Office of Civilian Defense

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The Office of Civilian Defense was a U.S. federal agency during World War II responsible for coordinating civil defense measures such as air raid precautions, blackout drills, and civilian volunteer programs on the home front.

Aliases (3)
  • Associate Director of Civilian Defense ×1
  • Civilian Protection Division ×1
  • Office of Civil Defense ×1

Statements (45)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal agency
civil defense organization
appliesToJurisdiction United States
conflict World War II
country United States
dateOfFoundationLegalAct 1941-05-20
dissolutionReason end of World War II and reorganization of federal wartime agencies
dissolved 1945
employer Eleanor Roosevelt
Fiorello H. La Guardia
James M. Landis
Robert P. Patterson
various state and local civil defense coordinators
fieldOfWork civil defense
emergency preparedness
home front mobilization
foundedBy Franklin D. Roosevelt
hasPart Civilian Protection Division
Civilian War Services Division
headquartersLocation Washington, D.C.
inception 1941
legalBasis Executive Order 8757
mainRegulatoryText manuals and bulletins on civilian defense procedures
notableWork air raid warden program
blackout and dim-out regulations guidance
civilian protection training materials
civilian volunteer service programs
public education on air raid precautions
operatingPeriod World War II home front
parentOrganization Executive Office of the President of the United States
positionHeld Assistant Director of Civilian Defense
Associate Director of Civilian Defense
Director of Civilian Defense
purpose coordination of blackout drills
coordination of civilian defense activities in the United States during World War II
organization of air raid precautions
organization of civilian volunteer programs
protection of civilians and property from enemy attack
replacedBy Civilian Production Administration
various postwar civil defense responsibilities in other agencies
significantEvent coordination of civilian defense drills in major U.S. cities
development of standardized civil defense insignia and uniforms
nationwide organization of air raid wardens
promotion of volunteerism for wartime home front activities
subordinateTo President of the United States


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