World War II: Mobilization

America Enters the War US declares war 12/8/41 Four Theaters

European Theater – First Focus Atlantic Theater Pacific Theater Asian Theater

Military Mobilization Registration 18 -

Pearl Harbor WAVES and

WACs 16 Million men

and women served

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%