Selling the Arsenal of Democracy: America's Weapons of World War II as seen in Homefront Magazines

Description

This work tells the full story of the weapons, including fighter-planes, tanks, ships, and guns, that America produced during the war to defeat the Axis powers, and how they were "sold" to those at home through the countless advertisements that appeared in popular magazines. Though well-known companies such as General Motors, Ford, Kelvinator, and B.F. Goodrich, and a whole host of others, could no longer sell their products to consumers, they instead turned their factories towards supplying the Arsenal of Democracy. In order to keep their names in the public spotlight, these companies advertised in great detail the weapons they were building; Cadillac touted its efforts in supplying components for Sherman tanks and P-38 Lightning fighters, Ford no longer built cars in Detroit, but B-24 Liberator bombers and Jeeps, while the home appliance company Kelvinator built aircraft components and flame-throwers. The story behind these advertisements, many of them stunning visuals which are here reproduced in color, is a unique aspect of World War II history that will both surprise and delight.

Glenn A. Knoblock was born in Ohio and gained a BA in History from Bowling Green State University. He has had a lifelong interest in World War II, inspired by the war-time service of his grandfather and his great-aunt. He is the author of over twenty books, including several which document African American naval service during the war, and was the main military contributor for Harvard University and Oxford University Press' landmark African American National Biography project. He lives in New Hampshire with his wife Terry and his daughter Anna.