State of War: A History of World War II in Florida

Medium Used: Hardcover
Rating:
Released: September 23, 2025

Publisher: University Press of Florida

Prof. Anthony Atwood has written an informative and engaging history of the roles that the State of Florida played before, during, and after the Second World War. An initial chapter documents both the demographics of its prewar population and the critical geographic place that Florida played in the logistics of the war effort. Two chapters then provide details on the development of the prewar buildup of both Naval and Army aviation bases for the training of necessary naval and military personnel for the coming effort. He provides a detailed analysis of the critical role of the state as the taking off point for the South Atlantic route by which planes, personnel and supplies were brought into the European, North African, Middle East and China-Burma-India theaters of operations.

A following chapter outlines the importance of the battles of the Gulf Sea Frontier framed in the context of the Mahanian view of the guerre de course waged by German U-boats against Allied logistic support of the war effort. Other chapters review the development of the multiple training units and commands that were developed throughout the state as well as the critical role that women and minorities played, and the support provided by medical facilities to returning casualties.

Another chapter documents the key role that Florida played in the training of bomber squadrons and their subsequent engagements in major theaters in the fight against both the Germans and the Japanese. With the war coming to a rapid conclusion brought about by atomic weapons, Atwood details the changes wrought by the war on Florida as well as the influence that Florida produced on the war’s conduct. His documentation is extensive and provides background materials that are brought together in ways that would be difficult to find in such a compact and useful manner.

Despite the technical material that is provided, his narrative is lucid and lively and weaves the broad patterns and events of the Second World War together with the specific focus of the multifaceted roles of the State of Florida in its successful conduct and conclusion. State of War is a valuable endeavor for the casual reader as well as the expert historian.

Author: Anthony D. Atwood

Reviewer: Peter L. Andrus MD MBA, RADM SHCE/MC USN (Ret)
Past Commander General, Naval Order of the United States