Noted Historian to Speak on ‘Freedom’s Forge’ - How Free Enterprise Won the War

NEW ORLEANS (March 6, 2013) - Bestselling author Dr. Arthur Herman will talk about the essential role of American business executives during the Second World War in a special appearance at The National WWII Museum on March 14 that is free and open to the public.

The talk, part of The General Raymond E. Mason Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series on World War II, is based on Herman's book Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in WWII, that tells the story of the business leaders who created the Arsenal of Democracy, the mighty national industrial effort that made victory over Germany and Japan possible.

"The executives who ran the nation's war effort are little known and Arthur's ground-breaking history sheds new light on their efforts," said Museum CEO and President Dr. Gordon H. "Nick" Mueller. "We are delighted to welcome him, as we too, honor American business contributions with our ‘Arsenal of Democracy' exhibit in our new US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center. This should make for a fascinating evening."

Freedom's Forge, selected by Economist magazine as one of the best books of the year, focuses on auto executive William "Big Bill" Knudsen, who became the organizing genius behind a transformation of America's industrial sector to remedy lagging war production.

Herman is a former visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, and the author of many books, including How the Scots Invented the Modern World and Gandhi & Churchill, the 2009 Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction.

The lecture is scheduled for Thursday, March 14 in the US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, a newly opened complex which features hanging warbirds and Arsenal of Democracy exhibits. The event begins with a reception at 5:00 p.m. and concludes with a 7:00 p.m. book signing. Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling 504-528-1944 x 412.

The National WWII Museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world - why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today.  Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-day Museum and now designated by Congress as America's National WWII Museum, it celebrates the American Spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifice of the men and women who served on the battlefront and the Home Front. For more information, call 877-813-3329 or 504-528-1944 or visit http://www.nationalww2museum.org/. Follow us on Twitter at WWIImuseum or visit our Facebook page.