Medicine and World War II

World War II was the largest war of the twentieth century. No other modern war had as much of an impact on the world as the conflict between the Axis powers and the Allies. Although there were an incredible number of lives lost in World War II, some of that impact caused a change for the better, especially with regards to American culture.

One of these beneficial effects was the change wrought in health care and sustenance preparation and preservation by the increased demand for more efficient and more reliable ways to ensure a soldier's safety. The innovation that had the most domestic impact was the improvement made upon the way food was treated. “Proper food preparation, storage, handling, and preservation became a top priority for the military.” (Science and Technology, 4) World War II was responsible for the increased competence in preservatives that led to modern-day canned or tinned food. The military had to provide the soldiers with food that was not likely to go bad over the period of time it took to move an army. The solution to this problem still affects domestic life over sixty years after World War II ended, and can be seen on a daily basis. World War II gave the production of health products a significant boost. “Penicillin… was first mass produced during the war…making it available to millions of people…” (Science and Technology, 2) “…it took the war to force companies to develop a way of making the highly effective medicine on an industrial scale.” (Medicine and World War II) World War II increased the demand for successful antibiotics. When that demand was met, the supply rate stayed the same.

“The science and technology of blood transfusions were also perfected during World War II.” (Science and Technology, 2) ...

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...of soldiers and the Jews tragedies. Equality arrives on the scene. The military desegregates, and blacks fight and die beside white men. Women prove that they are equal to men when it comes to hurtling pressurized cans through the sky, even during a war. World War II scarred the Earth, but from the furrows the seeds were planted of what would grow to become the Twenty-First Century.

Works Cited

Uschan, Michael V. A Cultural History of the United States Through The Decades: The 1940’s

1999, San Diego, Lucent Books Incorporated [Print]

Science and Technology of World War II The WWII National Museum n.d. [Web] 22 February

2012

Medicine and World War II History Learning Site n.d. [Web] 3 March 2012

National Museum of the US Air Force Legacy of Equality US Air Force n.d. [Web] 3 March

2012

Seattle General Strike University of Washington n.d. [Web] 4 March 2012