From Trenches to Speakeasies: How World War I Veterans Influenced the Prohibition Era

We’re strolling down memory lane to the Prohibition Era for this piece. Some of you may know it as the Roaring Twenties. 

But this isn’t the version you’d usually hear about with flapper girls, bobbed hair, and jazzy tunes. We’ll get to those, but our story has a twist. It has the grit, the action, and the unlikely heroes — the World War I veterans. 

Prohibition wasn’t just about turning America dry and causing a massive uproar. It’s a saga of resilience, ingenuity, and rebellion.

It’s a story where our doughboys, fresh from Europe’s muddy trenches, found themselves at the center of a new war, waged not with bullets and bayonets but with bottles of forbidden booze and law enforcement badges.

Between swigs of bootlegged whiskey, late-night runs smuggling hooch, and trading military uniforms for either speakeasy suits or the badges of law enforcement, these war heroes found themselves navigating a world that was changing faster than a fox-trot tempo.

Setting the Scene: The Aftermath of the War to End All Wars’ 

First things first, let’s set the scene. Picture this: It’s the early 20th century. America emerged from World War I, also known as the “Great War” or the “War to End All Wars.” 

Over 4 million American soldiers had served, and now they were back home, forever changed by their experiences in Europe’s muddy trenches and gas-filled battlegrounds. 

They’ve faced the horrors of war, and now they’re expected to return to ‘normal’ life like nothing happened.

An Unexpected Change: The 18th Amendment and Prohibition 

Around the same time, the U.S. government decided to ban alcohol. On January 17, 1920, the Volstead Act came into effect, enforcing the 18th Amendment. 

The idea is to solve a whole heap of society’s problems, but it does the exact opposite. 

In one fell swoop, it was illegal to manufacture, sell, or transport alcoholic beverages in the country, and we entered the Prohibition Era.

A Soldier’s Discontent: Veterans Face an Alcohol-Free America

War changes people. And many veterans returning home weren’t too happy about this new alcohol-free world. They’ve just risked their lives for their country, and now they’re told they can’t enjoy a beer at the end of the day? It felt like a slap in the face to many.

The soldier’s discontent was more profound than mere disappointment. It was a stark confrontation with a rapidly changing society that seemed more alien by the day. 

Sharing a drink for fallen comrades or a moment of respite amid turmoil was all gone. The soldiers had left a war overseas only to face a new kind of battle on their home turf — a struggle for rights, freedom, and in many ways, for the nation’s identity. 

The Prohibition era had begun, and the veterans were again on the front lines.

Dodging the Law: Veterans in the Illicit Alcohol Trade 

So what happened? Some vets straight-up ignored the law. They’d frequent the secret bars, known as speakeasies, that popped up everywhere. And who can blame them? 

These underground establishments offered great music, vibrant crowds, flapper girls dancing, and, most importantly, a chance to enjoy a forbidden drink.

Other vets saw the Prohibition era as a business opportunity. Using their military skills, discipline, and often international contacts, they dove into smuggling booze, making a pretty penny on the side. 

These bootleggers would haul alcohol from Canada and the Caribbean or brew homemade moonshine to keep the speakeasies stocked.

A Different Kind of Battle: Veterans Take on Organized Crime

Let’s not kid ourselves here — Prohibition might’ve been a buzzkill. Still, it also brought along a dangerous underbelly far from a party. Crime organizations saw the nationwide alcohol ban as an open invitation to print money.

These weren’t small-time operations, either. We’re talking large-scale, organized syndicates, like Chicago’s notorious Al Capone gang. It was a time when the mob ruled the roost, running complex networks of bootlegging, speakeasies, and corruption.

Now, remember those vets we were talking about? Many of them weren’t thrilled about the lawlessness taking over their cities. Some of these battle-hardened veterans decided to put their skills to good use to uphold law and order. 

They joined the police force, bringing their discipline, tactical skills, and no-nonsense attitude to law enforcement. In a time when cops often found themselves outgunned and outmanned by gangsters, these vets were a valuable addition to the force.

And then you had those who became private security or bodyguards for businesses — legal or otherwise. Some ended up protecting the speakeasies that served bootlegged alcohol, keeping rival gangsters and overzealous cops at bay.

The Impact of World War I Veterans on the Prohibition Era

The influence of these veterans wasn’t just about the roles they played. It was also about the spirit they embodied – resilience, rebellion, and standing up for what they believed was their due. 

This spirit fueled the resistance against Prohibition, ultimately leading to its repeal with the 21st Amendment in 1933.

And let’s remember the cultural impact. Veterans were frequent patrons of speakeasies, where they rubbed shoulders with everyday folks, jazz musicians, flappers, and writers. 

This mixing of social classes and experiences played a significant role in shaping the cultural dynamism of the Roaring Twenties. 

So, when you think about the Prohibition Era, remember to raise your glass to the World War I vets. Their courage, resilience, and stubbornness left a lasting imprint on that period. 

They navigated the complexities of the time with the same tenacity they’d shown on the war front, leaving behind a legacy deeply intertwined with one of American history’s most colorful and tumultuous periods.