Department of Munitions and Supply (Canada)
Encyclopedia
The Department of Munitions and Supply was the federal government ministry responsible for co-ordinating domestic Canadian industry during World War II
. It was created by the Munitions and Supply Act in September 1939 and began operations on April 9, 1940 with C.D. Howe as Minister of Munitions and Supply.
The Department produced armaments for the war effort and regulated the use of gasoline, silk and other strategic commodities in Canada order to prioritize their use for the war production.
By the end of the war, Canada's war production ranked fourth among the Allies
, 70% of Canada's war production by 1945 went to supply the Allies and only 30% was needed for Canada's own military. Included among the production was 815,729 military vehicles, including 45,710 armoured vehicles many of which went to the British Eighth Army in North Africa and Italy.
The Department established 28 crown corporations including Polymer Corporation
that developed and produced synthetic rubber, Victory Aircraft
for the production of bombers and Research Enterprises. It coordinated all purchases made in Canada by British and other Allied governments for materials including military transport vehicles, tanks, cargo and military ships, aircraft, guns and small arms, ammunition as well as uniforms, minesweeping equipment, parachutes, firefighting equipment, and hospital supplies.
The Department was dissolved at the conclusion of World War II and most of its crown corporations sold off. The remaining duties of the department were merged with those of the Department of Reconstruction to create the Department of Reconstruction and Supply. In 1951, a new Department of Defence Production was created, with Howe as its minister until 1957 – the department itself existed until 1969 when it was abolished and replaced by the Department of Supply and Services.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was created by the Munitions and Supply Act in September 1939 and began operations on April 9, 1940 with C.D. Howe as Minister of Munitions and Supply.
The Department produced armaments for the war effort and regulated the use of gasoline, silk and other strategic commodities in Canada order to prioritize their use for the war production.
By the end of the war, Canada's war production ranked fourth among the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
, 70% of Canada's war production by 1945 went to supply the Allies and only 30% was needed for Canada's own military. Included among the production was 815,729 military vehicles, including 45,710 armoured vehicles many of which went to the British Eighth Army in North Africa and Italy.
The Department established 28 crown corporations including Polymer Corporation
Polymer corporation
Polymer Corporation was a Canadian federal crown corporation established in 1942 to produce artificial rubber to substitute for overseas supply cut off by World War II. A factory was established in Sarnia, Ontario where, using German patents from an American licensee, Polymer produced 5000 tons of...
that developed and produced synthetic rubber, Victory Aircraft
Victory Aircraft
Victory Aircraft Limited was a Canadian manufacturing company that, during the Second World War, built mainly British-designed aircraft under license. It acted as a shadow factory, safe from the reach of German bombers....
for the production of bombers and Research Enterprises. It coordinated all purchases made in Canada by British and other Allied governments for materials including military transport vehicles, tanks, cargo and military ships, aircraft, guns and small arms, ammunition as well as uniforms, minesweeping equipment, parachutes, firefighting equipment, and hospital supplies.
The Department was dissolved at the conclusion of World War II and most of its crown corporations sold off. The remaining duties of the department were merged with those of the Department of Reconstruction to create the Department of Reconstruction and Supply. In 1951, a new Department of Defence Production was created, with Howe as its minister until 1957 – the department itself existed until 1969 when it was abolished and replaced by the Department of Supply and Services.
External links
- Munitions and Supply, Department of, The Canadian Encyclopedia
- The War Economy and Controls: Munitions, WarMuseum.ca, accessed February 3, 2008