The Texas World War II Home Front
Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas
Marker Inscription
World War II brought a shared sense of patriotism and purpose to the Texas home front as civilians benefited from new or expanded war industry jobs, such as petroleum, lumber, bomber manufacturing and farming. However, the large number of Texans seeking employment in larger cities or joining the military created an extreme labor shortage in many smaller communities. Across the state, groups worked to alleviate the labor crisis. Johnson County succeeded in June 1944 with the establishment of Camp Cleburne for German Prisoners of War (POWs) here, with the First State Bank of Rio Vista guarantying funds to the U.S. government for POW wages. By war’s end, Camp Cleburne––one of nearly 70 camps across the state housing more than 50,000 POWs––provided 120 Johnson County farms with necessary agricultural labor during the war. Prior to the war, National Guard units trained across Texas preparing for America’s eventual entry into the war. One such unit, Battery B., 132nd Field Artillery, 36th Infantry Division (I.D.) trained in Johnson County. In 1942, the 36th I.D. mobilized for overseas deployment and the patriotic Texas spirit shone brightly as the unit rolled through Cleburne in Feb. 1942 to the cheers of hundreds of Johnson County residents. By 1945, nearly 1.2 million troops trained at army posts, airfields and naval bases in Texas. Texans looked to volunteer civically while enduring shortages and inconveniences necessary to support the war effort. The Johnson County Draft Board and Rationing Board were housed in the county courthouse. In addition, local residents participated in civilian oriented programs, such as blackout and air raid drills, Civil Air Patrol, victory gardens, scrap drives, volunteering at USOs and working war bond drives. Texans responded in great numbers to their nation’s call and served both overseas and stateside in WWII. The resulting military buildup served as the catalyst toward the modernization and urbanization of Texas. Texas in World War II - 2010
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
World War II transformed the Texas home front as civilians took up new jobs in petroleum, lumber, bomber manufacturing and farming, even as enlistment drained smaller towns of labor. Johnson County answered its 1944 farm-labor crisis by establishing Camp Cleburne, one of nearly 70 Texas camps holding more than 50,000 German POWs, whose workers supplied 120 local farms. Meanwhile National Guard units like Battery B of the 36th Infantry Division trained here before shipping overseas in 1942, and by war's end nearly 1.2 million troops had trained at Texas bases.
Why it matters
The wartime buildup described here catalyzed the modernization and urbanization of Texas, showing how the home front reshaped a state even as its soldiers fought abroad.
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Related events
- · World War II
- · Camp Cleburne POW camp
Themes & tags
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