Women working the night shift at factory during WWII

This historic video presents the story of a single night shift at a factory producing guns for tanks. The film is narrated by one of the 2,000 girls (including some conscripts) employed. She explains the shift system (factory works two 10-hour shifts, leaving time for machine maintenance; each employee works two weeks days, two weeks nights) and the pay structure (the four workers employed on every pair of machines pool their wages, which are then shared equally). It succeeds in giving a remarkably clear impression of factory life, especially women workers, both on the shop floor and in the canteen.

Access this 3-minute, 57-second video by clicking on the link below.