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The Second World War was an industrial war, with the manufacturing capacities of the rival sides playing a major part in the eventual Allied victory. British industry was a major factor in that, expanding war production massively over the first few years of the war.
We start with a look at the first industry to be put on a war footing, sadly the gas mask industry, which had to produce a huge number of masks in a very short time when the threat of war emerged in the late 1930s. Here we see an early example of the themes developed throughout the book, with firms that wouldn’t have seen themselves as being involved in this sort of work adapting to it.
Although the book isn’t very long, it does cover a fair bit of ground. The Shadow Factories chapter mainly looks at the aircraft industry, so all of the main forms of military production are covered. Battle Dress, Boots and Utility Goods covers civilian clothes as well as military dress. The Workforce looks at the huge role played by women, with some industries being dominated by female workers and others more resistant. The only gap is no mention of the strikes that occurred during the war. The result is a good overview of how British industry responded to the demands of wartime.
Chapters
Raw Materials and Salvage
Shadow Factories
Shipyards
Munitions, Tanks and Military Motors
Battle Dress, Boots and Utility Goods
The Workforce
Author: Neil R. Storey
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 64
Publisher: Shire
Year: 2022