The Arsenal of Democracy

FDR, Detroit, and an Epic Quest to Arm an America at War

By: A. J. Baime

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

Length: 11 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

A New York Times best seller.

A dramatic, intimate narrative of how Ford Motor Company went from making automobiles to producing the airplanes that would mean the difference between winning and losing World War II. In 1941, as Hitler’s threat loomed ever larger, President Roosevelt realized he needed weaponry to fight the Nazis - most important, airplanes - and he needed them fast. So he turned to Detroit and the auto industry for help. The Arsenal of Democracy tells the incredible story of how Detroit answered the call, centering on Henry Ford and his tortured son Edsel, who, when asked if they could deliver 50,000 airplanes, made an outrageous claim: Ford Motor Company would erect a plant that could yield a "bomber an hour". Critics scoffed: Ford didn’t make planes; they made simple, affordable cars. But bucking his father’s resistance, Edsel charged ahead. Ford would apply assembly-line production to the American military’s largest, fastest, most destructive bomber; they would build a plant vast in size and ambition on a plot of farmland and call it Willow Run; they would bring in tens of thousands of workers from across the country, transforming Detroit, almost overnight, from Motor City to the “great arsenal of democracy.” And eventually they would help the Allies win the war. Drawing on exhaustive research from the Ford Archives, the National Archives, and the FDR Library, A. J. Baime has crafted an enthralling, character-driven narrative of American innovation that has never been fully told, leaving readers with a vivid new portrait of America - and Detroit - during the war.

©2014 Albert Baime (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Enlightening

Answered many questions I had about the Fords and our entry into the European War. Narrator was perfect for this project.

Mostly about the Ford family

What made the experience of listening to The Arsenal of Democracy the most enjoyable?

An American success story

What did you like best about this story?

The hows of the development of our WW2 weapons industry

What about Peter Berkrot’s performance did you like?

Excellent performance

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

All about the Fords

Any additional comments?

Almost a page turner which says a lot for the story line

Ford Production in WWII

Great information on how Ford used their manufacturing methods to help manufacture planes, motors, etc.. during WWII

Excellent story well done

What made the experience of listening to The Arsenal of Democracy the most enjoyable?

I really enjoyed the background information. I found I learned a great deal about the difficulties of our build up to WWII. I also found educational and disturbing what a jerk Henry Ford senior was

Which scene was your favorite?

Not a particular scene, but 's perseverance in getting the project done. Gave me a very new insight into the whole Ford family

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Henry Ford the Tyrant Traitor

The birth of American supremacy

Beautifully written summary of the most important part of American history. I recommend this book to anyone.

Great review w just enough detail. Amazing true

I really enjoyed this book as it told both the story of industrialation and personal histories of so many important people.

Great story and performance

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The Henry and Edsel back story was riveting and framed this amazing American story.

Great read!!

This book was very well written and it couldn't have been read better!! Thoroughly enjoyed it!!!

Too Focused on Ford and Williow Run

Overall a very good book. However, the title deceiving: this is a book about the Ford Motor Company in the Willow Run liberator bomber plant – – the broader war effort is mentioned only occasionally and in passing.

Fascinating Saga of Detroit Ford in WW2

Great fascinating story of Detroit and Ford contribution to World War II and the production of of heavy bombers the B-24 and its role in winning the war in Europe from the Nazis. it also served as a biography of three generations of the Ford family which is also fascinating. it's understandable that his Viewpoint was biased for the Detroit and Ford family as playing a super important role in World War II. some of the omissions were glaring for example there is very little mention of the aircraft carrier battles in the Pacific especially the Battle of Midway which is flat by much smaller dive bomber and Naval fighter aircraft. if one only read this account of the war in Germany. the fact that the Soviet Union and the appropriately despised Stalin played a huge huge role in Fall of Germany and the fall of Berlin in particular was completely ignored. the role of African-Americans in the Ford plant and their contribution was recognized. the Detroit race riot however seem to give it only from the White Citizens perspective and was incorrectly presented as equally the fall of whites and blacks when these were actually white racist who resented African Americans having any role at all in decent jobs and livelihood. the role of the black Tuskegee Airmen Against All Odds being able to master the flight of the Mustang Fighters was overlooked. Actually completely ignored mentioning the fact that these black fighter pilots protected the B-24 Pilot flight crews would have given balance and accuracy to the story.