Military production during World War II

Military production during World War II was the arms, ammunition, personnel and financing which were produced or mobilized by the belligerents of the war from the occupation of Austria in early 1938 to the surrender and occupation of Japan in late 1945.

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
Indian workers check new fuel tanks at the Hindustan Aircraft Factory in Bangalore, 1944

The mobilization of funds, people, natural resources and material 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, and the balance of power shifted in favor of the Allies -- as did the means to sustain the military production required to win the war.

Historical context

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.

British Empire in 1921

In 1938 Britain was a global superpower, with political and economic control of a quarter of the world's population, industry and resources, in addition to its close allies in the independent Dominion nations (such as Canada and South Africa). 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 held back or slowed the Axis powers for three years while mobilising 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.

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.

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 25,000
Auxiliary force 15,000
Merchant Marine 50,000
Irregulars 90,000
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 54,931 1,670

Economy

In thousands of international dollars, at 2014 prices.

Service Allies Axis
GDP 97,707,908,723.20 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 12,762
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
  • Cargo and resources in metric tonnes

Production overview: service, power and type

Land forces
See also: British armoured fighting vehicle production during World War II, French combat vehicle production during World War II, American armored fighting vehicle production during World War II, Soviet combat vehicle production during World War II, German armored fighting vehicle production during World War II, and Romanian armored fighting vehicle production during World War II
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 territories108,4102,382,311257,390105,0552,679,84010,000,000
USSR119,769197,100516,648200,3001,477,40034,401,807
Other
Allies270,04147,4204,054,9321,000,151544,8955,247,650
Germany and territories67,42949,777159,14773,484674,2801,000,730 16,540,835
Hungary9734474,583
Romania912512,80010,000
Italian Empire3,36883,0007,20022,000
Japanese Empire4,524165,94513,35029,000380,000
Other
Axis76,38550,028408,09297,281725,2801,395,313

Air forces
Power Total Aircraft Fighters Attack Bombers Recon Transport Training Other Personnel
British Empire 177,02538,78633,81138,1587,01412,58546,2564151,927,395
USA and territories 295,959[10]99,46596,8724,106 23,90058,08513,531 2,403,806[11]
USSR 136,22322,30137,54921,11617,3324,06133,864
Other
Allies609,207160,55271,360156,14611,12053,817108,40247,810
Germany and territories 133,38757,6538,99128,5775,0258,39614,31111,3613,402,200
Romania 1,113513272128020000
Italian Empire 13,4029,157343,3813882,4719683
Japanese Empire 64,48433,4059,55811,9433,7091,0733,4201,376
Other 9,84988143953181,8805,14557
Axis222,23598,60918,85944,42411,00214,02022,94412,794
See also: List of Romanian-built warships of World War II and United States Navy in World War II
Power Total large ships Carriers Battleships Cruisers Destroyers Frigates

& Destroyer Escorts

 Corvettes Sloops Patrol boats Submarines De/ Mining Landing craft Personnel
British Empire885[note 1]19 (46)20101461209387334,2092381,2449,5381,227,415
USA and territories1216124 (101)2372377440 24535,0004,000,000[12]
USSR2[note 2]22552
Other
Allies165(125)45175863649387334,2095681,24444,538
Germany & territories12171,1525401,500,000
Italian Empire136663
Japanese Empire182963199
Romania825
Other
Axis       1,416

Munitions
See also: Home front during World War II
Munitions Production in World War II
(Expenditures in billions of dollars, US 1944 munitions prices)
Country/AllianceYear
Average
1935-39		19401941194219431944Total
1939–44
U.S.A.0.31.54.520.038.042.0106.3
Britain0.53.56.59.011.011.041.5
U.S.S.R.1.65.08.511.514.016.056.6
Allies Total2.410.020.041.564.570.5204.4
Germany2.46.06.08.513.517.053.4
Japan0.41.02.03.04.56.016.9
Axis Total2.87.08.011.518.023.070.3

Source: Goldsmith data in Harrison (1988) p. 172

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 [13] 1,469,606 4,152,361 [14]

Resources
Country Coal Iron ore Crude oil Steel Aluminium Nickel Zinc
!a-9999-9999-9999
USA 2,149.7 396.9 833.2
Britain[15] 1,441.2 119.2 90.8 3.700 0.205
Australia 83.1 1.56
India[16] 196.7 6.0 1.12
Canada 101.9 3.6 8.4 16.4 3.500[17]
New Zealand[18] 18
USSR 590.8 71.3 110.6 0.263[19] 0.069[20] 0.384[20]
Total Allied 4581.4 597 1043
Germany 2,420.3 240.7 33.4[21] 1.9[22] 0.046[22] 2.1[22]
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
~z999999999999999999999999

All figures in millions of tonnes

See also: Swedish iron-ore mining during World War II

Reference data for summary tables
Ratio of 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][23][24]
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
Nationalist China 320.5
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 232 247 255 259 260 257 252 207
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)[25] by their estimated populations in 1938: 19,750,000 for Romania,[26] 9,082,400 for Hungary,[27] 6,380,000 for Bulgaria[28] and 1,040,400 for Albania.[29]

  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[30]
  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.

United States World War II GDP (compared to other countries)

GDP during World War II
  • Debt and higher taxes led to GDP growth percentages over 17%. This trend continued throughout the war and stopped increasing after the war ended. For the United States, government spending was used as a positive indicator of GDP growth. However the high rates of government only was beneficial for a short period of time, a trend that can be seen in most wars.[31]
  • In 1939, Britain spent 9% of its GDP on defence, this rose drastically after the start of World War II to around 40%. By the year 1945 government spending had peaked at 52% of the national GDP.[32]
  • Before joining World War II US government spending in 1941 represented 30% of GDP, or about $408 billion. In 1944 at the peak of World War II, government spending had risen to over $1.6 trillion about 79% of the GDP. During this three-year period the total GDP represented by government spending rose 394%.[33]

US unemployment during World War II
Three African-American workers complete the pilot's compartment of an aircraft, 1942
  • During World War II unemployment by 1945 had fallen to 1.9% from 14.6% in 1940. 20% of the population during the war was employed within the armed forces.[34]
  • The beginning years of World War II shows a spike in employment, but towards the end of the war decreased significantly. The employment spike was in relation to the tremendous amount of production the United States was making. Examples of high numbers of employment could have been seen in at Gulf Shipbuilding which obtained 240 employees at the beginning of 1940 and increased to 11,600 employees in 1943. Alabama Dry dock also was an exemplary business in employment that raised number from 1,000 workers to 30,000 in the most productive years of the war. Demographics of employment consisted of eight million women including African Americans and Latinas, adding to the 24 million that searched for defensive jobs outside of the war.[35][36]

Price of war

Many concerns and political influence come from the price of war. While GDP can easily increase Federal expenditures, it also can influence political elections and government decision making. No matter how much percentages of GDP increase or decrease we need higher amounts of GDP in order to pay for more investments, one of those investments being more wars. To pay for these wars, taxes are held at a very high rate. For example, by the end of World War II tax rates went from 1.5% to 15%. Along with tax percentages reaching high amounts, spending on non-defense programs were cut in half during the period of World War II. Tax cuts allow one to see GDP in effect for the average American. Still, almost ten years after World War II, in 1950 and 1951 congress raised taxes close to 4% in order to pay for the Korean War. After the Korean War, in 1968 taxes again were raised 10% to pay for the Vietnam War. This caused GDP to raise 1%. Although research can support positive relationship between production and jobs with GDP, research can also show the negative relationship with tax increases and GDP.[37]

US Wartime Production

Prior to the Second World War, the United States was cautious with regard to its manufacturing capabilities as the country was still recovering from the Great Depression. However, during the war, Franklin Roosevelt set ambitious production goals to fulfill. The early 1940s were set to have 60,000 aircraft increasing to 125,000 in 1943. In addition, targets for the production of 120,000 tanks and 55,000 aircraft were set during the same time period. The Ford Motor Company in Michigan built one motor car (comprising 15,000 parts) on the assembly lines every 69 seconds. Ford's production contributed to America's total production of vehicles totalling three million in 1941. American production numbers caused the US employed workforce to increase massively. America's yearly production exceeded Japan's production building more planes in 1944 than Japan built in all the war years combined. As a result, half of the world's war production came from America. The government paid for this production using techniques of selling war bonds to financial institutions, rationing household items and creating more tax revenues. Some contribution to the US wartime manufacturing boom can be ascribed to the prior creation of the Alcoa plant in the 1930s. The Alcoa plant prepared thousands of tons of aluminum used for the production of 304,000 aeroplanes during the war. The United States quickly adjusted to the levels of production required to equip its military with the millions of war products used during World War II.[38]

Personnel – Allied – Britain, dominions and possessions

Including all non-British subjects in British services.[39]

Army Army (female) Navy Navy (female) Marines Air Force Air Force (female) Auxiliary Merchant marine Partisans Total combat Other labour
Aden1,200
Australia727,70324,02636,9763,000124,00727,0004,500942,712
Argentine volunteers[40] 1,7001,7006004,000
Basutoland/Bechuana/Swaziland10,00036,000
Free Belgian Forces42,3001,2001,90045,770370
Britain3,300,000210,309865,00074,00078,5001,208,000181,9091,500,000185,0007,602,718
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
Lesoto21,00021,000
Free Luxembourg8080
Malaysia1,5001,4503,2154,80010,965
Malta 8,200
Mauritius 6,800 3,500
Nepal250,280250,280
Free Dutch4,0001,000100012.0006,000
South Africa?

Note:

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

Personnel – Axis – German Reich

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

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
Bulgaria30,00090,000
Croatia55,50050040032,00088,400
Czech6,4656,465
Denmark12,00012,000
Finland vol2,5002,500
France & territories8,0004,5005,08017,580348,500
Germany & territories14,793,2001,500,0003,400,00019,693,200
Greece22,00022,000
Hungary40,00040,000
Italy18,00018,000
India4,5004,500
Luxembourg12,03512,035
Netherlands45,00045,000
Norway50,0001,5001,50053,000
Poland75,00045,000120,000
Portugal200200
Romania55,00055,000
Serbia10,00010,000
Slovakia45,00045,000
Slovenia6,0006,000
Spain47,00047,000
Sweden300300
Switzerland800800
USA00
USSR1,051,000300100,0001,151,300
Total16,336,7551,506,5003,402,200204,08021,582,300348,000

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
See also: List of aircraft of the United Kingdom in World War II

Within the UK, initially aircraft production was very vulnerable to enemy bombing. To expand and diversify the production base the British set up "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.[41]

Fighters Australia Britain Canada India New Zealand South Africa Total
Blackburn Roc136136
Boulton Paul Defiant1,0651065
CAC Boomerang250250
CAC Mustang200200
de Havilland Hornet6060
de Havilland Vampire244244
Fairey Firefly872872
Fairey Fulmar600600
Gloster Gladiator[note 3]9898
Gloster Meteor239239
Hawker Hurricane14,2311,45115,682
Hawker Tempest1,7021,702
Hawker Typhoon3,3303,330
Supermarine Seafire[note 4]2,3342,334
Supermarine Spitfire20,35120,351[42]
Westland Whirlwind116116
Total Fighters45050,8972,07753,424
Bombers Australia Britain Canada India New Zealand South Africa
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley[note 5]1,7801,780
Avro Lancaster7,3074307,377
Avro Lincoln[43]616
Avro Manchester202202
Fairey Barracuda2,6072,607
Blackburn Skua192192
Bristol Beaufighter3645,5645,928
Bristol Beaufort7001,4292,129
Bristol Blenheim5,5196266,145
Bristol Buckingham119119
de Havilland Mosquito2126,1991,1347,545
Fairchild SBF &
CCF SBW Helldiver		1,1341,134
Fairey Albacore800800
Fairey Swordfish[note 5]2,3962,396
Handley Page Halifax6,178[note 6]6,178
Handley Page Hampden152160312
Short Stirling2,3832,383
Vickers Wellington[note 5]11,46111,461
Total Bombers1,34944,3913,01954,577
Reconnaissance & patrol Australia Britain Canada India New Zealand South Africa
Bristol Bolingbroke[note 7]676626
Bristol Bombay5151
Blackburn Botha580580
Blackburn Shark1717
Consolidated Canso721[44]993
Piper Cub150150
Saro Lerwick2121
Supermarine Sea Otter292292
Short Seaford1010
Short Sunderland767767
Supermarine Stranraer3939
Supermarine Walrus746746
Taylorcraft Auster1,8001,800
Vickers Warwick845845
Total Reconnaissance5,1128826,937
Transport Australia Britain Canada India New Zealand South Africa
Airspeed Horsa5,0005,000
Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle602602
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley1,8141,814
Avro Lancastrian82682
Avro York2591259
CAC Gliders88
De Havilland Australia DHA-G1/G288
de Havilland Dragon Dominie474474
de Havilland Flamingo1414
General Aircraft Hamilcar412412
General Aircraft Hotspur1,0151,015
Miles Messenger9393
Miles Monitor2222
Noorduyn Norseman861861
Northrop/Canadian-Vickers Delta[note 8]1919
Percival Petrel77
Short S.2633
Slingsby Hengist1818
Westland Lysander1,4452251,670
total Transports1611,2601,11212,381
Trainers Australia Britain Canada India New Zealand South Africa
Airspeed Oxford8,5868,586
Avions Fairey Tipsy B1515
Avro Anson8,4883,19711,685
Bristol Buckmaster112112
CAC Wackett202202
CAC Wirraway755755
de Havilland Don3030
de Havilland Moth Minor100100
de Havilland Tiger Moth1,0805,7381,7481508,716
Fairchild Cornell (PT-19/26)1,6421,642
Fairey Battle[note 9]2,2012,201
Fleet Finch606606
Fleet Fort101101
Hawker Henley200200
Harlow PC-555055
Miles Magister1,3031,303
Miles Martinet1,7241,724
Miles Master3,2503,250
Miles Mentor4545
North American Harvard3,9853,985
Percival Proctor1,1431,143
Total Trainers2,03732,93511,2845015046,456
Other Australia Britain Canada India New Zealand South Africa Empire
Prototypes[note 10]2611
Other782
Total Other2139[note 11]3[note 12]144
Grand Total3,854144,73418,377501500173,759

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.534274
Caudron CR.71490
Dewoitine D.520403
Fokker D.XXI10110120
Koolhoven F.K.5820[note 13]
Avions Fairey Fox VI/VII106
Fokker G.I63
Hawker Hurricane I1520
Ikarus IK-212
Rogozarski IK-312
Bloch MB.151/152636
Morane-Saulnier MS.4061,077
Potez 630/631280
PZL.50 Jastrząb(6)[note 14]
PZL P.24118[note 15]
Arsenal VG.33/36/3940[note 16]
Total121274102,526193119 (+5)443,287[note 17]
Attack Belgium Czechoslovakia Denmark France Netherlands Poland Yugoslavia Total
Breguet Br.690230
Laté 298121
Loire-Nieuport LN.4068
Fairey P.4/34(12)[note 18]
Rogožarski PVT[note 19] 61
Total(12)41961480[note 20]
Bombers Belgium Czechoslovakia Denmark France Netherlands Poland Yugoslavia Total
Aero A.10164
Aero A.30419
Amiot 351/35480
Avia B-7161
Fairey Battle I18[note 21]
Fokker C.X/Fokker C.XI53
Dornier Do 17K70
Farman F.222.2/F.22325
LeO 45452
LWS-6 Żubr17
Bloch MB.131143
Bloch MB.174/17579
Bloch MB.210298
Potez 63355
PZL.37120
PZL.4354[note 22]
PZL.462[note 23]
Rogožarski SIM-XIV-H19
Fokker T.V16
Fokker T.VIII36
Total181441,132105193891,681

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
Nakajima A6M2-N327
Arado Ar 24014
Avia B-13512
Avia B-53478
Bachem Ba 34936[note 24]
Messerschmitt Bf 10933,14230933,984
Messerschmitt Bf 1106,1706,170
Macchi C.200/Macchi C.202/Macchi C.2052,766
Fiat CR.2512
Fiat CR.421,782
Dewoitine D.520[note 25]440
Dornier Do 17Z-7/Z-1012
Dornier Do 33537
Caproni Vizzola F.514
Koolhoven F.K.526
Focke-Wulf Fw 19020,000
Fiat G.50666
Fiat G.55305
Heinkel He 100[note 26]25
Heinkel He 11260
Heinkel He 162320
Heinkel He 219300
IAR 80346
Nakajima J1N479
Mitsubishi J2M621
Kawasaki Ki-10283
Nakajima Ki-273,399
Nakajima Ki-435,919
Nakajima Ki-441,227
Kawasaki Ki-451,701
Kawasaki Ki-613,159
Nakajima Ki-843,514
Kawasaki Ki-100395
Bloch MB.150[note 25]35
Messerschmitt Me 163 /Mitsubishi J8M3707377
Messerschmitt Me 2621,430
Mörkö-Morane[note 27]41
Morane-Saulnier MS.410[note 28]74
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 154200these are unrelated types.
VL Myrsky51
VL Pyry41
Total90613354962,1165136,20033,4052537196,551
Attack Belgium Bulgaria Czech Netherlands Finland France Germany Hungary Italy Japan Poland Romania Yugoslavia
Nakajima B5N1,149
Nakajima B6N1,268
Aichi B7A114
Breda Ba.65218
Breda Ba.88149
Aichi D3A1,486
Yokosuka D4Y2,038
CANSA FC.1211
CANSA FC.206
Heinkel He 115138
Heinkel He 118[note 29]15
Henschel Hs 123[note 30]250
Henschel Hs 129865
Junkers Ju 87 Stuka6,500
Mitsubishi Ki-512,385
Kawasaki Ki-102238
Aichi M6A28
Messerschmitt Me 210[note 31]400272672
Messerschmitt Me 410[note 32]1,189
Yokosuka MXY7852
Fiat RS.14188
Savoia-Marchetti SM.8534
Total9,0922726069,55830,903
Bombers Belgium Bulgaria Czech Netherlands Finland France Germany Hungary Italy Japan Poland Romania Yugoslavia
Aero A.3044
Arado Ar 234210
Bloch MB.174/175[note 33]38
Fiat BR.20602
Caproni Ca.135140
Caproni Ca.309-3141,516
Dornier Do 2230
Dornier Do 17E/F405
Dornier Do 17K14
Dornier Do 17M/P/R/S/U448
Dornier Do 17Z875
Dornier Do 215105
Dornier Do 2171,025
Fieseler Fi 16714
Focke-Wulf Fw 200276
Mitsubishi G3M1,048
Mitsubishi G4M2,435
Heinkel He 1117,300
Heinkel He 1771,190
IAR 37380
Junkers Ju 88/188/38816,517
Kaproni-Bulgarski KB.624
Mitsubishi Ki-212,064
Mitsubishi Ki-30704
Kawasaki Ki-32854
Kawasaki Ki-481,997
Nakajima Ki-49819
Mitsubishi Ki-67/Mitsubishi Ki-109767
LeO 45[note 25]162
Piaggio P.10835
Yokosuka P1Y1,102
Kyushu Q1W153
Letov Š-32880
Savoia-Marchetti SM.791,35064
Savoia-Marchetti SM.82[note 34]379
Savoia-Marchetti SM.84246
Weiss WM-21128
CANT Z.506B320
CANT Z.1007660
CANT Z.101815
Total248420028,4091285,26311,94338044,802

Propaganda posters
  • Japanese Organized Labour Service Corps poster
  • USSR: "Everything for the Front. Everything for Victory"
  • French-Canadian poster: "I'm making bombs and buying bonds!-Buy Victory Bonds."
  • Italy: "Work and Fight for your Country and Victory"
  • Australia: "He's coming south—it's fight, work or perish"

See also

Notes
  1. Naval History of WW2 Royal Navy
  2. Two battlecruisers of Kronshtadt-class laid down but never progressed
  3. wartime production only. Majority of Gladiators were built before the war. 165 additional to export customers. Sea Gladiator conversions and production in Sea Gladiator entry.
  4. Includes some post-war production and conversions of Spitfires
  5. Includes pre-war production
  6. includes transport and Coastal Command reconnaissance versions
  7. Includes 457 trainers
  8. most built pre-war
  9. Most production was pre-war
  10. Including: Airspeed Cambridge (2), Airspeed Fleet Shadower (1), Avro Tudor (2), Blackburn B-20 (1), Blackburn Firebrand (3) , Boulton Paul P.92 (1), Bristol Brigand (4), Burnelli CBY-3, Canada (1), CAC Woomera, Australia (2), de Havilland Dove (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), Gloster E.28/39 (2), Gloster F.9/37 (2), Handley Page Manx (1), Hawker Tornado (4), Martin-Baker MB 3 (1), Martin-Baker MB 5 (1), Miles M.20 (2), Miles X Minor (1), Miles M.35 (1), Miles M.39 (1), Miles M.64 L.R.5 (1), Reid and Sigrist R.S.1/2 (2), Reid and Sigrist R.S.3 (1), Saro Shrimp (1), Short Shetland (2), Supermarine Type 322 (2), Vickers Type 432 (1), Vickers VC.1 Viking (1), Vickers Windsor (3)
  11. includes: Folland Fo.108 engine test bed (12), General Aircraft Cygnet (10), General Aircraft GAL-41 (1), Hawker Sea Fury (10), Miles Mercury (6), Percival Vega Gull (~20), Supermarine Spiteful fighter (19)
  12. includes: CCF Maple Leaf Trainer II (2 plus 10 built in Mexico )
  13. Delivered to France.
  14. First prototype incomplete by German occupation.
  15. Only 1 (designated P.11g) used by Poland in 1939. The remaining ones were exported to various Balkan countries.
  16. Around 200 more airframes were in advanced production stage.
  17. not counting uncompleted PZL.50
  18. Production was started in Denmark, but not completed before the German invasion.
  19. 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.
  20. not counting P.4/34
  21. According to some sources license production started in Denmark but not completed before the German invasion.
  22. All but 5 delivered to Bulgaria.
  23. Prototypes that were used in combat.
  24. Never entered service
  25. Number refers to production resumed after German occupation.
  26. Produced shortly before the war and mainly used for testing and propaganda purposes.
  27. Conversion from MS.406/410.
  28. Conversion from MS.406.
  29. Produced before the war and 2 used by Japanese for testing.
  30. All produced before the war, but used until 1944.
  31. Only 90 German-built Me 210 were completed and delivered, about 100 Hungarian-built were supplied to Germany
  32. Also used as a fighter and for reconnaissance
  33. Produced for Germany after German occupation.
  34. Only bomber versions listed here.

Citations
  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. Office of Statistical Control. Army Air Force Statistical Digest, World War II. p. 127.
  11. Office of Statistical Control. Army Air Force Statistical Digest. p. 16.
  12. "Expanding the Size of the U.S. Military in World War II". warfarehistorynetwork.com. 26 June 2017. Archived from the original on 12 August 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  13. "Why Japan Really Lost The War". Combined Fleet. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  14. "Why Japan Really Lost The War". Combined Fleet. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  15. Mitchell, B.R. British Historical Statistics, 1988
  16. http://www.teindia.nic.in/mhrd/50yrsedu/15/8P/82/8P820T03.htm
  17. Dialogue on Aluminium 110 years of history in Canada approximation
  18. Baker The New Zealand People at War: War Economy 1965
  19. Lend Lease as a Function of the Soviet war Economy
  20. Accounting for War: Soviet Production, Employment and the Defense Burden, 1940-1945 Mark Harrison, 1996
  21. Including 23.4 synthetic.
  22. Volume 3 -The Effects of Strategic Bombing on the German War Economy 1940-1944 only, retrieved June 8, 2014
  23. "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, archived from the original on August 6, 2014, retrieved June 8, 2014
  24. Harrison, 1998
  25. Stephen Broadberry, Kevin H. O'Rourke, The Cambridge Economic History of Modern Europe: Volume 2, 1870 to the Present, p. 190
  26. ROMANIA: historical demographical data of the whole country
  27. HUNGARY: historical demographical data of the whole country
  28. BULGARIA historical demographical data of the whole country
  29. ALBANIA: historical demographical data of the whole country
  30. General Article: Foreign Affairs, pbs.org
  31. "The Economic Consequences of War on US Economy" (PDF). Institute for Economics and Peace. June 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  32. "Defence Spending since 1900". UK Public Spending. Retrieved 2018-06-18 – via Christopher Chantrill.
  34. "The Economic Consequences of War on US Economy" (PDF). Institute of Economics and Peace. June 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  35. "THE WAR: At Home – War Production". The War At Home Production. PBS. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  36. "Graph of U.S. Unemployment Rate, 1930-1945". Bureau Of Labor Statistics. HERB: Resources for Teachers. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  37. Bartlett, Bruce. "The Cost Of War". Forbes.com. Forbes. Retrieved 2017-10-26.
  38. "THE WAR: At Home – War Production". pbs.org. PBS. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  39. Rose, Patrick (2012). The Indian Army, 1939–47: Experience and Development. Routledge.
  41. 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.
  42. Ethell, Jeffrey L. and Steve Pace. Spitfire. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International, 1997. ISBN 0-7603-0300-2. p117
  43. 3 prototypes and 3 delivered to RAF
  44. Canso production

Personnel -Allied - British Empire

Personnel - Axis

Aircraft - Allied
  • Australia
  • Bristol Brigand
  • Free Dutch
  • New Zealand
  • Barnes 1989
  • Bishop 2002
  • Bowyer 1980
  • Butler 2004
  • Flint 2006
  • Green 1967
  • Jackson 1987
  • Jane's 1989
  • Mason 1994
  • Morgan ?
  • Otway 1990
  • Swanborough 1997
  • Tapper 1988
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft, 1985

Aircraft - Axis
  • Comando Supremo: Italy at War
  • 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
  • Ailsby, Christopher, Hitler's Renegades: Foreign Nationals in the Service of the Third Reich (Photographic Histories), Potomac Books, 2004
  • 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
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  • 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
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  • "Les luxembourgeois de la Brigade Piron". (in French) Armee.lu. Retrieved 29 June 2013
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  • 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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