Oil and its products in all shapes and forms including aviation, motor, and diesel fuels were a German strategic weakness. Allied strategic bombing targeted the oil refineries in Ploesti, Romania. Germany's 1942 summer campaign, Case Blue, aimed to capture the oil fields of the Caucasus both providing themselves needed oil and denying the Soviet Union oil. Oil … [Read more...] about German Aviation, Motor, and Diesel Fuels Availability
Economic
USSR Production versus Lend-Lease Support
The USSR prior to World War II implemented several five-year plans developing massive industrial production capabilities. This required a steady raw material input producing final military and industrial grade good. Lend-Lease Categories Raw Materials Copper – In an unusual twist the Soviet Union was providing copper along many other raw materials to Germany per the … [Read more...] about USSR Production versus Lend-Lease Support
Relative Productivity Ranking Of World War II Foes
Of six major World War II combatants four Allied and two Axis nations the four Allied nations ranked one, two four, and five in industrial relative productivity ranking. Whereas Germany and Japan were third and sixth overall. Most of the combatant nations increased their productivity as the war went on but the Axis nations were fighting a losing battle industrially as well as … [Read more...] about Relative Productivity Ranking Of World War II Foes
UK National Income and Expenditure 1938-1945
United Kingdom’s war expenditure as a percentage of the UK National Income and Expenditure went from single digits in 1938 to just more than half by 1941 where it would remain until nearly the war’s end. The above graphs can be downloaded as images. To download the data shown below from which the graphs were developed click on the icon below corresponding to … [Read more...] about UK National Income and Expenditure 1938-1945
US War Cost of Production by Category
Aircraft and naval vessels drove the United States (US) expenditures. These two US World War 2 war cost categories were just shy of two thirds of the US WWII spending in 1944 at 63%. Both aircraft and naval vessels played significantly into US and United Kingdom (UK) strategic planning and became overwhelming strengths as the war proceeded in all their respective theaters. So … [Read more...] about US War Cost of Production by Category
US Congressional War Department Allocations – 1939
Military pay and new equipment took the lion’s share of the 1939 War Department budget for the US Army. The Army appropriations totaled $646,000,000 for 1939. However, $192,000,000, or nearly 30 percent, were for nonmilitary purposes, such as Panama Canal costs and rivers and harbors work. Leaving the Army with $454,000,000. The total US federal budget outlays in 1939 were $9.1 … [Read more...] about US Congressional War Department Allocations – 1939
Allies Axis Vital Commerce and Raw Materials
Modern warfare demanded great raw material quantities and the combatants scrambled to ensure they had enough for their needs. Axis nations were at a disadvantage especially with regards to oil which drove the armored fighting vehicles, naval vessels, trucks, aircraft, and a myriad of other machinery. Additionally, the Axis nations did not have the commerce infrastructure that … [Read more...] about Allies Axis Vital Commerce and Raw Materials
Real National Product of UK, US, USSR, and Germany, 1937-45
The USSR suffered significant Real National Product loss due to losing territory and their associated economic assets. The United States and the United Kingdom both were able to grow their national products in real terms during the war years. Germany’s Real National Product However, it is the German Real National Product that is most interesting. From 1939 through … [Read more...] about Real National Product of UK, US, USSR, and Germany, 1937-45
Combat Munitions Production, Major Belligerents, 1935-44
In the prewar years Allied and Axis expenditures on combat munitions production tilted slightly in the Axis favor. However, by 1942 Soviet spending by itself was equaling Japanese and German spending and the United States was outspending the Axis nations on a 1.7 to one basis. Both Germany and Japan would continue to expand their munition expenditure at a growing rate, but they … [Read more...] about Combat Munitions Production, Major Belligerents, 1935-44
Combat Munitions Production, Allies versus Axis, 1935-44
During the prewar years 1935-39 the Allied nations spent 86 percent of what the Axis spent on combat munitions production. However, by 1942 the Allies were outspending the Axis nations on a 3.61 to one ratio. Although the ratio wouldn’t grow the spending gap kept accelerating until the end of the war. Combat Munitions Definition Combat munitions are weapons, … [Read more...] about Combat Munitions Production, Allies versus Axis, 1935-44