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 militarily. Both faced relentless bombing attacks driving their industries underground, as well as communication, power and transportation disruptions. The US and Canada never faced these issues and the UK saw them to a much lesser degree than the Axis nations.

US Percentage of Industrial Output

The United States, even mired in the depression in the period 1936 to 1938, manufactured almost one-third of the world’s products (32.2 percent). The United States outproduced Germany about three times (10.7 percent) and Japan almost ten times (3.5 percent). Taking the United States prewar productivity in terms of production per man-hour as the standard and giving it a value of 100, the following chart indicates the relative productivity ranking of World War II foes. One must not forget, however, that the United States was “almost alone in increasing rather than diminishing consumer output during the war.” To reiterate the point, all belligerents fiercely produced munitions during the war, not just the United States. America possessed advantages that none of the other warring states had. Its output, while noteworthy, was what a prewar analyst might have expected given the size of the country, its educated population, the status of its technology, the abundance of its raw materials, the quality of its transportation network. In short:, America’s munitions production in World War II was no “miracle.” (1)

(1) Gropman, Alan L. “Mobilizing U.S. Industry In World War II: Myth And Reality.” Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University, 1996, Washington, DC, Page 135, https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/23588/mcnair50.pdf

Industrial culture

The Allied nations and the Axis nations saw the upcoming war very differently and their industrial mobilization reflected their visions. Germany foresaw a series of short wars or political takeovers of states in one-on-one actions. During the 1930s Germany more so than any other European nation mobilized their military and industry for war. German self-sufficiency was a key principle in their war preparations which included construction of synthetic fuel and rubber plants, prioritizing military over civilian economic policy, and stockpiling raw materials.

Japan foresaw a quick expansion into the Pacific nations followed by a negotiated peace. Both Germany’s and Japan’s visions required industrial and military mobilizations but not that of total war. The Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States all foresaw a long war and mobilized their industries and military accordingly. The Soviet Union’s centrally planned economy utilized mass production techniques within their five-year plans. The United Kingdom and the United States capitalistic approach were capable of mass production in order to achieve their profitability goals.

Although both Japan and Germany both planned and implemented a war economy earlier than the Allied nations, they never achieved the industrial mobilization levels of their foes. Germany saw a short war(s) therefore total industrial mobilization not needed. “By September 1941 Hitler was so confident that he had succeeded in Russia that he ordered large scale cutbacks in war production.” (2) Additionally, the Allied nations mobilized nontraditional labor especially women to their munitions and war materiel factories. For example, German domestic servants dropped from 1.5 to 1.3 million or 20%, whereas British dropped from 1.2 to 0.7 million or 58%. German factories for most of the war ran single shifts whereas Allied factories went to 24-hour production days.

(2) D’Olier, Franklin, Chairman, Alexander, Henry C. Vice-Chairman, “The United States Strategic Bombing Survey Summary Report (European War)”, September 30, 1945, Page 2

Industrial policy

The Allied nations cooperation through the Big Three Conferences, Combined Boards, and Lend-Lease identifying industrial and raw material gaps and priorities. Both Great Britain and the Soviet Union transition from identifying raw materials for all war materiel manufacturing needs to obtaining completed weapons platforms and focusing on expanding production capabilities where they had greater expertise.

Japan, Germany, and Italy acted mostly without prior consultation with their Axis partners. Italy did not know that Germany would invade the Soviet Union. Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor came as a surprise to her Axis partners. The Axis nations did not coordinate much in the areas of weapon development or raw material sharing.