Nazi ideology greatly impacted German civilian life during World War II by advocating discriminatory practices such as antisemitism and the persecution of "undesirables." The government dominated the arts, media, education, and other facets of public life while using propaganda to cultivate a Hitler cult. Forced labor became a defining feature of the system, and women's possibilities were curtailed.

German propaganda, the rise of an underground resistance, and extensive rationing, movement restrictions, and mandatory blackouts were all part of Dutch life during the 1940–1945 German occupation of the Netherlands. A sizable section of the Jewish people was deported and killed, and the populace was forced to make tough decisions about resistance and cooperation. The complexity of Dutch society's wartime experience led to the emergence of a complicated post-war narrative.

Belgium was brutally occupied by the Germans for four years during World War II, starting with a quick military defeat in May 1940. Only a small percentage of the Jewish population survived the harsh food and fuel shortages, forced labor in German war enterprises, and the systematic persecution and deportation of the Jewish people to concentration camps like Auschwitz.

During World War II, English people had to deal with rationing of food and clothing, air raids, and the constant prospect of danger. However, they also had a strong sense of community and a strong desire to help the war effort. In addition to shortages and disturbances, such as the "blackout" and new wartime jobs, many children had to be evacuated. Due to the common experience of the war, there was a desire for a welfare state after the war, which included national health care and higher social security.

Widespread rationing, a surge in war production that ended the Great Depression, mass migration to industrial hubs, and the mobilization of a sizable military all contributed to the significant transformation of American life during World War II. Women and minorities joined the workforce in previously unheard-of numbers, and the "home front" included civilian initiatives like victory gardens, scrap drives, and buying war bonds.