War Production Board

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The War Production Board was a U.S. government agency during World War II responsible for directing industrial production and resource allocation to support the war effort.

Aliases (3)
  • Regional War Production Boards ×1
  • War Production Board (in administrative support roles) ×1
  • war production administration ×1

Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf United States federal agency
World War II home front organization
appliesToJurisdiction United States
appointedBy President of the United States
chairperson Donald M. Nelson
Julius A. Krug
conflict World War II
contributedTo Allied victory in World War II through industrial mobilization
country United States
createdBy Franklin D. Roosevelt
dissolved 1945
formedDuringPresidencyOf Franklin D. Roosevelt
headquartersLocation Washington, D.C.
historicalRole central coordinating body for U.S. war production
implementedPolicy conversion of consumer goods factories to war production
limitation of civilian goods production
rationing of strategic materials
inception 1942
jurisdiction federal government of the United States
legislativeBasis executive order of the President of the United States
location Washington, D.C.
mainPurpose allocate scarce materials and resources during World War II
control production priorities and schedules
convert civilian industry to war production
coordinate procurement of military supplies
direct industrial production for the U.S. war effort in World War II
notableMember Donald M. Nelson
Henry J. Kaiser
Julius A. Krug
William S. Knudsen
oversawSector aircraft industry
automobile industry
shipbuilding industry
steel industry
parentOrganization Executive Office of the President of the United States
partOf United States war economy
precededBy Office of Production Management
Supply Priorities and Allocations Board
regulated production priorities for war contracts
use of raw materials such as steel, aluminum, and rubber
replaced decentralized prewar industrial procurement system
replacedBy Civilian Production Administration
significantEvent mobilization of U.S. industry for total war
subOrganization Bureau of Industry Operations
Office of Production Research and Development
Office of War Utilities
Regional War Production Boards
timePeriod American home front during World War II


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