World War II On the Home Front

Petroleum Administration for War Rationing Advertisement

The Petroleum Administration for War (PAW) was the Federal agency responsible for ensuring the supply of gasoline and other petroleum products during World War II. The PAW worked with representatives of petroleum-industry businesses to ensure that the military had an adequate supply of gasoline while necessary defense industries could still function and that there would be enough left over for civilians to receive the amount guaranteed them by rationing. This advertisement was published in newspapers in order to encourage civilians to minimize their use of gasoline.

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Advertisement paid for by gasoline companies.

Above Document in PDF format: Handout for Students

Citation: Record Group 253, Records of the Petroleum Industry for War. District 5 Office, Los Angeles, CA. Office of the District Director-in-Charge. General Correspondence and Reference Files, 1943-1945. Box 479. Held by the National Archives & Records Administration -- Pacific Region (Riverside).

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