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Military production during World War II

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

Military production during World War II was the production or mobilization of arms, ammunition, personnel and financing by the belligerents of the war, 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 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.

Historical context

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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, supporting 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 great disadvantage as compared to the Allies.

World map, with the British Empire in 1921 in red
British Empire in 1921

In 1938 Britain was the world's superpower, with political and economic control of a quarter of the world's population, industry and resources, and closely allied with 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 or enlisted 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 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.

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[citation needed] — 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 force 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 British-originated 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 their victory 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 to 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

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Personnel, thousands

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Service Allies Axis
Combat 25,000
Auxiliary force 15,000
Merchant marine 50,000
Irregulars 90,000
Total 180,000 30,000

Major weapons groups

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System Allies Axis
Tanks, self-propelled artillery, vehicles 4,358,650 670,288
Artillery, mortars, guns 6,792,696 1,363,490
Aircraft 637,249 300,000
Missiles (only for test) 45,558
Ships 54,931 1,670

Economy

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In thousands of international dollars, at 2014 prices.[citation needed]

Service Allies Axis
GDP 97,707,908,723.20 10,268,201,776.37
Expenditure

Vital commerce and raw materials, tons

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To move raw materials and supply distant forces, large numbers of cargo ships had to be built
Category Allies Axis
Cargo ships 47,169 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

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Land forces

[edit]
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 Empire 47,862 47,420 1,475,521 226,113 239,540 1,090,410 17,192,533
USA and territories 108,410 2,382,311 257,390 105,055 2,679,840 16,000,000[9]
USSR 119,769 265,000 516,648 363,012 1,477,400 34,401,807
Other
Allies 270,041 47,420 4,054,932 1,000,151 707,607 5,247,650 67,594,000
Germany and territories 67,429 49,777 159,147 73,484 104,864 1,000,730 14,540,835
Hungary 973 530 5,224 447 2,700 4,583 730,000
Romania 214 251 4,300 1,800 4,300 10,000 1,220,000
Italian Empire 3,368 1,240 83,000 7,200 22,000 140,000 4,300,000
Japanese Empire 4,524 2,200 165,945 13,350 49,000 380,000 8,100,000
Other
Axis 76,385 50,028 413,316 97,281 182,864 1,395,313 28,890,800

Air forces

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Power Total Aircraft Fighters Attack Bombers Recon Transport Training Other Personnel
British Empire 177,025 38,786 33,811 38,158 7,014 12,585 46,256 415 1,927,395
USA and territories 295,959[10] 99,465 96,872 4,106 23,900 58,085 13,531 2,403,806[11]
USSR 136,223 22,301 37,549 21,116 17,332 4,061 33,864
Other
Allies 609,207 160,552 71,360 156,146 11,120 53,817 108,402 47,810
Germany and territories 133,387 57,653 8,991 28,577 5,025 8,396 14,311 11,361 3,402,200
Romania 1,113 513 272 128 0 200 0 0
Italian Empire 13,402 9,157 34 3,381 388 2,471 968 3
Japanese Empire 64,484 33,405 9,558 11,943 3,709 1,073 3,420 1,376
Other 9,849 881 4 395 318 1,880 5,145 57
Axis 222,235 98,609 18,859 44,424 11,002 14,020 22,944 12,794
[edit]
See also: United States Navy in World War II, List of classes of British ships of World War II, List of Kriegsmarine ships, List of Japanese Navy ships and war vessels in World War II, and List of Romanian-built warships of World War II
Power Total large ships Carriers

(Escort Carriers)

Battleships Cruisers Destroyers Frigates

& Destroyer Escorts

Other large vessels Corvettes Sloops Patrol boats Submarines

(includes midget submarines)

De/ Mining Landing craft Personnel
British Empire 558[12] 15 (29) 5 35 202 270 2 338 33 4,209 238 1,244 9,538 1,227,415
USA and territories 2020 29 (121) 10 52 396 1014 398 773[13] 234 35,000 4,000,000[14]
USSR 63 0 6 54 3 68
France 9 2 7
Other 8 (2) 2 4 1 9 1
Allies 2658 44(152) 17 95 663 1284 403 338 34 4,982 577 1,245 44,538
Germany & territories 38 0 4 3 31 1,119 540 1,500,000
Italian Empire 82 0 3 3 17 59 83
Japanese Empire 278 14(6) 2 12 63 175 6 867
Romania 8 2 5
Other
Axis 398 14(6) 9 18 111 234 6   2,069

Munitions

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See also: Home front during World War II
Munitions Production in World War II[15]
(Expenditures in billions of dollars, US 1944 munitions prices)
Country/Alliance Year
Average
1935-39		 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 Total
1939–44
U.S.A. 0.3 1.5 4.5 20.0 38.0 42.0 106.3
Britain 0.5 3.5 6.5 9.0 11.0 11.0 41.5
U.S.S.R. 1.6 5.0 8.5 11.5 14.0 16.0 56.6
Allies Total 2.4 10.0 20.0 41.5 64.5 70.5 204.4
Germany 2.4 6.0 6.0 8.5 13.5 17.0 53.4
Japan 0.4 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.5 6.0 16.9
Axis Total 2.8 7.0 8.0 11.5 18.0 23.0 70.3

Commercial forces

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British Empire USA USSR Germany Hungary Italy Japan Romania
Harbour craft 1,092
Cargo 1,361
Cargo tonnage 12,823,942 [citation needed] 33,993,230 [16] 1,469,606 [citation needed] 4,152,361 [17]

Resources

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Country Coal Iron ore Crude oil Steel Aluminium Nickel Zinc
!a -9999 -9999 -9999
USA[citation needed] 2,149.7 396.9 833.2
Britain[18] 1,441.2 119.2 90.8 3.700 0.205
Australia[citation needed] 83.1 1.56
India[19] 196.7 6.0 1.12
Canada 101.9 3.6 8.4 16.4 3.500[20]
New Zealand[21] 18 1.0
USSR 590.8 71.3 110.6 0.263[22] 0.069[23] 0.384[23]
Total Allied 4581.4 597 1043
Germany 2,420.3 240.7 33.4[24] 1.9[25] 0.046[25] 2.1[25]
Japan[citation needed] 184.5 21.0 5.2
Italy[citation needed] 16.9 4.4 2.3
Hungary[citation needed] 6.6 14.1 3.1
Romania[citation needed] 1.6 10.8 25.0
Total Axis 2629.9 291
~z 99999999 99999999 99999999

All figures in millions of tonnes

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

Gross domestic product

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Ratio of GDP between the major Allied and Axis powers 1938–1945

Gross domestic product (GDP) provides insight into the relative strength of the belligerents in the run up to, and during the conflict.

Gross domestic product[nb 1][26][27]
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)[28] by their estimated populations in 1938: 19,750,000 for Romania,[29] 9,082,400 for Hungary,[30] 6,380,000 for Bulgaria[31] and 1,040,400 for Albania.[32]

  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[33]
  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[clarification needed] used above.

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

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GDP during World War II

[edit]
  • 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.[34]
  • 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.[35]
  • 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%.

US unemployment during World War II

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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.[36]
  • 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.[37][38]

Price of war

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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 increase 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.[39]

US wartime production

[edit]

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, President Franklin D. 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 raising taxes.

One part of the US wartime manufacturing boom can be ascribed to Alcoa's second major reduction plant in Mobile, Alabama starting in 1937. At first serving mainly the Japanese market, the plant prepared thousands of tons of aluminum for the production of aeroplanes during the war.[1] 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.

Personnel – Allied – Britain, dominions and possessions

[edit]

Including all non-British subjects in British services.[40]

Army Army (female) Navy Navy (female) Marines Air Force Air Force (female) Auxiliary Merchant marine Partisans Total combat Other labour
Aden 1,200
Australia 727,703 24,026 36,976 3,000 124,007 27,000 4,500 942,712
Argentine volunteers[41] 1,700 1,700 600 4,000
Basutoland/Bechuana/Swaziland 10,000 36,000
Free Belgian Forces 42,300 1,200 1,900 45,770 370
Britain 3,300,000 210,309 865,000 74,000 78,500 1,208,000 181,909 1,500,000 185,000 7,602,718
B. Indian Ocean 6,500 6,500
Canada 705,374 25,251 99,822 7,100 222,501 27,123 82,163 18,000 1,187,334
Caribbean / Bermuda 10,000
Ceylon 26,000
Chinese volunteers 10,000 10,000
Cyprus 30,000 30,000
Czech volunteers 4,000 2,000 6,000
East Africa 200,000 228,000
Egypt 100,000 100,000
Falklands 200
Fiji 7,000 1,071 7,000
Free French Forces 3,700 20 3,720
Free Greek 5,000 8,500 250 14,000
Gibraltar 700
Guiana, British 32 10 42 33 48 196 31
Hong Kong 2,200 2,200
India 2,500,000 11,000 45,947 30,000 50,000 2,586,957 14,000,000
Ireland 70,000 70,000
Lesotho 21,000 21,000
Free Luxembourg[42] 80 80
Malaysia 1,500 1,450 3,215 4,800 10,965
Malta 8,200
Mauritius 6,800 3,500
Nepal 250,280 250,280
Free Dutch 4,000 1,000 1000 12.000 6,000
South Africa ?
Total 7,988,669 271,596 1,064,337 84,100 78,500 1,590,311 236,032 1,593,297 267,512 4,800 13,221,232 14,000,401

Note:

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

Personnel – Axis – German Reich

[edit]

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
Albania 9,000 9,000
Arab legion 20,000 20,000
Belgium 22,000 22,000
Bulgaria 30,000 90,000
Croatia[43] 55,500 500 400 32,000 88,400
Czech[44] 6,465 6,465
Denmark 12,000 12,000
Finland vol 2,500 2,500
France & territories 8,000 4,500 5,080 17,580 348,500
Germany & territories 14,793,200 1,500,000 3,400,000 19,693,200
Greece 22,000 22,000
Hungary 40,000 40,000
Italy 18,000 18,000
India 4,500 4,500
Luxembourg 12,035 12,035
Netherlands 45,000 45,000
Norway[45] 5,000 1,500 1,500 4,500
Poland[46] 75,000 45,000 120,000
Portugal 200 200
Romania 55,000 55,000
Serbia 10,000 10,000
Slovakia 45,000 45,000
Slovenia 6,000 6,000
Spain 47,000 47,000
Sweden 300 300
Switzerland 800 800
USSR 1,051,000 300 100,000 1,151,300
Total 16,336,755 1,506,500 3,402,200 204,080 21,582,300 348,000

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

[edit]
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.[47]

Fighters Australia Britain Canada India New Zealand South Africa Total
Blackburn Roc (naval) 136 136
Boulton Paul Defiant 1,065 1065
CAC Boomerang 250 250
CAC Mustang 200 200
de Havilland Hornet[note 1] 60 60
de Havilland Vampire 244 244
Fairey Firefly (naval) 872 872
Fairey Fulmar (naval) 600 600
Gloster Gladiator[note 2] 98 98
Gloster Meteor 239 239
Hawker Hurricane 14,231 1,451 15,682
Hawker Tempest 1,702 1,702
Hawker Typhoon 3,330 3,330
Supermarine Seafire (naval)[note 3] 2,334 2,334
Supermarine Spitfire 20,351 20,351[48]
Westland Whirlwind 116 116
Total Fighters 450 50,897 2,077 53,424
Bombers Australia Britain Canada India New Zealand South Africa
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley[note 4] 1,780 1,780
Avro Lancaster 7,307 430 7,377
Avro Lincoln[49] 6 1 6
Avro Manchester 202 202
Fairey Barracuda (naval) 2,607 2,607
Blackburn Skua (naval) 192 192
Bristol Beaufighter 364 5,564 5,928
Bristol Beaufort 700 1,429 2,129
Bristol Blenheim 5,519 626 6,145
Bristol Buckingham[note 5] 119 119
de Havilland Mosquito 212 6,199 1,134 7,545
Fairchild SBF &
CCF SBW Helldiver		 1,134 1,134
Fairey Albacore (naval) 800 800
Fairey Swordfish[note 4] (naval) 2,396 2,396
Handley Page Halifax 6,178[note 6] 6,178
Handley Page Hampden 152 160 312
Short Stirling 2,383 2,383
Vickers Wellington[note 4] 11,461 11,461
Total Bombers 1,349 44,391 3,019 54,577
Reconnaissance & patrol Australia Britain Canada India New Zealand South Africa
Bristol Bolingbroke[note 7] 676 626
Bristol Bombay (bomber/transport)[note 4] 51 51
Blackburn Botha 580 580
Blackburn Shark 17 17
Consolidated Canso 721[50] 993
Piper Cub 150 150
Saro Lerwick 21 21
Supermarine Sea Otter 292 292
Short Seaford 10 10
Short Sunderland 767 767
Supermarine Stranraer 39 39
Supermarine Walrus 746 746
Taylorcraft Auster 1,800 1,800
Vickers Warwick 845 845
Total reconnaissance 5,112 882 6,937
Transport Australia Britain Canada India New Zealand South Africa
Airspeed Horsa 5,000 5,000
Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle 602 602
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley 1,814 1,814
Avro Lancastrian 82 6 82
Avro York 259 1 259
CAC Gliders 8 8
De Havilland Australia DHA-G1/G2 8 8
de Havilland Dragon Dominie[note 4] 474 474
de Havilland Flamingo 14 14
General Aircraft Hamilcar
(glider)		 412 412
General Aircraft Hotspur
(glider)		 1,015 1,015
Miles Messenger 93 93
Miles Monitor 22 22
Noorduyn Norseman 861 861
Northrop/Canadian-Vickers Delta[note 8] 19 19
Percival Petrel 7 7
Short S.26 3 3
Slingsby Hengist
(glider)		 18 18
Westland Lysander
(air observation, liaison, target tug)		 1,445 225 1,670
total Transports 16 11,260 1,112 12,381
Trainers Australia Britain Canada India New Zealand South Africa
Airspeed Oxford 8,586 8,586
Avions Fairey Tipsy B 15 15
Avro Anson 8,488 3,197 11,685
Bristol Buckmaster 112 112
CAC Wackett 202 202
CAC Wirraway 755 755
de Havilland Don 30 30
de Havilland Moth Minor 100 100
de Havilland Tiger Moth 1,080 5,738 1,748 150 8,716
Fairchild Cornell (PT-19/26) 1,642 1,642
Fairey Battle[note 9] 2,201 2,201
Fleet Finch 606 606
Fleet Fort 101 101
Hawker Henley 200 200
Harlow PC-5 5 50 55
Miles Magister 1,303 1,303
Miles Martinet 1,724 1,724
Miles Master 3,250 3,250
Miles Mentor 45 45
North American Harvard 3,985 3,985
Percival Proctor 1,143 1,143
Total Trainers 2,037 32,935 11,284 50 150 46,456
Other Australia Britain Canada India New Zealand South Africa Empire
Prototypes[note 10] 2 61 1
Other 78 2
Total other 2 139[note 11] 3[note 12] 144
Grand Total 3,854 144,734 18,377 50 150 0 173,759

Aircraft – Allies – France, Poland and minor powers

[edit]

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.

Allied aircraft production[51]
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 10 110 120
Koolhoven F.K.58 20[note 13]
Avions Fairey Fox VI/VII 106
Fokker G.I 63
Hawker Hurricane I 15 20
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 14]
PZL P.24 118[note 15]
Arsenal VG.33/36/39 40[note 16]
Total 121 274 10 2,526 193 119 (+5) 44 3,287[note 17]
Attack Belgium Czechoslovakia Denmark France Netherlands Poland Yugoslavia Total
Breguet Br.690 230
Latécoère 298
(naval torpedo bomber/dive bomber)		 121
Loire-Nieuport LN.40 68
Fairey P.4/34 (12)[note 18]
Rogožarski PVT[note 19] 61
Total (12) 419 61 480[note 20]
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 21]
Fokker C.X/Fokker C.XI 53
Dornier Do 17K 70
Farman F.222.2/F.223 25
LeO 45 452
LWS-6 Żubr 17
Bloch MB.131 143
Bloch MB.174/175 79
Bloch MB.210 298
Potez 633 55
PZL.37 120
PZL.43 54[note 22]
PZL.46 2[note 23]
Rogožarski SIM-XIV-H 19
Fokker T.V 16
Fokker T.VIII 36
Total 18 144 1,132 105 193 89 1,681

Aircraft - Axis - All

[edit]

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

Axis aircraft production[52]
Fighters Belgium Bulgaria Czech Netherlands Finland France Germany Hungary Italy Japan Poland Romania Yugoslavia Total
Mitsubishi A6M Zero 10,939
Nakajima A6M2-N 327
Arado Ar 240 14
Avia B-135 12
Avia B-534 78
Bachem Ba 349 36[note 24]
Messerschmitt Bf 109 33,142 309 33,984
Messerschmitt Bf 110 6,170 6,170
Macchi C.200/Macchi C.202/Macchi C.205 2,766
Fiat CR.25 12
Fiat CR.42 1,782
Dewoitine D.520[note 25] 440
Dornier Do 17Z-7/Z-10 12
Dornier Do 335 37
Caproni Vizzola F.5 14
Koolhoven F.K.52 6
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 20,000
Fiat G.50 Freccia 666
Fiat G.55 Centauro 305
Heinkel He 100[note 26] 25
Heinkel He 112 60
Heinkel He 162 320
Heinkel He 219 300
IAR 80 346
Nakajima J1N 479
Mitsubishi J2M 621
Kawasaki Ki-10 283
Nakajima Ki-27 3,399
Nakajima Ki-43 5,919
Nakajima Ki-44 1,227
Kawasaki Ki-45 1,701
Kawasaki Ki-61 3,159
Nakajima Ki-84 3,514
Kawasaki Ki-100 395
Bloch MB.150[note 25] 35
Messerschmitt Me 163 /Mitsubishi J8M 370 7 377
Messerschmitt Me 262 1,433
Mörkö-Morane[note 27] 41
Morane-Saulnier MS.410[note 28] 74
Kawanishi N1K 1,435
PZL P.24 25 25 50
Reggiane Re.2000, 2001, 2002 & 2005 204 531 735
IMAM Ro.44 35
IMAM Ro.57 75
Ambrosini SAI.207 14
Focke-Wulf Ta 152 & Focke-Wulf Ta 154 200 these are unrelated types.
VL Myrsky 51
VL Pyry 41
Total 90 6 133 549 62,116 513 6,200 33,405 25 371 96,551
Attack Belgium Bulgaria Czech Netherlands Finland France Germany Hungary Italy Japan Poland Romania Yugoslavia
Nakajima B5N 1,149
Nakajima B6N 1,268
Aichi B7A 114
Breda Ba.65 218
Breda Ba.88 149
Aichi D3A 1,486
Yokosuka D4Y 2,038
CANSA FC.12 11
CANSA FC.20 6
Heinkel He 115 138
Heinkel He 118[note 29] 15
Henschel Hs 123[note 30] 250
Henschel Hs 129 865
Junkers Ju 87 Stuka 6,500
Mitsubishi Ki-51 2,385
Kawasaki Ki-102 238
Aichi M6A 28
Messerschmitt Me 210[note 31] 400 272 672
Messerschmitt Me 410[note 32] 1,189
Yokosuka MXY7 852
Fiat RS.14 188
Savoia-Marchetti SM.85 34
Total 9,092 272 606 9,558 30,903
Bombers Belgium Bulgaria Czech Netherlands Finland France Germany Hungary Italy Japan Poland Romania Yugoslavia
Aero A.304 4
Arado Ar 234 210
Bloch MB.174/175[note 33] 38
Fiat BR.20 Cicogna 602
Caproni Ca.135 140
Caproni Ca.309-314 1,516
Dornier Do 22 30
Dornier Do 17E/F 405
Dornier Do 17K 14
Dornier Do 17M/P/R/S/U 448
Dornier Do 17Z 875
Dornier Do 215 105
Dornier Do 217 1,025
Fieseler Fi 167 14
Focke-Wulf Fw 200 276
Mitsubishi G3M 1,048
Mitsubishi G4M 2,435
Heinkel He 111 7,300
Heinkel He 177 1,190
IAR 37 380
Junkers Ju 88/188/388 16,517
Kaproni-Bulgarski KB.6 24
Mitsubishi Ki-21 2,064
Mitsubishi Ki-30 704
Kawasaki Ki-32 854
Kawasaki Ki-48 1,997
Nakajima Ki-49 819
Mitsubishi Ki-67/Mitsubishi Ki-109 767
LeO 45[note 25] 162
Piaggio P.108 35
Yokosuka P1Y 1,102
Kyushu Q1W 153
Letov Š-328 80
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 1,350 64
Savoia-Marchetti SM.82[note 34] 379
Savoia-Marchetti SM.84 246
Weiss WM-21 128
CANT Z.506B 320
CANT Z.1007 660
CANT Z.1018 15
Total 24 84 200 28,409 128 5,263 11,943 380 44,802

Propaganda posters

[edit]
  • 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

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ entered service after the war
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Includes some post-war production and conversions of Spitfires
  4. ^ a b c d e Includes pre-war production
  5. ^ Not used as bombers but for other purposes
  6. ^ includes transport and Coastal Command reconnaissance versions
  7. ^ Includes 457 trainers
  8. ^ most built pre-war
  9. ^ Most production was pre-war
  10. ^ Of all types of aircraft not entering service
  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. ^ a b c 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

[edit]
  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. ^ "US military numbers". www.dpaa.mil.
  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. ^ "Royal Navy in 1939 and 1945". www.naval-history.net.
  13. ^ "US PT Boats List: Numerical List of Boats".
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ Goldsmith data in Harrison (1988) p. 172
  16. ^ "Why Japan Really Lost The War". Combined Fleet. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  17. ^ "Why Japan Really Lost The War". Combined Fleet. Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  18. ^ Mitchell, B.R. British Historical Statistics, 1988 [page needed]
  19. ^ "Production of Iron Ore, Pig Iron and Steel Government Of India", FIRST FIVE YEAR PLAN, Ministry Of Human Resource Development Department Of Education, archived from the original on 14 July 2014
  20. ^ Dialogue on Aluminium 110 years of history in Canada approximation
  21. ^ Baker The New Zealand People at War: War Economy 1965 [page needed]
  22. ^ Long, Jason, "Lend-Lease as a Function of the Soviet War Economy", The Sinews of War: Economics, Production and Logistics during the Second World War, archived from the original on 7 March 2012
  23. ^ a b "Soviet Industrial Production 1940-1945", The Sinews of War: Economics, Production and Logistics during the Second World War, archived from the original on 15 April 2012, citing Accounting for War: Soviet Production, Employment and the Defense Burden, 1940-1945 by Mark Harrison, 1996
  24. ^ Including 23.4 synthetic.
  25. ^ a b c Volume 3 -The Effects of Strategic Bombing on the German War Economy 1940-1944 only, retrieved June 8, 2014
  26. ^ "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
  27. ^ Harrison, 1998
  28. ^ Stephen Broadberry, Kevin H. O'Rourke, The Cambridge Economic History of Modern Europe: Volume 2, 1870 to the Present, p. 190
  29. ^ "ROMANIA: historical demographical data of the whole country".
  30. ^ "HUNGARY: historical demographical data of the whole country".
  31. ^ "BULGARIA historical demographical data of the whole country".
  32. ^ "ALBANIA: historical demographical data of the whole country".
  33. ^ General Article: Foreign Affairs, pbs.org
  34. ^ "The Economic Consequences of War on US Economy" (PDF). Institute for Economics and Peace. June 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  35. ^ "Defence Spending since 1900". UK Public Spending. Retrieved 2018-06-18 – via Christopher Chantrill.
  36. ^ "The Economic Consequences of War on US Economy" (PDF). Institute of Economics and Peace. June 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2017.
  37. ^ "THE WAR: At Home – War Production". The War At Home Production. PBS. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  38. ^ "Graph of U.S. Unemployment Rate, 1930-1945". Bureau Of Labor Statistics. HERB: Resources for Teachers. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  39. ^ Bartlett, Bruce. "The Cost Of War". Forbes. Retrieved 2017-10-26.
  40. ^ Rose, Patrick (2012). The Indian Army, 1939–47: Experience and Development. Routledge.
  41. ^ *The Anglo-Argentine Society in conjunction with the Argentine Embassy (6 April 2005). "Wings of Thunder – Wartime RAF Veterans Flying in From Argentina" (Press release). London: PRNewswire.
  42. ^ "Les luxembourgeois de la "Brigade PIRON" -", Historique - Lëtzebuerger Arméi, archived from the original on 2014-06-29
  43. ^ Munoz 1996, Tomasevich 2001
  44. ^ Czech, archived from the original on July 14, 2014
  45. ^ "De norske frontkjemperne - Norgeshistorie".
  46. ^ Poland, archived from the original on July 14, 2014
  47. ^ 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.
  48. ^ Ethell, Jeffrey L. and Steve Pace. Spitfire. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International, 1997. ISBN 0-7603-0300-2. p117
  49. ^ 3 prototypes and 3 delivered to RAF
  50. ^ "Consolidated PBY Catalina production in Canada". www.historyofwar.org.
  51. ^ * Australian War memorial, Bristol Brigand, Free Dutch, New Zealand Official History, 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
  52. ^ 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 ?

Table data

[edit]

Personnel -Allied - British Empire

[edit]

Personnel - Axis

[edit]

Raw materials

[edit]
  • 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

[edit]
  • 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

[edit]
  • 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
  • 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, HarperCollins, 2002
  • Otway, Lieutenant-Colonel T.B.H. The Second World War 1939-1945 Army: Airborne Forces. London: Imperial War Museum, 1990
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  • 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
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  • Tomasevich, Jozo, War and Revolution in Yugoslavia, 1941–1945: Occupation and Collaboration 2. San Francisco: Stanford University Press, 2001
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  • Zuljan, Ralph, "Allied and Axis GDP" Articles On War OnWar.com (2003)
[edit]
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