FRAGMENTS | Alfred Eisenstadt

Following the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan on December 7, 1941, any discussions regarding American policy abruptly ceased. The immediate response was a widespread call for recruitment, resulting in train stations and airports bustling with women clinging to their loved ones, creating an atmosphere permeated with sadness and solitude.

During World War II, more than 15,000,000 men and women courageously served, with approximately two-thirds of them being conscripted. The war effort necessitated strict regulations and rationing, leading to adjustments on the home front. New cars, typewriters, bicycles, and cooking stoves became unattainable luxuries, while staples such as coffee, sugar, fuel, shoes, canned fruits, vegetables, and meats became scarce. However, the true challenge lay in the constant influx of news reporting the mounting losses suffered by the nation.

In total, around 300,000 American soldiers lost their lives in combat zones, while an additional 600,000 were wounded, leaving a profound impact on families and communities throughout the country.

Below: a series of photographs captured by Alfred Eisenstadt