From: Canada at War - Page: WWII: Canadian War Industry War Economy http://wwii.ca/thumbnailer.php?type=photo_l&image=photos/industry1.jpg Valentine tanks on flatbeds for shipment to Russia. Nov. 1941, Montréal, Quebec. The Canadian government took full control of the economy, and turned it into a war-winning weapon. During the Second World War, Canadian industries manufactured war materials and other supplies for Canada, the United States, Britain, and other Allied countries. The total value of Canadian war production was almost $10 billion - approximately $100 billion in today's dollars. The Canadian contribution began early and made a crucial difference to the winning of the war. For a nation of 11 million people it was an incredible accomplishment. Production 9,000 boats and ships 50,000 tanks and armoured gun carriers 16,000 aircraft 500,000 military vehicles by 1943 850,000 vehicles by war's end Huge amounts of munitions - bullets and shells Anti-tank and field artillery Naval guns Small arms and automatic weapons Radar sets and Electronics Synthetic rubber Uranium for the 'Manhattan Project' More at the site.
The initial reason for the post! There are now and have been those that really do not have any insight into the contribution of the "Commonwealth" countries. Manufacture and mobilisation of military personel compared to their populations at the time were amazing. Australia in similarity to Canada, mobilized nearly 1 million military from a population of only 7 million and fought heroically in many theatres with their Army, Navy & Air Force. I still cringe when I read (like an article recently) "that Tobruk was held by "British" troops for eight months during 1941................................?
