whats a "home front"?

Question

I know there is a wikipedia article on it, but it is complicated and confusing, can you explain it simply?

Answer 1

The introductory part of the wikipedia article is a good, simple explanation:

"The home front is the name given to the activities of the civilians during a state of total war. Life on the home front during World War II was a significant part of the war effort for all participants, and had major impact on the outcome of the war."

For example, my father did not serve during WWII, but he worked in the shipyards in the Bay Area of California. Building ships for the Navy helped the war effort. Before WWII, it was not common for women to continue to work after they got married and especially after they had kids. However, during the war, many of the men were overseas fighting, so women were recruited to do some necessary jobs like factory work (Ref: Rosie the Riveter) that had previously been done by men. My older sister was born a few days before Pearl Harbor, so my mom did not go out to work in the war industries. However, she did other things like grow vegetables for the family and raise rabbits for food. Family gardens were often called "Victory Gardens" because they freed up commercially grown food so that it could be sent to the men fighting.

Some industries were given over to the war effort. Since so many vehicles were needed for the fighting troops, few new cars were available for regular consumers. During a national crisis, like a war, the government has a legal right to "nationalize" a company, that is, take it over for specialized production. I do not know if any were nationalized for WWII, but I think some were.

There was also rationing of regularly needed items like meat, sugar, butter, milk, tires, gasoline, shoes, etc. Families were given ration coupons for a limited amount of rationed items. When you needed shoes, you could not buy a pair without a coupon. Conserving resources was also considered part of the war effort.

Answer 2

When the US was at war during WW2, everyone at home was expected to help. Food and gasoline were rationed, little kids bought savings stamps to support the war, adults bough war bonds, everyone did without many luxuries they had before the war such as silk stockings, new clothes, tires, etc. That was known as the home front as opposed to the war front.