In the course of the war, 15 million men and women were called up into the military. At the time, the entire workforce consisted of only 73 million people. Farming – one of the largest employers in the economy before the war coped with labor shortage, first by putting their wives and kids to work even German and Italian prisoners of war (POWs) but ultimately, the severe shortage of farm labor created major technological innovation improving their tractors and implements. Bill Ganzel.
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