Military production during World War II

Women metalworkers during the siege of Leningrad
Russian women working in city factory at the height of the Siege of Leningrad.
Assembly line of Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6s fighters in a German aircraft factory.

Military production during World War II includes the arms, ammunitions, natural resources, personnel and financing which were mobilized for the war. Military production, in this article, means everything produced by the belligerents from the occupation of Austria in early 1938 to the surrender and occupation of Japan in late 1945.

The mobilization of funds, people, natural resources and matériel for the production and supply of military equipment and military forces during World War II was a critical component of the war effort. During the conflict, the Allies outpaced the Axis powers in most production categories. Access to the funding and industrial resources necessary to sustain the war effort was linked to their respective economic and political alliances. As formerly neutral powers (such as the United States) joined the escalating conflict, territory changed hands, combatants were defeated, the balance of power shifted in favour of the Allies (as did the means to sustain the military production required to win the war).

Historical context

German-language poster illustrating wartime production
German poster entitled "Designing and Building the East".

During the 1930s, political forces in Germany increased their financial investment in the military to develop the armed forces required to support near- and long-term political and territorial goals. Germany's economic, scientific, research and industrial capabilities were one of the most technically advanced in the world at the time and supported a rapidly growing, innovative military. However, access to (and control of) the resources and production capacity required to entertain long-term goals (such as European control, German territorial expansion and the destruction of the USSR) were limited. Political demands necessitated the expansion of Germany's control of natural and human resources, industrial capacity and farmland beyond its borders. Germany's military production was tied to resources outside its area of control, a dynamic not found amongst the Allies.

In 1938 the British Commonwealth was a global superpower, with political and economic control of a quarter of the world's population, industry and resources. From 1938 to mid-1942, the British coordinated the Allied effort in all global theatres. They fought the German, Italian, Japanese and Vichy armies, air forces and navies across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, India, the Mediterranean and in the Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Arctic Oceans. British forces destroyed Italian armies in North and East Africa and occupied overseas colonies of occupied European nations. Following engagements with Axis forces, British Empire troops occupied Libya, Italian Somaliland, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran and Iraq. The Empire funded and delivered needed supplies by Arctic convoys to the USSR, and supported Free French forces to recapture French Equatorial Africa. Britain also established governments in exile in London to rally support in occupied Europe for the Allied effort. The British defeated, held back or slowed the Axis powers for three years while mobilizing their globally integrated economy and industrial infrastructure to build what became, by 1942, the most extensive military apparatus of the war. This allowed their later allies (such as the United States) to mobilise their economies and develop the military forces required to play a role in the war effort, and for the British to go on the offensive in its theatres of operation.

Mushroom-shaped cloud
The first atomic bomb.

The entry of the United States into the war in late 1941 injected financial, human and industrial resources into Allied operations. The US produced more than its own military forces required and armed itself and its allies for the most industrialized war in history.[1] At the beginning of the war, the British and French placed large orders for aircraft with American manufacturers and the US Congress approved plans to increase its air forces by 3,000 planes. In May 1940, Franklin D. Roosevelt called for the production of 185,000 aeroplanes, 120,000 tanks, 55,000 anti-aircraft guns and 18 million tons of merchant shipping in two years. Adolf Hitler was told by his advisors that this was American propaganda; in 1939, annual aircraft production for the US military was less than 3,000 planes. By the end of the war US factories had produced 300,000 planes,[2][3] and by 1944 had produced two-thirds of the Allied military equipment used in the war—bringing military forces into play in North and South America, the Caribbean, the Atlantic, Western Europe and the Pacific.

The U.S. produced vast quantities of military equipment into late 1945, including nuclear weapons, and became the strongest, most technologically advanced military forces in the world. In addition to out-producing the Axis, the Allies produced technological innovations; through the Tizard Mission, British contributions included radar (instrumental in winning the Battle of Britain), sonar (improving their ability to sink U-boats), and the proximity fuze; the Americans led the Manhattan Project (which eliminated the need to invade Japan). The proximity fuze, for example, was five times as effective as contact or timed fuzes and was devastating in naval use against Japanese aircraft and so effective against German ground troops that General George S. Patton said it "won the Battle of the Bulge for us."[4]

The human and social costs of the war on the population of the USSR were immense, with combat deaths alone in the millions. Recognising the importance of their population and industrial production to the war effort, the USSR evacuated the majority of its European territory—moving 2,500 factories, 17 million people and great quantities of resources to the east.[5] Out of German reach, the USSR produced equipment and forces critical to the Axis defeat in Europe. Over one million women served in the Soviet armed forces.

Overhead view of assembly lines in large airplane factory
Assembly line production of fighter aircraft near Niagara Falls, New York.

The statistics below illustrate the extent to which the Allies outproduced the Axis. Production of machine tools tripled, and thousands of ships were built in shipyards which did not exist before the war.[6] According to William S. Knudsen, "We won because we smothered the enemy in an avalanche of production, the like of which he had never seen, nor dreamed possible."[7]

Access to resources and large, controlled international labour pools and the ability to build arms in relative peace were critical to the eventual victory of the Allies. Donald Douglas (founder of the Douglas Aircraft Company) declared, "Here's proof that free men can out-produce slaves."[8]

Production summaries 1939–1945

Personnel

Service Allies Axis
Combat 25 24
Auxiliary x23 x22
Merchant Marine x21 x20
Irregulars x19 x18
Total 80,000,000 30,000,000

Major weapons groups

System Allies Axis
Tanks, self-propelled artillery, vehicles 4,358,649 670,288
Artillery, mortars, guns 6,792,696 1,363,491
Aircraft 637,248 229,331
Missiles (only for test) 45,458
Ships 54,932 1,670

Economy

In thousands of international dollars, at 2014 prices.

Service Allies Axis
GDP 9,770,790,872.32 10,268,201,776.37
Expenditure

[9]

Vital commerce and raw materials

To move raw materials and supply distant forces, large numbers of cargo ships had to be built
Category Allies Axis
Cargo ships 47,118 x
Merchant shipping 46,817,172 5,621,967
Coal 4,581,400,000 2,629,900,000
Crude oil 1,043,000,000 66,000,000
Steel 733,006,633 x
Aluminium 5,104,697 1,199,150
Asbestos 3,934,043 x

Production overview: service, power and type

Land forces

Power Tanks & SPGs Armoured vehicles Other vehicles Artillery Mortars Machine guns Personnel
British Empire47,86247,4201,475,521226,113239,5401,090,41011,192,533
USA and territories102,4102,382,311257,390105,0552,679,84010,000,000
USSR106,025197,100516,648200,3001,477,40034,401,807
Other
Allies256,29747,4204,054,9321,000,151544,8955,247,650
Germany and territories67,429345,914159,14773,484674,2801,000,730 16,540,835
Hungary9084474,583
Romania912512,80010,000
Italian Empire3,36883,0007,20022,000
Japanese Empire4,524165,94513,35029,000380,000
Other
Axis76,320346,165408,09297,281725,2801,395,313

Air forces

Power Total Fighters Attack Bombers Recon Transport Training Other Personnel
British Empire 177,02538,78633,81138,1587,01412,58546,2564151,927,395
USA and territories 324,00099,000 97,000 23,90057,000 2,400,000
USSR 136,22322,30137,54921,116 17,3324,061
Other
Allies637,248164,08771,360156,2747,01452,917107,317420
Germany and territories 133,38757,6538,99128,5775,0258,39614,31111,3613,402,200
Romania 1,113513272128020000
Italian Empire 13,4026,157343,3813882,4719683
Japanese Empire 71,58026,54821,63913,8393,7091,0733,4201,376
Other 9,84988143953181,8805,14557
Axis229,33891,75230,93646,32011,0029,17622,94412,794
Power Total large ships Carriers Battleships Cruisers Destroyers Frigates Corvettes Sloops Patrol boats Submarines De/ Mining Landing craft Personnel
British Empire89041(24)6[note 1]102291209387334,2092381,2449,5381,227,415
USA and territories6,771124(101)84834924535,000x
USSR2[note 2]22552
Other
Allies 165(125)16 152665209 38733 4,2095681,24444,538
Germany & territories12171,1525401,500,000
Italian Empire136663
Japanese Empire182963199
Romania825
Other
Axis'''''''1,416

During the war, Romania built the minelayer Amiral Murgescu, the submarines Rechinul and Marsuinul, a class of four minesweepers, a class of two gunboats[10] and completed six British Power Boat motor torpedo boats.[11][12]

Commercial forces

British Empire USA USSR Germany Hungary Italy Japan Romania
Harbour craft 1,092
Cargo 1,361
Cargo tonnage 12,823,942 33,993,230 1,469,606 4,152,361

Resources

Country Coal Iron ore Crude oil Steel Aluminium Nickel Zinc
USA 2,149.7 396.9 833.2
Britain[13] 1,441.2 119.2 90.8 3.700 0.205
Australia 83.1 1.56
India[14] 196.7 6.0 1.12
Canada 101.9 3.6 8.4 16.4 3.500[15]
New Zealand[16] 18
USSR 590.8 71.3 110.6 0.263[17] 0.069[18] 0.384[18]
Total Allied 4581.4 597 1043
Germany 2,420.3 240.7 33.4[19] 1.9[20] 0.046[20] 2.1[20]
Japan 184.5 21.0 5.2
Italy 16.9 4.4
Hungary 6.6 14.1 3.1
Romania 1.6 10.8 25.0
Total Axis 2629.9 291

All figures in millions of tonnes

Reference data for summary tables

The relationship in GDP between the major Allied and Axis powers 1938-1945.

GDP

GDP provides insight into the relative strength of the belligerents in the run up to, and during the conflict.

Gross domestic product[nb 1][21][22]
Country 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945
United Kingdom 284 287 316 344 353 361 346 331
Dominions 115
Colonies 285
British Empire 684 687 716 744 753 761 746 731
France 186 199 82 130 116 110 93 101
Colonies 49
French Empire 235 248 131 179 165 159 142 150
Soviet Union 359 366 417 359 274 305 362 343
Occupied
Soviet Union Total 359 366 417 359 274 305 362 343
United States 800 869 943 1094 1235 1399 1499 1474
Colonies 24
United States Total 824 893 968 1118 1259 1423 1523 1498
German Reich 351 384 387 412 417 426 437 310
Occupied 77 430 733 733 430 244
German Reich Total 351 461 817 1145 1150 856 681 310
Italy 141 151 147 144 145 137 117 92
Colonies 3
Occupied 20 20 20 20
Italian Empire 144 154 170 167 168 160 140 115
Japan 169 184 192 196 197 194 189 144
Colonies 63
Occupied
Japanese Empire 232 247 255 159 160 157 152 207
Romania 24
Hungary 24
Bulgaria 10
Albania 1

Romanian, Hungarian, Bulgarian and Albanian GDP calculated by multiplying the GDP per capita of the four countries in 1938 ($1,242 for Romania, $2,655 for Hungary, $1,595 for Bulgaria and over $900 for Albania)[23] by their estimated populations in 1938: 19,750,000 for Romania,[24] 9,082,400 for Hungary,[25] 6,380,000 for Bulgaria and[26] and 1,040,400 for Albania.[27]

  1. Billions of international dollars, at 1990 prices. Adjusted annually for changing compositions within each alliance.

Table notes

  1. France to Axis: 1940:50% (light green), 1941-44:100% (brown)
  2. USSR to Allies: 1941:44% (light green), 1942-1945:100%.
  3. US direct support to the Allies begins with Lend Lease in March 1941, though the US made it possible for the Allies to purchase US-produced materiel from 1939[28]
  4. Italy to Allies and Axis: 1938:0%, 1939-1943:100% Axis (brown), 1944-1945:100% Allies
  5. Japanese to Axis begins with Tripartite Pact in 1940
  6. The Allied and Axis totals are not the immediate sum of the table values; see the distribution rules used above.

Personnel - Allied - British Empire

Including all non-British subjects in British services.[29]

Army Army (female) Navy Navy (female) Marines Air Force Air Force (female) Auxiliary Merchant marine Partisans Total combat Other labour
Aden 1,200
Australia727,70324,02636,9763,0000124,00727,0004,500942,712
Argentine volunteers1,7001,70059914,000
Basutoland/Bechuana/Swaziland10,00036,000
Free Belgian Forces42,3001,2001,90045,770370
Britain 3,300,000 210,309865,000 74,00078,500 1,208,000181,909 1,500,000 185,000 7,602,718
B. Indian Ocean6,5006,500
Canada705,37425,25199,8227,100222,50127,12382,16318,0001,187,334
Caribbean / Bermuda10,000
Ceylon 26,000
Chinese volunteers10,00010,000
Cyprus30,00030,000
Czech volunteers4,0002,0006,000
East Africa200,000228,000
Egypt100,000100,000
Falklands 200
Fiji7,0001,0717,000
Free French Forces3,700203,720
Free Greek5,0008,50025014,000
Gibraltar 700
Guiana, British321042334819631
Hong Kong2,2002,200
India2,500,00011,00045,94730,00050,0002,586,95714,000,000
Ireland70,00070,000
Lesoto 21,000 21,000
Free Luxembourg8000000000080
Malaysia1,50001,45000003,21504,80010,965
Malta 8,200
Mauritius 6,800 3,500
Nepal250,280000000000250,280
Free Dutch4,0001,000000100000006,000
Newfoundland3,5035002,889007120010,000021,2043,600
New Zealand125,0003,90510,139700037,2504,750124,0003,0000308,744
Free Norway4,00007,500002,700000014,200
Palestine25,00000000000025,000
Free Polish215,00004,0000020,0000000239,000
Seychelles 1,500
Sudan20,00000000000020,000
South Africa334,000013,26928075012,000000359,624
Southern Africa77,76700000000077,767
St Helena 250
Tonga 2,000
USA volunteers000008,00000008,000
West Africa130,000000010,0000000146,000
West Indies10,000040000005,5608000055,640
British Empire 9,122,660 276,0011,142,335 85,080 78,575 1,674,532 252,863 1,717,297 281,3004,80014,692,64414,004,001

Note:

  1. Auxiliary units include Home Guard, Reserves, Police regiments, etc.

Personnel - Axis - German Reich

Including all non-German subjects in German services.

Army Army (female) Navy Navy (female) Marines Air Force Air Force (female) Auxiliary Merchant marine Partisans Total combat Other labour
Albania9,0009,000
Arab legion20,00020,000
Belgium22,00022,000
British Empire3,5003,500
Bulgaria30,00090,000
Croatia 55,50050040032,00088,400
Czech
Denmark12,00012,000
Finland vol2,5002,500
France & territories8,0004,5005,08017,580 348,500
Germany & territories14,793,2001,500,0003,400,00019,693,200
Greece 22,00022,000
Hungary40,00040,000
Italy18,00018,000
Luxembourg12,03512,035
Netherlands45,00045,000
Norway50,0001,5001,50053,000
Poland 75,00045,000120,000
Portugal200200
Romania55,00055,000
Serbia10,00010,000
Slovakia
Slovenia6,0006,000
Spain 47,00047,000
Sweden300300
Switzerland800800
USA2020
USSR1,051,000300100,0001,151,300
German Reich 16,336,7551,506,5003,402,200204,08021,449,535 348,000

Note:

  1. Auxiliary units include Home Guard, Wehrmachtsgefolge, Reserves, Police regiments, etc.
  2. USSR includes Armenia 4k SS,14k Wehr, 7k Aux; Azerbaijan 55k SS, 70k Wehr; Belarus 12k Wehr, 20k Aux; Cossack 200k Wehr; Estonia 20k SS, 50k Wehr, 7k Aux; Georgia 10k SS; 30k Wehr; Kalmyk 5k Wehr; Latvia 55k SS; 87k Wehr, 300 Air, 23k Aux; Lithuania 50k Wehr, 10 Aux; North Caucuses 4k SS; Russia 60k SS, 26k Wehr; Turkestan 16k Wehr; Ukrainian 300k Wehr; 2k Aux; Tatar/Urals 12k Wehr

Aircraft - Allied - British Empire

Within the UK, initially aircraft production was very vulnerable to enemy bombing. To expand and diversify the production base the British setup "Shadow factories". These brought other manufacturing companies - such as vehicle manufacturers - into aircraft production, or aircraft parts production. These inexperienced companies were set up in groups under the guidance or control of the aircraft manufacturers. New factory buildings were provided with government money.[30]

Fighters Australia Britain Canada India NZ SA Total
Bristol Blenheim[note 3]5,5196266,145
CAC Boomerang250250
Bristol Brigand147147
Boulton Paul Defiant[note 4]1,0651065
Blackburn Firebrand230230
Fairey Firefly872872
Fairey Fulmar600600
Gloster Gladiator[note 5]483483
de Havilland Hornet[note 6]197197
Gloster Meteor250250
Curtiss Mohawk IV[31]55
North American Mustang200200
Blackburn Roc136136
Supermarine Seafire[note 7]2,3342,334
Gloster Gladiator9898
Supermarine Spitfire20,35120,351[32]
Hawker Tempest1,7021,702
de Havilland Vampire244 244
Westland Welkin7777
Westland Whirlwind[note 8]116116
45037,705 626538,786
Attack Australia Britain Canada India NZ SA
Bristol Beaufighter3645,5645,928
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver1,1341,134
Hawker Hurricane[note 9] 14,2311,45115,682
de Havilland Mosquito2126,1991,1347,545
Blackburn Skua192192
Hawker Typhoon3,3303,330
57629,5163,71933,811
Bomber Australia Britain Canada India NZ SA
Fairey Albacore800800
Fairey Barracuda 2,6072,607
Bristol Beaufort7001,4292,129
Bristol Buckingham119119
Handley Page Halifax6,178[note 10]>6,178
Handley Page Hampden[note 11] 1,2701601,430
Handley Page Hampden152152
Avro Lancaster7,3074307,377
Avro Lincoln[note 6]735301604
Avro Manchester202202
Short Stirling2,3832,383
Fairey Swordfish[note 11]2,3962,396
Vickers Wellington[note 11] 11,46111,461
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley[note 11] 1,7801,780
77336,79459138,158
Reconnaissance
& patrol
Australia Britain Canada India NZ SA
Taylorcraft Auster1,8001,800
Bristol Bolingbroke[note 12]676626
Bristol Bombay[note 13]5151
Blackburn Botha580580
Piper Cub150150
Saro Lerwick2121
Hawker Osprey99
Consolidated Canso 272721993
Supermarine Sea Otter292292
Short Seaford1010
Blackburn Shark1717
Supermarine Stranraer174057
Short Sunderland767767
Supermarine Walrus746746
Vickers Warwick845845
5,41016047,014
Transport Aus Britain Can India NZ SA
de Havilland Albatross77
Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle602602
CAC Gliders88
Northrop/Canadian Vickers Delta 1919
De Havilland Australia DHA-G1/G288
de Havilland Dragon 8787
de Havilland Dragon Rapide/Dominie 474474
Short Empire 4242
Armstrong Whitworth Ensign 1515
de Havilland Flamingo 1414
Fleet 50 Freighter 55
General Aircraft Hamilcar[note 14] 412412
Slingsby Hengist 1818
Airspeed Horsa[note 14] 5,0005,000
General Aircraft Hotspur 1,0151,015
Avro Lancastrian 82682
Westland Lysander1,4452251,670
Miles Messenger 9393
Miles Monarch1111
Miles Monitor2222
Noorduyn Norseman 861861
Short S.2633
Whitley1,8141,814
Avro York2591259
Other
103 11,380 1,11712,600
Training Aus Britain Can India NZ SA
Avro Anson8,4883,19711,685
Fairey Battle[note 15]2,201
Bristol Buckmaster112
Fairchild Cornell (PT-19/26) 1,642
de Havilland Don30
Fleet Finch 606
Fleet Fort 101
Harlow PC-5550
North American Harvard 3,985
Miles Magister1,303
Miles Martinet1,724
Miles Master3,250
Miles Mentor45
de Havilland Moth Minor100
Airspeed Oxford 8,586
Percival Proctor 1,143
de Havilland Tiger Moth 1,0805,7381,7481508,716
Avions Fairey Tipsy B 15
CAC Wackett 202
CAC Wirraway 755
2,03732,73511,2845015046,256
Other Australia Canada Britain India NZ SA Empire
Prototypes[note 16] 2361
Other 10339
2 13[note 17] 400[note 18] 415
Total'x x xxxxx

Aircraft - Allies - France, Poland and minor powers

Production numbers until the time of the German occupation of the respective country. Some types listed were in production before the war, those listed were still in production at the time of or after the Munich crisis.

Fighters Belgium Czechoslovakia Denmark France Netherlands Poland Yugoslavia Total
Avia B.534-IV/Bk.534 274
Caudron CR.714 90
Dewoitine D.520 403
Fokker D.XXI 10110120
Koolhoven F.K.58 20[note 19]
Avions Fairey Fox VI/VII 106
Fokker G.I 63
Hawker Hurricane I 1520
Ikarus IK-2 12
Rogozarski IK-3 12
Bloch MB.151/152 636
Morane-Saulnier MS.406 1,077
Potez 630/631 280
PZL.50 Jastrząb (6)[note 20]
PZL P.24 118[note 21]
Arsenal VG.33/36/39 40[note 22]
Total 121 274 10 2,526 193 119 (+5) 44 3,287[note 23]
Attack Belgium Czechoslovakia Denmark France Netherlands Poland Yugoslavia Total
Breguet Br.690 230
Laté 298 121
Loire-Nieuport LN.40 68
Fairey P.4/34 (12)[note 24]
Rogožarski PVT[note 25] 61
Total (12) 419 61 480[note 26]
Bombers Belgium Czechoslovakia Denmark France Netherlands Poland Yugoslavia Total
Aero A.101 64
Aero A.304 19
Amiot 351/354 80
Avia B-71 61
Fairey Battle I 18[note 27]
Fokker C.X/Fokker C.XI53
Dornier Do 17K 70
Farman F.222.2/F.223 25
LeO 45452
LWS-6 Żubr17
Bloch MB.131 143
Bloch MB.174/175 79
Bloch MB.210 298
Potez 63355
PZL.37120
PZL.43 54[note 28]
PZL.46 2[note 29]
Rogožarski SIM-XIV-H19
Fokker T.V16
Fokker T.VIII36
Total 18 144 1,132 105 193 89 1,681

Aircraft - Axis - All

Occupied countries produced weapons for the Axis powers. Figures are for the period of occupation only.

Fighters Belgium Bulgaria Czech Netherlands Finland France Germany Hungary Italy Japan Poland Romania Yugoslavia Total
Mitsubishi A6M Zero10,939
Arado Ar 24014
Avia B-13512
Avia B-53478
Bachem Ba 34936[note 30]
Messerschmitt Bf 10933,14230933,984
Macchi C.200/Macchi C.202/Macchi C.2052,766
Fiat CR.2512
Fiat CR.421,782
Dewoitine D.520[note 31] 440
Dornier Do 17Z-7/Z-1012
Dornier Do 33537
Caproni Vizzola F.514
Koolhoven F.K.526
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 20,000
Fiat G.50 666
Fiat G.55 305
Heinkel He 100[note 32] 25
Heinkel He 11260
Heinkel He 162320
Heinkel He 219300
IAR 80346
Nakajima J1N479
Mitsubishi J2M 621
Kawasaki Ki-10283
Nakajima Ki-273,399
Nakajima Ki-441,227
Kawasaki Ki-61 3,159
Nakajima Ki-843,514
Kawasaki Ki-100395
Kawasaki Ki-102238
Bloch MB.150[note 31] 35
Messerschmitt Me 1633707377
Messerschmitt Me 2621,430
Mörkö-Morane[note 33] 41
Morane-Saulnier MS.410[note 34] 74
Yokosuka MXY7852
Kawanishi N1K1,435
PZL P.24252550
Reggiane Re.2000, 2001, 2002 & 2005204531735
IMAM Ro.4435
IMAM Ro.5775
Ambrosini SAI.20714
Focke-Wulf Ta 152 & Focke-Wulf Ta 154 200these are unrelated types.
VL Myrsky 51
VL Pyry 41
Total90 6 133 549 55,934 513 6,200 26,548 25 371 91,728
Attack Belgium Bulgaria Czech Netherlands Finland France Germany Hungary Italy Japan Poland Romania Yugoslavia
Nakajima A6M2-N327
Breda Ba.65218
Breda Ba.88149
Aichi D3A1,486
CANSA FC.1211
CANSA FC.206
Heinkel He 115138
Heinkel He 118[note 35] 15
Henschel Hs 123[note 36] 250
Henschel Hs 129865
Junkers Ju 87 Stuka6,500
Nakajima Ki-273,368
Mitsubishi Ki-30704
Nakajima Ki-435,919
Kawasaki Ki-451,701
Kawasaki Ki-481,997
Mitsubishi Ki-512,385
Nakajima Ki-84 3,514
Kawasaki Ki-102 238
Messerschmitt Me 210[note 37] 400272672
Messerschmitt Me 410[note 38] 1,189
Fiat RS.14188
Savoia-Marchetti SM.8534
Total 9,09227260621,90430,903
Bombers Belgium Bulgaria Czech Netherlands Finland France Germany Hungary Italy Japan Poland Romania Yugoslavia
Aero A.3044
Arado Ar 234 210
Nakajima B5N1,149
Nakajima B6N1,268
Aichi B7A114
Bloch MB.174/175[note 39]38
Fiat BR.20602
Caproni Ca.135140
Caproni Ca.309-3141,516
Yokosuka D4Y2,038
Dornier Do 2230
Dornier Do 17E/F 405
Dornier Do 17K 14
Dornier Do 17M/P/R/S/U 448
Dornier Do 17Z 875
Dornier Do 215105
Dornier Do 2171,025
Fieseler Fi 16714
Focke-Wulf Fw 200276
Mitsubishi G3M1,048
Mitsubishi G4M2,435
Heinkel He 111 7,300
Heinkel He 1771,190
IAR 37380
Junkers Ju 88/188/38816,517
Kaproni-Bulgarski KB.624
Mitsubishi Ki-212,064
Kawasaki Ki-32854
Nakajima Ki-49819
Mitsubishi Ki-67/Mitsubishi Ki-109767
LeO 45[note 31]162
Aichi M6A28
Piaggio P.10835
Yokosuka P1Y1,102
Kyushu Q1W153
Letov Š-32880
Savoia-Marchetti SM.791,350
Savoia-Marchetti SM.82[note 40]379
Savoia-Marchetti SM.84246
Weiss WM-21128
CANT Z.506B320
CANT Z.1007660
CANT Z.101815
Total 24 84 200 28,444 128 5,228 13,839 380 44,802

Propaganda posters

Painting of workman in blue overalls
Vichy France poster: "At work in Germany you are an ambassador of French quality" 
Painting of three soldiers buckling their helmets
Japanese Organized Labour Service Corps poster 
Man with work glasses, woman, plane and tank
USSR: "Everything for the Front. Everything for Victory" 
Photo of smiling woman assembling a bomb
French-Canadian poster: "I'm making bombs and buying bonds!-Buy Victory Bonds." 
Painting of soldier and workman shaking hands
Italy: "Work and Fight for your Country and Victory" 
Caricature of Japanese soldier striding towards Australia
Australia: "He's coming south—it's fight, work or perish" 

See also

References

  1. the five King George V class were started prior to war, a further four battleships were cancelled to make resources available for construction of other ships (Gazarke & Dulin)
  2. Two battlecruisers of Kronshtadt-class laid down but never progressed
  3. The majority of Blenheims were built as light bombers
  4. Total includes 140 unarmed Defiants produced as target tugs
  5. Pre-war production. 165 additional to export customers. Sea Gladiator conversions and production listed in Sea Gladiator entry.
  6. 1 2 includes post-war production
  7. Includes some post-war production and conversions of Spitfires
  8. changed to ground attack role during war
  9. up to 1942 the Hurricane was chiefly used as a fighter aircraft
  10. includes transport and Coastal Command reconnaissance versions
  11. 1 2 3 4 Includes pre-war production
  12. Blenheim variant, includes 457 produced as trainers
  13. light bomber/transport used in Middle East and Mediterranean theatres
  14. 1 2 assault gliders generally not reusable following use
  15. Initially used as light bomber e.g. during Battle of France
  16. Including: Arpin A-1 (1) , Airspeed Cambridge (2), Airspeed Fleet Shadower (1), Avro Tudor (2), Blackburn B-20 (1), Boulton Paul P.92 (1), Burnelli CBY-3 (2), CAC Woomera, Australia (2), Chrislea Airguard (1) , de Havilland Dove (1), de Havilland T.K.5 (1) , Fairey Spearfish (5), Fane F.1/40 (1), General Aircraft Cagnet (1), General Aircraft Owlet (1), General Aircraft Fleet Shadower (1), General Aircraft GAL.47 (1), General Aircraft GAL.55 (2), General Aircraft GAL.56 (4), Canadian Car and Foundry FDB-1, Canada (1), Gloster F.5/34 (2) , Gloster F.9/37 (2) , Handley Page Manx (1), Hawker Hotspur (1), Hawker Tornado (4), Miles M.20 (2), Miles X Minor (1), Miles M.35 (1), Miles M.39 (1), Miles LR 5 (1), Parnall 382 (1), Reid and Sigrist R.S.1/2 (2), Saro A33 (1), Saro Shrimp (1), Short Shetland (2), Supermarine Type 322 (2), Vickers Type 432 (1), Vickers VC.1 Viking (1), Vickers Windsor (3)
  17. includes: CCF Maple Leaf Trainer II (2 plus 10 built in Mexico )
  18. includes: Folland Fo.108 engine test bed (12), General Aircraft Cygnet (10), General Aircraft Monospar ST-25 (30), Hawker Henley (200), Hawker Sea Fury (10), Miles M.15 (2), Miles M.18 (3) , Miles Mercury (6), Percival Petrel (27), Percival Vega Gull (~20), Supermarine Spiteful fighter (19)
  19. Delivered to France.
  20. First prototype incomplete by German occupation.
  21. Only 1 (designated P.11g) used by Poland in 1939. The remaining ones were exported to various Balkan countries.
  22. Around 200 more airframes were in advanced production stage.
  23. not counting uncompleted PZL.50
  24. Production was started in Denmark, but not completed before the German invasion.
  25. Originally an advanced fighter-training aircraft, this type was later used as a light attack plane, in particular by the Air Force of the Independent State of Croatia.
  26. not counting P.4/34
  27. According to some sources license production started in Denmark but not completed before the German invasion.
  28. All but 5 delivered to Bulgaria.
  29. Prototypes that were used in combat.
  30. Never entered service
  31. 1 2 3 Number refers to production resumed after German occupation.
  32. Produced shortly before the war and mainly used for testing and propaganda purposes.
  33. Conversion from MS.406/410.
  34. Conversion from MS.406.
  35. Produced before the war and 2 used by Japanese for testing.
  36. All produced before the war, but used until 1944.
  37. Only 90 German-built Me 210 were completed and delivered, about 100 Hungarian-built were supplied to Germany
  38. Also used as a fighter and for reconnaissance
  39. Produced for Germany after German occupation.
  40. Only bomber versions listed here.

Notes

  1. Herman, Arthur. Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II, p. IX, Random House, New York, NY, 2012. ISBN 978-1-4000-6964-4.
  2. Parker, Dana T. Building Victory: Aircraft Manufacturing in the Los Angeles Area in World War II, p. 7, Cypress, CA, 2013. ISBN 978-0-9897906-0-4.
  3. Wrynn, V. Dennis. Forge of Freedom: American Aircraft Production in World War II, pp. 4-5, Motorbooks International, Osceola, WI, 1995. ISBN 0-7603-0143-3.
  4. Baldwin, Ralph B. The Deadly Fuze: Secret Weapon of World War II, pp. 4-6, 11, 50, 279, Presidio Press, San Rafael, California, 1980. ISBN 978-0-89141-087-4.
  5. Kumanev, G.A., "War and the evacuation of the USSR: 1941-1942", New Age, 2006
  6. Sawyer, L. A. and Mitchell, W. H. The Liberty Ships: The History of the "Emergency" Type Cargo Ships Constructed in the United States During the Second World War, Second Edition, pp. vii, 1-8, Lloyd's of London Press Ltd., London, England, 1985. ISBN 1-85044-049-2.
  7. Parker, Dana T. Building Victory: Aircraft Manufacturing in the Los Angeles Area in World War II, pp. 5, 7, Cypress, CA, 2013. ISBN 978-0-9897906-0-4.
  8. Parker, Dana T. Building Victory: Aircraft Manufacturing in the Los Angeles Area in World War II, p. 8, Cypress, California, 2013. ISBN 978-0-9897906-0-4.
  9. "Financial Calculators". dollartimes.com.
  10. Cristian Crăciunoiu, Romanian navy torpedo boats, pp. 38-42
  11. Cristian Crăciunoiu, Romanian navy torpedo boats, pp. 140-143
  12. Robert Gardiner, Conway's All the World Fighting Ships 1922-1946, p. 362
  13. Mitchell, B.R. British Historical Statistics, 1988
  14. http://www.teindia.nic.in/mhrd/50yrsedu/15/8P/82/8P820T03.htm
  15. Dialogue on Aluminium 110 years of history in Canada approximation
  16. Baker The New Zealand People at War: War Economy 1965
  17. Lend Lease as a Function of the Soviet war Economy
  18. 1 2 Accounting for War: Soviet Production, Employment and the Defense Burden, 1940-1945 Mark Harrison, 1996
  19. Including 23.4 synthetic.
  20. 1 2 3 Volume 3 -The Effects of Strategic Bombing on the German War Economy 1940-1944 only, retrieved June 8, 2014
  21. "Comparison of GDP adjusted for actual yearly shared contribution to war efforts after Zuljan, Ralph, Allied and Axis GDP", "Articles On War", OnWar.com, 2003, retrieved June 8, 2014
  22. Harrison, 1998
  23. Stephen Broadberry, Kevin H. O'Rourke, The Cambridge Economic History of Modern Europe: Volume 2, 1870 to the Present, p. 190
  24. ROMANIA: historical demographical data of the whole country
  25. HUNGARY: historical demographical data of the whole country
  26. BULGARIA historical demographical data of the whole country
  27. ALBANIA: historical demographical data of the whole country
  28. General Article: Foreign Affairs, pbs.org
  29. Rose, Patrick (2012). The Indian Army, 1939–47: Experience and Development. Routledge.
  30. Granatstein, Dr. J. L. (May 27, 2005). "ARMING THE NATION: CANADA'S INDUSTRIAL WAR EFFORT, 1939-1945" (PDF). Canadian Council of Chief Executives. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  31. Baugher "Hawk 75A-5 for China" 1999
  32. Ethell, Jeffrey L. and Steve Pace. Spitfire. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International, 1997. ISBN 0-7603-0300-2. p117

Table data

Personnel -Allied - British Empire

Personnel - Axis

This includes all German and non-German subjects serving within German Reich forces.

Aircraft - Allied

Aircraft - Axis

  • Italy
  • Dressel and Griehl 1994
  • Encyclopedia of weapons of World War Two
  • Francillon 1970
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft, 1985
  • Jane's 1989
  • Mondey 1996
  • Smith and Anthony ?

Raw materials

  • The Mineral Industry of the British Empire and Foreign Countries, Statistical Summary 1938-1944, The Imperial Institute, HMSO, 1948
  • The Mineral Industry of the British Empire and Foreign Countries, Statistical Summary 1941-1947, The Imperial Institute, HMSO, 1949

Official histories

  • History of the Second World War (104 volumes), Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London 1949 to 1993
  • Official History of Australia in the War of 1939–1945 (22 volumes), Australian Government Printing Service, 1952 to 1977
  • Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, Vol I Six Years of War, Stacey, C P., Queen's Printer, Ottawa, 1955
  • Official History of the Indian Armed Forces in the Second World War 1939-45 (24 volumes), Combined Inter-Services Historical Section, India & Pakistan, New Delhi, 1956-1966
  • Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45, Historical Publications Branch, Wellington, New Zealand, 1965

Bibliography

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  • Barnett, Correlli, The audit of war : the illusion & reality of Britain as a great nation, Macmillan, 1986
  • Barnes, C.H.; James D.N. Shorts Aircraft since 1900, London, Putnam, 1989
  • Bishop, Chris, The Encyclopaedia of Weapons of World War II, Sterling Publishing, 2002
  • Bowyer, Michael J.F. Aircraft for the Royal Air Force: The "Griffon" Spitfire, The Albemarle Bomber and the Shetland Flying-Boat, London, Faber & Faber, 1980
  • Boyd, David, (2009) "Wartime Production by the Commonwealth during WWII" British Equipment of the Second World War
  • Boyd, David (2009), "British Production of Aircraft By Year During The Second World War", British Equipment of the Second World War 
  • Butler, Tony. British Secret Projects: Fighters and Bombers 1935–1950. Hinckley, UK: Midland Publishing, 2004
  • Canada at War, "The Canadian War Industry"
  • Dressel, Joachim and Manfred Griehl. Bombers of the Luftwaffe. London: DAG Publications, 1994
  • Flint, Keith, Airborne Armour: Tetrarch, Locust, Hamilcar and the 6th Airborne Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment 1938-1950. Helion & Company Ltd., 2006
  • Francillon, René J., Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War, London, Putnam, 1970
  • Gregg, W.A ed., Canada’s Fighting Vehicles Europe 1943-1945, Canadian Military Historical Society, 1980
  • Green, William. War Planes of The Second World War:Volume Seven - Bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft. London: Macdonald, 1967
  • Harrison, Mark, "The Economics of World War II: Six Great Powers in International Comparison", Cambridge University Press, 1998 (Author's overview)
  • Herman, Arthur. Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II, Random House, New York, 2012
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1985
  • Jackson, A.J., De Havilland Aircraft since 1909 (Third ed.), London, Putnam, 1987
  • Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II, London, Studio Editions Ltd, 1989
  • "Les luxembourgeois de la Brigade Piron". (in French) Armee.lu. Retrieved 29 June 2013
  • Long, Jason, Lend Lease as a Function of the Soviet war Economy, sturmvogel.orbat.com, Retrieved June 12, 2014
  • Mason, Francis K. The British Bomber since 1914, London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1994
  • Milward, Alan S., War, economy, and society, 1939-1945, University of California Press, 1979
  • Morgan, Eric B. "Albemarle" in Twentyfirst Profile, Volume 1, No. 11. New Milton, Hants, UK: 21st Profile Ltd.
  • Munoz, A.J., For Croatia and Christ: The Croatian Army in World War II 1941–1945, Axis Europa Books,NY, 1996
  • Mondey, David. The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. New York: Bounty Books, 1996
  • Ness, Leland, Jane's World War II Tanks and Fighting Vehicles, The Complete Guide, Harper Collins, 2002
  • Otway, Lieutenant-Colonel T.B.H. The Second World War 1939-1945 Army: Airborne Forces. London: Imperial War Museum, 1990
  • Overy, Richard, Why the Allies Won (Paperback), W. W. Norton & Company, 1997
  • Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies
  • Smith, J.R. and Anthony L. Kay. German Aircraft of the Second World War. London: Putnam and Company Ltd.,
  • Swanborough, Gordon. British Aircraft at War, 1939-1945. East Sussex, UK: HPC Publishing, 1997
  • Tapper, Oliver. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft since 1913. London: Putnam, 1988
  • Tomasevich, Jozo, War and Revolution in Yugoslavia, 1941–1945: Occupation and Collaboration 2. San Francisco: Stanford University Press, 2001
  • Veterans Affairs Canada, "Canadian Production of War Materials"
  • Wilson, Stewart, Aircraft of WWII, 1998
  • Wrynn, V. Dennis. Forge of Freedom: American Aircraft Production in World War II, Motorbooks International, Osceola, WI, 1995
  • Zuljan, Ralph, "Allied and Axis GDP" Articles On War OnWar.com (2003)
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