What affect did the war have on industry in Britain between 1940-50

Essay by hashthedealerHigh School, 10th gradeA+, May 2004

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During the war industry in Britain changed. Factories that had once been used to make cars, lorries and household goods were changed and used to make munitions, planes, tanks, guns and other military supplies. Any Factory that could be changed to make war goods was changed. Also other industries were put into over drive, during the war the coal, oil and steel industries boomed as more and more raw materials were needed to supply the factories with the materials, which they required to make war goods and supplies.

While some industries in Britain during the war declined others grew. There was a sharp increase in the demand for the raw materials such as coal, gas, steel and petrol. More and more raw materials were needed as the need for war goods and supplies grew. As the coal, oil, iron and steel industry grew the demand for workers grew, unemployed people soon had the opportunity to work in factories, also workers from other industries were drafted in.

Many workers from the textile industry moved to work in the munitions factory where wages where higher.

Industries that were seen as less important and didn't contribute to the war effort declined. There was a marked change in industrial structure. Munitions production increased rapidly, an example of this was in 1939 tank production was 419 and in 1943 it was 7,476. This dramatic increase led to the decrease of the consumer goods industries. The government to release resources for muntions production and for exports restricted consumer goods production through the Limitation of Supplies Orders. Companies were required to register to the Board of Trade so there sales could be restricted to a pre-set level. As the war progressed the register was extended to cover a wider range of goods limiting many different industries production...