York Town Square

On the evening of Aug. 14, 1945, York County residents joined a massive national V-J celebration, marking the war’s end. The largest county assembly occurred in York’s Continental Square. Here, holding a special V-J edition are, from right, L. Allen Wolfgang, Richard E. Wolfgang and Lloyd E. (Pud) Wolfgang. Paul S. Wolfgang, who provided this photo and became a York Suburban School District administrator, is at far left. Background posts: The first in (World) War (II), Perhaps the last in (World) War (II), 20 questions and answers to prove your York County smarts, Part III

The World War II Battle of Okinawa ended 63 years ago on Saturday.
And we’re somewhere near the midway point between the often forgotten V-E Day – May 8 – and V-J Day – August 14.
So, here are 20 questions to focus us on York County’s contributions to the war that spawned the Greatest Generation:

1. What was the approximate number of county men and women to serve in uniform? a. 1,500 b. 5,500 c. 20,600 d. 26,200
2. What is the approximate number of county servicemen who died in uniform? a. 230 b. 570 c. 1,050 d. 5,000
3. This York rabbi heroically gave up his life jacket — and his life — to save others aboard the torpedoed troop transport Dorchester in 1943. a. Jacob Loucks Devers b. Edgar Fahs Smith c. D.K. Noell d. Alexander D. Goode
4. An influx of defense workers and a post-war baby boom caused county population to increase between 1940 and 1950 by this amount. a. 0 percent b. 1 percent c. 13.8 percent d. 20.6 percent
5. This county serviceman is believed to have been the first to die in uniform. a. Eugene B. Bubb b. James Smith c. David Small d. A.B. Farquhar
6. The number of former York Ice Machinery-York Corporation (now York International) employees to die in uniform. a. All survived b. 1 c. 10 d. 25
7. This general from York led “Operation Dragoon,” the invasion of Southern France commencing on Aug. 15, 1944. a. William Franklin b. Michael Small c. Jacob Loucks Devers d. Granville Haller
8. Which was not an objective of “Operation Dragoon”? a. To open a port, Marseilles, to provide an avenue of supplies for invading Allied Forces b. To make Germany fight a second front in France c. To link up with invading forces coming from Normandy d. To liberate Paris
9. This industrial leader was credited as the foremost organizer and national promoter of the York Plan. a. W.S. Shipley b. S. Morgan Smith c. P.H. Glatfelter d. A.B. Farquhar
10. P.H. Glatfelter made a success of the paper mill that bears his name and later acquired and resurrected what became this major World War II defense contractor. a. York-Hoover Corporation b. New York Wire c. York Ice Machinery-York Corporation d. York Safe and Lock
11. This landmark served as headquarters in the York area for the USO (United Services Organization) that provided aid to military men and women. a. Yorktowne Hotel b. Salvation Army c. York County Academy d. Valencia Ballroom
12. The Charles E. Williams Post of the American Legion in York was named after: a. A skilled machinist. b. A soldier, one of six brothers, who lost his life in Italy. c. An officer reporting to Gen. Jacob L. Devers. d. An aide to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.
13. The Victory House, a replica of the Colonial Courthouse, was hauled from Farquhar Park to York’s Continental Square to: a. Serve as a focal point for war bond sales. b. Serve food to passing servicemen. c. Provide a center for York’s scrap metal collection. d. Provide a venue for Civilian Defense officials to discuss community matters.
14. Victory Gardens were: a. Primarily small family plots used to grow vegetables to feed families at home during wartime food shortages, freeing up supplies for servicemen. b. Large truck gardens that mass-produced supplies for the war. c. Primary suppliers to canneries and other food processors. d. Shrines in back yards set aside to celebrate important battle triumphs.
15. The government urged the saving of fats during wartime because the glycerine that could be extracted was useful for: a. Making parachutes. b. Feeding silkworms. c. Manufacturing explosives. d. Producing acid for military vehicle batteries.
16. York County residents observed V- E Day marking the end of war in Europe in a reserved manner: a. Out of respect for military men and women, still fighting in the Pacific. b. Because it reflected the personality of the population. c. It was required as part of the surrender deal with the Germans. d. They awaited a hero’s welcome for Gen. Jacob Loucks Devers.
17. Feedbags from area mills gained value during wartime rationing because: a. They served as a popular material for women’s dresses. b. They were used in the making of Army backpacks. c. People used them to patch seat covers in cars. d. They were deployed so horses could “put on the feedbag.”
18. Because of the shortage of silk for stockings, which of the following did not become popular with women? a. They switched to rayon stockings b. They stenciled lines up the back of their legs to imitate stocking seams c. They used a type of makeup to emulate the look of stockings d. Cotton became the material of choice for stockings
19. Stewartstown became the site of a German prisoner of war camp in the summers of 1944-45 because: a. The proximity to Maryland meant that they could work at the Edgewood Arsenal. b. The climate was better for their health. c. They picked fruit and worked in canneries that dotted the area. d. Their nationality reflected the backgrounds of the many Germans living in that area.
20. Nineteen county plants won the coveted Army-Navy ” E” Award reflecting excellence in: a. Plant security during wartime conditions. b. Relaxing employment rules so that men and women workers could join the military. c. Making heavy contributions to war bond sales. d. Production of supplies, equipment and other goods for the military.
Credit: “In The Thick of the Fight: York County, Pa. Counters the Axis Threat in World War II.”
ANSWERS
1. c. 20,600
2. b. 570
3. d. Alexander D. Goode
4. c. 13.8 percent
5. a. Eugene B. Bubb
6. d. 25
7. c. Jacob Loucks Devers
8. d. To liberate Paris
9. a. W.S. Shipley
10. c. York Ice Machinery-York Corporation
11. c. York County Academy
12. b. A soldier, one of six brothers, who lost his life in Italy.
13. a. Serve as a focal point for war bond sales.
14. a. Primarily small family plots used to grow vegetables to feed families at home during wartime food shortages, freeing up supplies for servicemen.
15. c. Manufacturing explosives.
16. a. Out of respect for military men and women, still fighting in the Pacific.
17. a. They served as a popular material for women’s dresses.
18. d. Cotton became the material of choice for stockings
19. c. They picked fruit and worked in canneries that dotted the area.
20. d. Production of supplies, equipment and other goods for the military.
For scores of posts on York County in World War II, see this blog’s WWII category.