Drafting during World War 2

Answer 1

All combatants used the draft in WWII, and before. The USA started its first peace time draft in its history as a nation ( a bill that passed Congress by just one vote ), just months prior to Pearl Harbor. Like many nations, the USA would draft just about anyone. A few exemptions were made for health issues (ex: Frank Sinatra was exempt due to flat feet, meaning he couldn't march long distances) or criminal background. One of my uncles was exempt for a time due to his job in a 'critical' industry ( he worked on a dairy farm ) but later in the war, 1944, he too was drafted. Interestingly, the Navy and Army drafted freely during the war, but the Marine corp. refused to draft and used entirely volunteers, as they had during their entire history. Late in the war, needing men for a possible invasion of Japan, the Marines did draft for a short time, the marines also drafted for Vietnam. Of course, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Japan drafted. The Soviets drafted men and women en mass without regard to criminal background, health issues, etc. Entire towns and villages were stripped of all manpower and often women-power, with these personnel then pushed right into combat. After the debacle campaign Winter 1941/42 Germany, which already had a limited draft, started a major call up of its manpower. Factories were stripped of males, often replaced with German women or conscript labor from France, Poland, etc. As the war went on the exemptions became fewer and fewer as even the most trained personnel were needed for infantry.

Answer 2

The Selective Service Act was in effect in World War II. It allowed the US government to draft young men into the US Military whether they wanted to or not. It was called forced conscription.