One-Front War

Conversion, not reconversion, was the nation's task—conversion to a one-front war.

In Germany, there was an end to foxhole life. But the captives and the war criminals were still coming in. The homeless trudged down the endless roads. The task of occupation had just begun, and many felt that the job ahead in Germany was just as important as the job concluded.

At home, reconversion had started (see Transition), but the U.S. was still on a war economy. Only some of the froufrou had been restored.

The first handful of discharged soldiers returned to their homes, welcomed by families and friends, photographed...