During World War II, to deter air and submarine attacks, the Federal government's Office of Civilian Defense and the various State Defense Councils enforced a variety of blackout restrictions. This was particularly important along Florida's long, exposed coastline, where lights from houses, hotels, and amusement parks could silhouette allied merchant ships and make them inviting targets for German U-Boats. Civil Defense wardens enforced these blackout regulations, which remained in effect for the duration of the war. Reproduced here are blackout orders issued by Florida Governor Spessard Holland and the commanding officer of Key West and distributed by the Civilian Defense Council of Palm Beach.
Blackout orders for Palm Beach, Florida
