Mobilisation of human and economic resources

When was the defence of the realm act established? What did it allow?

1. Start of the war - Aug 1914

2. control over food and production

What did the Empire provide to Britain (how many men)? When was rationing introduced and why?

1. Empire: 1.4 million men, raw materials and food

2. Feb 1918 rationing after U-boat attacks

What did food shortages lead to in 1915? When was rationing introduced?

1. riots in 1915

2. rationing not imposed till 1916

How did Germany attempt to solve its food crisis? What shows that this failed? Consequences?

1. Creation of supplements: potato bread, margarine

2. 1917-18 800K die of undernourishment!!!

3. Provoked anti-war protest and exacerbated manpower shortages

How much oil and iron did the US use during the war compared to Japan? How many more aircraft carriers did the US have than JA?

1. 20x more iron

2. 166x more oil!!

3. 10x more aircraft carriers

When did Japan introduce a full draft of men and unmarried women? How did manpower balance?

1941: 8.5 mill JA vs 16 mill US men

Why was US mobilisation more effective than Japan’s?

1. US unhampered by bombing or supply shortages

2. JA merchant shipping never adequately organised to transport raw material due to speed of counter form Allies

Overall significance? Differences?

• MOST SIGNIFICANT to both.

• WW1 = attritional war: who can last the longest. Poor German mobilisation most important as led directly to military failure.

• WW2: US dominates through ridiculous levels of production. Enables the combined Pacific Thrust.

• But less important to WW2 as island-hopping also vital to US success, tenacity exacerbates JA losses, and both powers mobilise effectively.