AIP
4
Designation Detr@it
A Step Back In Time
New Detroit Historical Museum exhibition to focus on 'Arsenal of Democracy,'
Peter Poulos I Special to the Jewish News
Photos provided by Detroit Historical Society, Walter P. Reuther Library at Wayne State University
rsenal of Democracy. A
simple mention of this
phrase stirs powerful
images — and, in some
cases, memories — in the minds of
those who call Metro Detroit home.
It's come to symbolize the way De-
troiters mobilized to aid the effort
during Word War II, leading the way
as American industries converted
their production from civilian goods
to war material.
Detroit's role as the "Arsenal of
Democracy" is indeed well-doc-
umented and is one of the most
important stories in the history of
our region. And yet, until now, that
story has not been fully told at the
Detroit Historical Museum — which
is why when the Detroit Historical
Society began planning the enhance
ments that would be made as a re-
sult of its Past>Forward Campaign,
the decision to highlight this story
was an easy one.
"It's a story that needs to be
told," said Society Senior Curator
A
Joel Stone. "When you look back
on our exhibitions over the years,
we've certainly touched on it in vari-
ous ways. But we've never told the
complete story, which is why we're
excited to be featuring this as one
of the three new and permanent
exhibits at the Detroit Historical
Museum when it reopens on Friday,
Nov. 23, following a six-month clo-
sure for renovations.
"What we want to tell is more than
just about what we produced. It's
a story about the effects that this
effort had on our region socially as
well as economically. It's about the
impact that this had on not just the
war effort but on the home front,
an impact that in many ways we still
feel today. Detroit changed the war,
but the war also changed Detroit."
Pearl Sharfman Leinoff
Jewish Connection
One of the lives that were forever
changed on the home front was that
of Pearl Sharfman Leinoff. She was
24 years old when Pearl Harbor was
attacked. Leinoff grew up in Detroit
ome of the many ways
petroit changed the war...
but the war also
changed Detroit"
the daughter of a tailor and a home-
maker. After studying for two years
at Wayne University, she landed a
job in the Alcohol Tax Unit of the
Bureau of Internal Revenue in Wash-
ington, D.C. She soon returned to
Detroit to work at the local regional
of the same organization.
When wartime activities escalated
in Detroit, Leinoff became a dedi-
cated volunteer. As one of the "Gray
Ladies" of the American Red Cross,
she provided companionship to
hospitalized soldiers by chatting,
bringing newspapers and writing
their letters home. Later she helped
staff the Blood Bank canteens.
In what free time was left, she
assisted the local Jewish Welfare
Board in providing USO dances and
entertainment for troops mustered
or stationed in Detroit and at Fort
Custer near Battle Creek. Her efforts
earned her an "E for Excellence"
award from the government as well
as the appreciation of many GIs.
She met her husband, Martin
Jan.. 14, 1942
Heavyweight champ
Joe Louis inducted
into Army
June 20, 1943
Nearly three days of
race riots leave 34 dead
and 675 injured
April 24, 1941
First tank rolls off
the assembly line at
Chrysler's Detroit
Arsenal tank plant
ay 24, 1940
;: Bill Knudsen asked
by FDR to resign as
- head of GM and lead
. build up of American
defense production
•
Dec. 29, 1940
,
During "fireside chat,"
FDR states that U.S
"must be the great
arsenal of democracy"
34
August 16 tt 2012
June 30, 1944
Dec. 12, 1941
First reported Detroit
area casualty of war as
telegram delivered to
Marsh family in Grosse
Pointe announces that
Navy Ensign Ben Marsh,
Jr. killed in action at
Pearl Harbor
FDR appoints Frank
Murphy, former
Detroit mayor and
Michigan governor,
head of National
Committee Against
Nazi Persecution and
Extermination of the
Jews
SPONSORED SECTION BY:
QuickenLoans-
Engineered to Amaze