German military expenditure in the second-half of the 1930’s greatly outstripped the UK’s military expenditure. This all fitted in with the Four-Year Plan introduced in September 1936, whereby Nazi Germany’s economy was totally oriented around boosting the three spheres of the military – army, air force and navy. The UK only matched Germany’s military expenditure in 1939.

 

Nazi Germany’s military expenditure as a percentage of GDP:

The Roman Catholic Church in 1500
The Roman Catholic Church in 1500
 

1935: 8% (UK 2% of nation’s GDP)

 

1936: 13% (UK 5% of nation’s GDP)

 

1937: 13% (UK 7% of nation’s GDP)

 

1938: 17% (UK 8% of nation’s GDP)

 

1939: 23% (UK 22% of nation’s GDP)

 

1940: 38% (UK 53% of nation’s GDP)

 

1941: 47% (UK 60% of nation’s GDP)

 

1942: 55% (UK 64% of nation’s GDP)

 

1943: 61% (UK 63% of nation’s GDP)

 

May 2012