The battle for rubber in the Second World War: cooperation and resistance

As part of a broader study, John Tully has recently tackled the social history of rubber in the Second World War, at a time when control of this commodity assumed urgent strategic significance, due to the mechanisation of the world s armed forces.1 This is a welcome development, but Tully s story leaves many crucial gaps. Moreover, his narrative pits grasping and greedy elites against a combative and heroic workforce, allowing for few or no shades of grey.

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