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station to move troops around the country.
At the same time, New York was home to many war-related government agencies. Offices in Manhattan worked on intelligence, shipping, and finance. The Office of War Information operated there, producing posters, films, and radio programs. Some buildings had entire floors used by military departments.
Schools changed their schedules to allow students to work part-time in defense jobs. High school students collected scrap metal and rubber. Children joined paper drives, collecting old newspapers for recycling. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts helped with local civil defense efforts.
Theaters, nightclubs, and radio stations kept morale high. Broadway shows offered discounted tickets to servicemen. The Stage Door Canteen in Midtown provided free food, coffee, and live music to soldiers. Big bands played there every night. Celebrities volunteered as servers and entertainers.
War bond rallies were common in Times Square and throughout the five boroughs. Movie stars and athletes helped sell bonds from outdoor stages. Crowds filled the sidewalks as musicians played and speeches were given. Schools, unions, and churches organized their own bond drives. Stores placed signs in their windows showing how many bonds they had sold.
Newspapers ran daily war coverage, and newsreels played before movies in theaters. New Yorkers followed the battles closely. People gathered around radios during major announcements. When news came in about D-Day or the fall of Berlin, the streets filled with celebration.
By the end of the war, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers had taken part in some part of the effort. Some had gone off to fight. Others had worked in war factories or helped from their neighborhoods. The city never stopped moving. Every block, school, pier, and office played a part.
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