Industrial mobilization for WWII: How 20,000 companies made production commitments prior to war

Here is a piece on how assistant secretary of war for industrial mobilization Louis Johnson approached readiness in 1938 — prior to the break out of World War II. Note the voluntary nature of the activities and planning.

In order to convince American industry of the need for realistic and enforceable production quotas in the event of war, Johnson set out to sell his program. To this end he traveled from coast to coast giving as many as 100 speeches a year to members of the business community… When word of a recalcitrant industry representative reached Johnson, he would pick up the phone and call the person or, as he did on many occasions, travel to the representative’s plant to ask for cooperation and a firm commitment. In this  aspect of the program Johnson was at this best, and he enjoyed it immensely. Under his leadership, more than 20,000 American plants committed to do their part.

 

… When a particular plant was chosen, the assistant secretary would send a team of officers there with plans, drawings, specifications, and, if  possible, samples of the item of items. Consultation would follow and a realistic production schedule would be agreed upon. Ultimately, agreements were worked out with more than 10,000 plants and an elaborate directory system spelling out their available.

That was from the book Louis Johnson and the Arming of America. Johnson later became the second Secretary of Defense in 1949, replacing James Forrestal. He may have become President of the United States if his economy drive in DoD, with cuts well above that recommended by Congress, didn’t run into the Korean War leaving the United States ill-prepared.

At what point is war likely enough to justify such coordination with industry? Do it too soon, and the effort may be wasted as military needs and end-items change over time. Industry potentially sees DoD as “crying wolf.” Do it too late, and the United States risks not having the capacity to fight early on in the war.

Johnson petitioned strongly for “education” contracts for industry, which $32 million was received in supplemental funding from Congress, that allowed the War department to get commercial firms to start learning how to produce critical military items. Not just coordination. No doubt, Johnson’s early efforts prior to 1939, as well as boosted orders from Britain and France, put the United States on a good footing for industrial mobilization.