[Stealhead]

I don't see why it isn't when you are in a world war you need troops badly thus you'll take men that in less desperate times might not be allowed entry.

Both my father and uncle who enlisted in the Army and Air Force in the early 60's explained how in basic they asked for those who had at least two years college raise hands. Next they asked for those unable to read to raise hands. Next they said college boys pick one person who can't read and teach them for the duration of basic training as a result both my father and uncle taught a man how to read in less than 90 days.

I highly doubt that Germany or any country for age group who served in WWII had a 100% literacy rate hell no country today dose.

I'd bet during WWII in any beligerants armed force the functional literacy rate was 70~75% lower in the USSR maybe 65%(based on books by Russian soldiers not picking on Russians).