The War Productions Board (WPB) was established in 1942 by executive order of Franklin Roosevelt. The purpose of the board was to regulate the production and allocation of materials during World War II in the United States of America.It was disolved shortly after the defeat of Japan in 1945.
Powers and Responsibilities
The head of the War Productions Board, Donald M. Nelson from 1942-1944 and Julias A. Krug from 1944 to 1945, had great and wide reaching control over the economic affairs of the United States. Some of these powers included the appropriation of materials and priorities of delivery of these materials. Over its three-year lifespan, the board supervised the manufacture of $185 billion worth of weapons and military supplies. It offered businesses lucrative contracts to switch over to war productions; large commercial farmers also had incentives for war production. Labor unions offered "no strike pledges" during the war, although few were kept, and taxes in general were raised, all in an effort to get the country prepared for war. It was quickly disolved in November 1945, after the defeat of Japan. The Civilian Production Administration was set up in order to take over the reconstruction aspect with the WPB would have overseen.
Effects
The WPB, along with other wartime comities which regulated spending and production, helped to reduce the potential for economic catastrophe after the close of WWII.
Other WWII Era Economic Agencies
References
War Production Board
