Administrative Histories of U.S. Civilian Agencies: World War II
provides a significant record of the nation's first experience
with comprehensive mobilization of energies and resources for
war. These histories tell the story of the civilian agencies and
detail their complex decisions and actions vital to the war
effort. Largely experimental, the formation of civilian agencies
allowed the United States to respond quickly to the surprise
attack on Pearl Harbor. Directing every aspect of American life
toward effective and efficient mobilization, the agencies
increased United States military production to a level equaling
the combined output of Germany, Russia, Japan and Great Britain.
In addition, the civilian agencies dealt with the urgent
domestic problems of inflation, fuel shortage and dislocation of
the work force. The fact that mobilization toward the ultimate
goal of victory was affected without destroying the brittle
political and economic fabric of the country is a credit to the
people who made the age