Although the impact of World War II was not as transformative for the Great Plains as it was for other areas of the United States, it was still significant and tumultuous. Emphasizing the region’s social and economic history, The Great Plains during World War II is the first book to examine the effects of the war on the region and the responses of its residents. Beginning with the isolationist debate that preceded the war, R. Douglas Hurt traces the residents’ changing view of the European conflict and its direct impact on the plains, and finds that the people of the Great Plains based their patriotic response to the war effort on the concept of comparative sacrifice.

 

Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, this compelling and frank history brings to life the voices and experiences of the residents of the Great Plains in recounting the story of the daily concerns of ordinary people as part of the nation’s history of this seminal event.

R. Douglas Hurt is a professor and head of the Department of History at Purdue University. He is the author or editor of numerous books, including Problems of Plenty: The American Farmer in the Twentieth Century, African American Life in the Rural South, 1900–1950, and The Rural West Since World War II.

“This is history at its best—both scholarly and fascinating reading—and is indispensable for our understanding of the Great Plains experience during the Second World War.”—Annals of Iowa

“In this beautifully produced book, Hurt has brought together disparate evidence that until now has rested in obscure state journals, government documents, and newspaper collections. As a result, he has provided fresh insights to the World War II Home Front.”—Mark Friedberger, Western Historical Quarterly

“A very strong, well-written book by a veteran scholar at the top of his game.”—David Danbom, Kansas History

“The Great Plains and World War II is an important, interesting study that will be a valuable reference for years to come.”—Virgil W. Dean, Journal of American History

“This is a much-needed addition not only to Great Plains historiography but also to the vast literature on the U.S. during World War II.”—Sterling Evans, American Historical Review

“A comprehensive volume that provides a wealth of detail previously unavailable to scholars. The Great Plains tends to be a neglected region, and this book helps admirably to correct this historical oversight.”—Pamela Riney-Kehrberg, South Dakota History