Mobilizing citizens for defense against “Soviet attack” was an important local activity in the 1950s. The threat of nuclear war was the main context but Cold War (1947-1991) American fears of attack were also influenced by the large-scale bombings during the Second World War (1939-1945.) Civil defense planning included developing plans for evacuation and the construction of underground air raid shelters. As this letter to the Greenfield, Massachusetts, Recorder-Gazette shows, these programs also involved mass training of civilians in first aid techniques.
Greenfield Recorder-Gazette. “Views of Readers: CD Seeks Volunteers.” March 9, 1954. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/l07-020/. Accessed on October 16, 2024.
Please note: Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.