America Enters the War US declares war 12/8/41 Four Theaters
European Theater – First Focus Atlantic Theater Pacific Theater Asian Theater
Economic Mobilization Office of War Mobilization
Oversight agency War Production Board
Directed use of raw materials 1/2 of factory production went into war
materials. 1943- US produced twice as many goods
as all the enemy countries combined
The Costs of World War II 2,194 days - the invasion of Poland
to the surrender of Japan 1,347 days – America’s involvement
in the war 61 countries were involved
The Costs of World War II 55 million deaths worldwide
45.5% - military deaths 54.5% - civilian deaths
The Costs of World War II Military Deaths
400,000 – US 9,000,000 – Soviet Union 2,000,000 – Germany 1,500,000 -- Japan
The Costs of World War II Money Spent (in billions US $)
$341 – US $192 – Soviet Union $120 – Great Britain $272 – Germany $56 – Japan Estimated worldwide cost of the war –
more than $1 trillion dollars
World War II Airplane Production
Country 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945
Germany 8,295 10,826 12,401 15,409 24,807 40,593 7,540
Japan 4,467 4,768 5,088 8,861 16,693 28,180 8,263
United Kingdom 7,940 15,049 20,094 23,672 26,263 26,461 12,070
United States 2,141 6,086 19,433 47,836 85,898 96,318 46,001
USSR 10,382 10,565 15,737 25,436 34,900 40,300 20,900
Tanks produced 1940 to 1945:GB US USSR Germ Japan
1940 1400 300 2800 1600 -------
1941 4800 4100 6400 3800 1000
1942 8600 25,000 24,700 12,100 1000
1943 7,500 29,500 24,000 12,100 800
1944 4,600 17,600 29,000 19,000 300
1945 --------- 12,000 15,400 3,900 100
Total 20,150 88,500 102,300 46,700 3,400
Warships produced by total tonnage
GB US USSR Germ Japan
1940 263,200 52,600 ------- 23,800 94,700
1941 437,200 219,3000 ------- 147,000 225,000
1942 481,400 859,500 --------- 193,000 254,000
1943 609,600 2,667,400 ------- 211,400 230,000
1944 583,400 3,176,800 ------- 275,300 468,400
1945 312,800 1,190,000 -------- 54,900 66,700
Total 2,687,600 8,165,600 ------ 905,400 1,228,800
Economic Mobilization "Rosie the Riveter" Five million women joined the labor
force Propaganda campaign Paved the way for postwar consumer
demand. Pay less than two-thirds of male worker Pressured to return to homemaking
Economic Mobilization Controlling inflation People were working - fewer
consumer goods available. Too much $ = inflation; cost of
living increased
Economic Mobilization Office of Economic Stabilization --
Office of Price Administration (OPA) Froze prices
Rationing Certificate Plan Coupon Plan -- more widely used.
Economic Mobilization Taxes increased to finance the war
Many who had never had to pay taxes were now required to. 1939 -- 4 million filed tax returns; in
1945 --50 million! Liberty Bonds
Economic Mobilization Anti-inflation measures successful
WWI cost of living up 170% WWII -- less than 29%