The war economy and total war Flashcards
What were issued in December 1939 and what did they outline?
Economic decrees, programmes for war production.
What doubled between 1939-41?
Military expenditure
What was introduced at the beginning of the war and Nov 1939?
Food rationing for some foods, clothes rationing
What declined?
Civilian consumption
How much did the amount of planes increase by from 1939-41?
8290 to 10,780
What caused production to decline?
Inefficiency and poor coordination
Why was lack of central control a problem?
Different ministries wanted to achieve different things - e.g. ministry of Economics vs Labour
What hadn’t happened by 1941?
Levels of armament production were way off expected
What was the Rationalisation decree?
An order that insisted previously made resources were used efficiently
Who was appointed minister of armaments and when?
Albert Speer, February 1942
What was his first policy?
Industrial self-responsibility - ensured mass production
What were Speer’s main policies?
- Prisoners in concentration camps used as workers
- Women employed in arms factories
- Skilled workers no loner conscripted
- Removal of anything not related to the war effort
What was removed?
- Professional sport (March 1943)
- Magazines not essential to war
- Many businesses
What happened in the first six months of Speer?
- Tank production up by 25%
- Ammunition production up by 97%
- Total arms production up by 59%
How much had materials increased by from 1942-44?
3x
