Demobilization of United States Armed Forces after World War II

The Demobilization of United States armed forces after the Second World War began with the defeat of Germany in May 1945 and continued through 1946.

By June 30, 1947, the number of active duty soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen in the armed forces had been reduced to 1,566,000.

[2] 100,000 men were being drafted per month to replace soldiers in the army who were killed, wounded, and injured or who were discharged for medical problems.

As early as mid-1943, the United States Army had recognized that, once victory was achieved, bringing the troops home would be a priority.

Army Chief of Staff General George Marshall established committees to address the logistical problem.

The point system, called the Adjusted Service Rating Score, had the objective of achieving equity in the demobilization.

[8] Additional replacement soldiers were in the pipeline to be assigned to Europe although overall force levels had been declining for several months as the war wound down.

Elaborate schemes of education and travel were attempted by the military to maintain morale during the waiting period.

When Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945, the demand for rapid demobilization from soldiers, their families, and Congress became unstoppable and all previous plans became moot.

Ten aircraft carriers, 26 cruisers, and six battleships were converted into troopships to bring soldiers home from Europe and the Pacific.

In December 1945, the Navy barred 123 African-American soldiers from sailing home because they could "not be segregated" on a troop ship.

[17] The rapid demobilization of American servicemen threatened to create a shortage of manpower for the responsibilities of occupying Germany, Austria, and Japan.

The army offered free travel to families of servicemen if the soldier agreed to remain overseas for two years.

Occupation troops in Europe were offered a 17-day European tour for the nominal price of between 25 and 35 dollars (roughly $390 to $550 in 2023).

In addition, the number of conscripts being drafted into the army was smaller than those needed to replace demobilized soldiers.

A new (and highly unpopular) Selective Service Act of 1948 restored conscription as a response to challenges by the Soviet Union in Greece and Berlin.