Arsenal of Democracy

The American Automobile Industry in World War II

By: Dr. Charles K. Hyde

Narrated by: Scott Wilcox

In Arsenal of Democracy: The American Automobile Industry in World War II, award-winning historian Charles K. Hyde details the industry's transition to a wartime production powerhouse and some of its notable achievements along the way.

Hyde examines several innovative cooperative relationships that developed between the executive branch of the federal government, US military services, automobile industry leaders, auto industry suppliers, and the United Automobile Workers (UAW) union, which set up the industry to achieve production miracles. He goes on to examine the struggles and achievements of individual automakers during the war years in producing items like aircraft engines, aircraft components, and complete aircraft; tanks and other armored vehicles; jeeps, trucks, and amphibians; guns, shells, and bullets of all types; and a wide range of other weapons and war goods ranging from search lights to submarine nets and gyroscopes. Hyde also considers the important role played by previously underused workers - namely African Americans and women - in the war effort and their experiences on the line.

Arsenal of Democracy includes an analysis of wartime production nationally, on the automotive industry level, by individual automakers, and at the single plant level.

The book is published by Wayne State University Press.

"The definitive history of Detroit's role in World War II." (Detroit Free Press)

"This well-written book is one of the most important studies of industrial mobilization to appear in a long time." (Michigan Historical Review)

"Masterful study of automobile makers and parts suppliers who shifted gears to achieve miracles of military production in World War II." (Patrick Malone, professor emeritus, Brown University)

©2013 Wayne State University Press (P)2018 Redwood Audiobooks

Perfect for history buffs and statisticians

It is an interesting look into how we won the war. A lot of numbers and dry statistics will make it a hard listen for the casual listener. But if you are really into historical data about WWII and/or the auto industry, you will find it fascinating!

Scholarly read

This book is very well researched and the author does a great job with compiling many statistics and historical accounts into one location. This is an excellent book for those that are looking to use this to support their own college report/paper. I gave it a lower rating because I was looking for more of a narrative but I mostly got read a ton of production numbers.

The last chapters are the best to help conceptualize the impact and to understand the human element.

Very informative

Genius stuff. I love Mr. Hyde’s work. It’s always informative and colorful. You feel a part of history you never knew.