How did the Servicemen shave in WWII?

[Chrisarelli]

I'm a huge history and WWII buff. My grandfather served as an officer in the army engineers during the war, but sadly he passed away when I was young and I never got to ask him so many questions. Does anyone out there know what shaving items were issued to the men over seas? We're they using straights or DEs? I'm assuming there were army barbers that the men could go to for a shave once they were off the line? With Veterans Day this week it just made me curious. Also to the B&B veterans and active duty military out there thank you. We are forever in your debt.

 

[jasonjmccoy]

In the video footage I've seen, DE's and a canteen cup fill of water

 

[Demaskee]

During WWII they shaved with DEs. Gillette made a model specifically for the service members called the contract tech that was powder coated black on the head and handle.

 

[Chrisarelli]

During WWII they shaved with DEs. Gillette made a model specifically for the service members called the contract tech that was powder coated black on the head and handle.

Wow! That's so great to know, and cool that Gillette designed one specifically for them.

 

[dpm802]

Bill Mauldin, the famed WW2 Combat Cartoonist, usually portrayed his characters Willy and Joe as looking quite scruffy, with at least a week's worth of stubble and rough around the edges haircuts.

He did directly address shaving in several of his cartoons. I've posted them here in a few different threads, but I can't find them right now. Maybe someone else can dig them up, and in the meantime, I'll keep looking.

 

[Demaskee]

Here is a link to the Razor. It looks like they made a few models:

http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/Tech/1942 (M2 on blade) John Holaks WW II issue Tech.JPG

http://www.mr-razor.com/Rasierer/Tech/1939-1945 WWII Tech.JPG

 

[KW Driver]

I'm a huge history and WWII buff. My grandfather served as an officer in the army engineers during the war, but sadly he passed away when I was young and I never got to ask him so many questions. Does anyone out there know what shaving items were issued to the men over seas? We're they using straights or DEs? I'm assuming there were army barbers that the men could go to for a shave once they were off the line? With Veterans Day this week it just made me curious. Also to the B&B veterans and active duty military out there thank you. We are forever in your debt.

Ha... That's good for a laugh. At least they could drink, and generally find it in cellars/houses.

 

[xillion]

Love this image.



This American soldier shaves in the cold during a lull in the fighting in the Battle of the Bulge.

It always reminds me of this scene from Band of Brothers.

 

[garyg]

The boys in Brooklyn also did their part in the Big One, these GEM Juniors came with blades designated for the men overseas ..

 

[xillion]

There are some images of a WWII Autostrop here.

And a few others here.

 

[Chrisarelli]

Ha... That's good for a laugh. At least they could drink, and generally find it in cellars/houses.

I figured in the USOs or officers clubs they would have had something for the men just coming back. Good to know they could find drinks though. I'm sure a warm shot of whiskey was much needed

 

[Chrisarelli]

Chris ​great image!! I've never seen that before

 

[FL shaver]

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/190314-WWII-Shave
As mentioned in the thread, there are many great WWII photos where those came from!
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/wwii-foxhole-shave-historic-image.html Another great collection!

 

[xillion]

Chris ​great image!! I've never seen that before

The source of the image is linked below. There are many great images there.

http://www.angelfire.com/ak2/intelligencerreport/war2.html

 

[dpm802]

Found those Mauldin cartoons!

See this thread ... posts #10 and #11.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/163840-Shaving-in-art?highlight=bill+mauldin

 

[Dave Colangelo]

I have a ball end tech that is stamped US army on the bottom of the head (where the Gillette logo typically is). I always assumed that's what they used but there may have been various items issued. I have also seen pics of a military issued shaving kit made out of green fabric that all rolls up nicely. From what I have read shaving was taken seriously in the military not only because it was required to look clean but there was a fear of germs and other medical issues like lice that could get into facial hair.

Regards
Dave

 

[KW Driver]

The number one reason to shave is so that you get a good seal on the face with a gas mask.

More importantly, conformity to uniformity is the cornerstone of comfort to command types. An easily measured scale of personal discipline. "If it looks good, it is good" goes a long way.

 

[Dutch_BoB]

Can somebody identify the aftershave that is on the wooden box in the photo of the shaving GI?

 

[Topgumby]

I don't think the combat guys in WWII were very concerned about gas mask sealing, or the sanitary aspects of beards. I'd say that US soldiers and Marines shaved because they were told to, and they were told to because it was the norm for uniformity and ideal military appearance at that time. Sailors were another matter, and IIRC, beards in the Navy weren't really done away with until the 1980's.

Besides Mauldin's terrific drawings, photos abound of combat types who ignored shaving regs until they were ordered to clean up. Some combat officers probably made it a point to make their men shave no matter what the conditions, and others probably only cared when somebody with more rank made them.

Those in the rear with the gear probably paid much more attention to grooming standards.

 

[russhatch]

beards in the Navy weren't really done away with until the 1980's.

It was New Years Eve 1984 going into 1985 - we had a shave down on the hanger deck ... thanks for bringing back a memory.