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Economy and the Second World War

Women munition workers in a British arms factory in 1943.

Women munition workers in a British arms factory in 1943.
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When mobilising for the Second World War, Britain was transformed from a primarily free market economy to a planned economy. Increasing state control of the economy was necessary to further the war effort.

Related documents

Government intervention

Cabinet Conclusion 1. The Future of the Railways. 15 July 1941 (PDF, 0.576MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Control and Higher Organisation of the Railways. 12 July 1941 (PDF, 1.722MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. The Future of the Railways. 11 July 1941 (PDF, 1.043MB)

Prioritisation

Cabinet Conclusion 3. Aircraft Supplies. 17 May 1940 (PDF, 1.380MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Joint War Production Staff. 20 March 1942 (PDF, 0.567MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. The 1943 Production Programme. 23 September 1942 (PDF, 1.017MB)

Transformation of agriculture

Cabinet Conclusion 1. The Food Position. 14 December 1939 (PDF, 2.485MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 1. Agricultural Policy. 27 August 1940 (PDF, 0.949MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Post-War Agricultural Policy. 28 September 1943 (PDF, 1.149MB)

Fuel shortages

Cabinet Memorandum. Reorganisation of the Coal Mining Industry. 28 May 1942 (PDF, 1.886MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Fuel Rationing. 28 May 1942 (PDF, 1.340MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Coal Production Programme 42-43. 28 May 1942 (PDF, 1.423MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 7. Industrial Unrest. 3 April 1944 (PDF, 1.287MB)

Financing the war and taxation

Cabinet Conclusion 6. Consideration for Lease-lend Aid. 2 January 1941 (PDF, 1.536MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 1. Discussions between the Prime Minister and President Roosevelt. 12 August 1941 (PDF, 0.998MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 4. Consideration under Lease-lend. 12 February 1942 (PDF, 2.107MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Food Rationing. 23 October 1939 (PDF, 3.671MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 10. Food Rationing. 28 October 1939 (PDF, 4.331MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 4. The Food Position: Sugar and Meat. 6 December 1939 (PDF, 2.626MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 1. Wages and Prices. 25 January 1940 (PDF, 2.259MB)

The Manpower Requirements Committee and labour shortages

Cabinet Conclusion 1. Manpower. 20 February 1940 (PDF, 1.827MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 1. Manpower. 28 November 1941 (PDF, 2.041MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Man Power in the Coal Mining Industry. Memorandum by the Lord President of the Council. 16 September 1941 (PDF, 0.513MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 7. Coal Production. 18 September 1941 (PDF, 1.595MB)

Cabinet Memorandum. Manpower for the Coal Mining Industry. 23 November 1943. (PDF, 0.552MB)

Cabinet Conclusion 1. Coal. 26 November 1943 (PDF, 0.690MB)

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Further reading

Milward, A.S., War, Economy and Society: 1939-1945 (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1947)
Jefferys, K., The Churchill Coalition and Wartime Politics, 1940-1945 (Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1991)

Content

Economy and the Second World War
Control of industry and production
Finance and labour control

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