At the beginning of the war Allied manpower was 70.6% that of the Axis manpower strength. However, at war's end a huge reversal with Allied strength now almost double that of the Axis powers. But in 1940 it was far from clear what manpower levels would be needed and their respective responses to mobilizations corresponded to their unique … [Read more...] about Allied versus Axis Manpower 1939-1945
Axis
Military Manpower by Nation 1940 to 1945
Germany’s manpower peaked in 1943. Germany’s raw military manpower numbers for 1944-45 don’t reflect that more and more of their men haven’t either reached their prime fighting age or were well beyond it. Japan’s manpower levels peak in 1945 but they have similar quality personnel as Germany making up those numbers. Germany and Japan are getting men into the ranks with less … [Read more...] about Military Manpower by Nation 1940 to 1945
Combat Forces on the Eastern Front Manpower Ratios
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) drew heavily upon its union of soviet states to build an Eastern Front foe to oppose the German-led alliance. Germany believed they could quickly dispatch the USSR but when that didn’t happen, they found themselves facing an enemy with growing combat forces. Eastern Front Manpower Ratios Germany believed they could … [Read more...] about Combat Forces on the Eastern Front Manpower Ratios
Comparative Military Manpower Sept 1939
At the outbreak of WW2 in Europe the USSR alone had 46% of the European military manpower. USSR maintained a 2.8:1 ratio over Germany on day one. Many of the other nations such as France and Poland had significant manpower numbers but both would be shortly neutralized. 1930s Military Build Up by Nation China The size of China's military varied greatly during the … [Read more...] about Comparative Military Manpower Sept 1939
Military Divisions per Country 1939-45 in Europe
In Europe, German and Soviet number of divisions were the bulk of the fighting forces. Soviet and German divisions were approximately the same from 1940 to 1943. Germany was not only facing the Soviets on the Eastern Front but the British and Americans in North Africa, the Atlantic, and later in Italy and France. German Forces Occupying … [Read more...] about Military Divisions per Country 1939-45 in Europe
German Armed Forces – Manpower
The Wehrmacht manpower topped out in 1944 with more than 53% serving in the German Army. In 1935, Hitler announced German rearmament and re-introduced conscription which applied to all men between 18 and 45. The Wehrmacht conscription regulations varied during the war years. In October 18, 1944, saw the establishment of the Volkssturm allowing conscription of all males between … [Read more...] about German Armed Forces – Manpower
German Armed Forces Manpower by Year
The Wehrmacht, German Armed Forces, manpower topped out in 1944 with more than 53% serving in the Heer, German Army. September 25, 1944, saw the establishment of the Volkssturm allowing conscription of all males between 16 and 60 years of age. Volkssturm enlistees were often trained in the use of panzerfaust antitank weapons. 1944 also saw Luftwaffe manpower drop by 200,000 … [Read more...] about German Armed Forces Manpower by Year
Allied versus Axis Military Manpower
The USSR numbers dwarf Germany’s. Although sheer numbers never tell the whole story they do help explain what Germany and Japan were up against since neither achieved the quick victories they planned. Below we discuss treatment of those who became a prisoner of war. Treatment World War II Prisoners of War (POW) During World War II, millions of individuals … [Read more...] about Allied versus Axis Military Manpower
Military Manpower and Deaths by Country
The major WW2 belligerent militaries suffered varying death rates the world over. The UK and US rates were low (3.3% and 2.5% respectively) whereas the USSR, Germany, and Japan’s rates (31.1%, 29.2% and 25.3% respectively) were high. With nearly 100 million serving the averaged death rate among the major belligerents was 19.1%. World War II Military … [Read more...] about Military Manpower and Deaths by Country
