Coronavirus Has Parallels to WW II's Home Front-- From Working At Home to Production Changes in Manitowoc, Wi.-- Part 1

From the Manitowac (Wi) Herald Times Reporter by Shane Lee USA Network.

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc tells the story of the impact of the war on Wisconsin and Midwest.    One point of local pride is that the city built 28 submarines during the war.

By 1943, 200,000 businesses across the country had converted their operations from civilian to military.

The Carron Net Co.  in Two Rivers was known for making fishing nets and nets for sporting events  In 1943, the company received a $1 million contract to make aerial cargo nets, camouflage nets and  and sports nets for troop recreation.  To keep up with orders, part-time workers made nets at home.

By far, the largest change in town was with the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company which switched from building car ferries, tankers, tugs and cutters to making submarines.  The company increased from 500 workers in 1939 to 7,000 a year later.

--GreGen