Hearts of Iron - Australia and New Zealand - Part 2

From the desk of the NZ PM, the Right Honourable Mr Bruce

2 September 1937

 

The industrial build up in Australia and New Zealand has proceeded at a rapid pace. 

 

Australia has doubled its number of military factories (from 4 to 8) and tripled its dockyards (from 2 to 6), while New Zealand has increased its military factories from 1 to 6.  The number of civilian factories has also increased, but only by 2 in both countries.  Overall, there has been a significant increase in their armaments capacity.

 

Charts: Total industrial capacity available for military use.

Australia

New Zealand

Analysts note that these increases have usually been seen in totalitarian regimes, such as Germany, Italy, Japan and the USSR.  Does this indicate some forthcoming change in the nature of these democracies?  Are they heeding the words of Winston Churchill in the UK?  What difference could such small countries make in world affairs?

 

Only time will tell...