Omaha in WWII
Advisor Information
Elaine Nelson
Location
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
4-3-2016 9:00 AM
End Date
4-3-2016 10:30 AM
Abstract
Recycling, scrap drives, rationing, and Victory Gardens became the new reality for Omaha residents during WWII. Citizens heeded the nation’s call, enlisting for military service, providing a crucial labor force for war industry, and establishing methods of homefront war efforts that set the standard for the country. Beyond the homefront, the name “Omaha” made a significant impact abroad. The USS Omaha patrolled the Atlantic waters, and earned notoriety for capturing a German blockade-runner. Omaha resident and soldier Gayle Eyler inspired the codename “Omaha Beach” for the landing site of one of the most pivotal battles of the war. This phrase, as much as any other aspect of the fighting, is now permanently etched in the American memory of WWII. The “Omaha in WWII” website takes visitors on an engaging journey through the history of the homefront. Oral histories conducted specifically for this project offer viewers first-hand accounts of Omaha-resident experiences during the war. The site provides a glimpse into the opportunities and challenges presented to minorities, and how they endured racism during this turbulent period. An interactive timeline allows users to compare events in two theaters of operations with homefront happenings. Images, videos, and infographics provide a detailed analysis for the complex motivations that resulted in the bombing of Dundee by the Japanese. The site prompts visitors to contribute their own homefront memories, fostering community engagement and expanding the preservation of Omaha history for future generations with each engaged user.
Omaha in WWII
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
Recycling, scrap drives, rationing, and Victory Gardens became the new reality for Omaha residents during WWII. Citizens heeded the nation’s call, enlisting for military service, providing a crucial labor force for war industry, and establishing methods of homefront war efforts that set the standard for the country. Beyond the homefront, the name “Omaha” made a significant impact abroad. The USS Omaha patrolled the Atlantic waters, and earned notoriety for capturing a German blockade-runner. Omaha resident and soldier Gayle Eyler inspired the codename “Omaha Beach” for the landing site of one of the most pivotal battles of the war. This phrase, as much as any other aspect of the fighting, is now permanently etched in the American memory of WWII. The “Omaha in WWII” website takes visitors on an engaging journey through the history of the homefront. Oral histories conducted specifically for this project offer viewers first-hand accounts of Omaha-resident experiences during the war. The site provides a glimpse into the opportunities and challenges presented to minorities, and how they endured racism during this turbulent period. An interactive timeline allows users to compare events in two theaters of operations with homefront happenings. Images, videos, and infographics provide a detailed analysis for the complex motivations that resulted in the bombing of Dundee by the Japanese. The site prompts visitors to contribute their own homefront memories, fostering community engagement and expanding the preservation of Omaha history for future generations with each engaged user.