the "volksempfänger" "people's radio" concept has been compared to the utility radio or "civilian receiver" produced by britain between 1944 and 1945. unlike the "volksempfänger", the utility radio was produced primarily to remedy a shortage of consumer radio sets caused by the british radio industry's switch from civilian to military radio production. these utility radios followed a standardized and government approved design, and were built by a consortium of manufacturers using standard components.