Abuse of Veterans in Great Depression

A common theme in movies and songs during the early phases of the Great Depression was the abuse of World War One veterans. They fought for their country and now were unemployed, homeless, etc. This notion was reinforced by the Bonus March in 1932 on Washington, DC, in which veterans demanded early payment of a promised bonus that was not due until years later. President Hoover called out troops to put down the march and the result was the spectacle of former soldiers attacked by current soldiers. The GI bill after World War Two was an attempt to insure no repeat of such events. The scenes here are from the 1933 film, Heroes for Sale.

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News & Politics

Tags:

• veterans
• WW1
• Great-Depression
• homeless
• unemployment