Coal production and its supply played a crucial role in the outcome of World War II. Coal was vital for the Allied nations (USA, USSR, UK, and Canada) and the Axis nations (Germany, Italy, Hungary, Romania, and Japan). Coal powered their industries and provided energy for transportation. Both sides targeted coal’s strategic potential. For example, Germany long saw the potential for the coal fields in the Donets Basin whereas the Allies’ strategic bombing crippled Germany’s transportation system starving their industries of coal.
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Table of Contents
Allied Nations versus Axis Nations
Allied Coal Production
The coal production of the Allied nations saw significant fluctuations throughout the war. In 1939, the Allies produced a combined total of 244.6 million tons of coal. These fluctuations were due to the entries of the Soviet Union and the United States into the war. Additionally, the Soviet Union’s production dropped by nearly 50% in 1942 as the German invasion fully took hold.
Among the Allied nations, the United States was the largest contributor to coal production. Despite starting with zero production in 1939 and 1940, the US ramped up its efforts and reached 562.0 million tons in 1944, making it the leading coal producer among the Allies. The USSR also played a significant role, particularly in 1941 when it produced 151.4 million tons. The UK and Canada contributed consistently throughout the war, with the UK producing 231.3 million tons in 1939 and Canada providing around 13-15 million tons annually.
Axis Coal Production
The Axis nations, led by Germany, also relied heavily on coal production to fuel their war machine. Germany, the primary coal producer among the Axis nations, started with 332.8 million tons in 1939 and experienced continuous growth until 1942 when it reached its highest production of 407.8 million tons. However, Germany’s production gradually declined in the later years of the war, dropping to 432.8 million tons in 1944 and a mere 50.3 million tons in 1945.
Italy, Hungary, Romania, and Japan, the other Axis nations, had comparatively lower coal production. Italy’s production remained relatively stagnant, ranging from 0.0 to 4.8 million tons throughout the war. Hungary and Romania produced around 1-1.4 million tons annually, while Japan’s coal production increased from zero in 1939 to 61.3 million tons in 1944, before dropping to 11.0 million tons in 1945.
Axis Usage and Constraints
Germany, being the largest European producer of coal, faced increasing demands throughout the war. The German military’s escalating needs, coupled with the requirements of occupied economies that previously relied on coal imports from the UK, drove the need for higher coal production. German coal was even exported to the Soviet Union to power trains due to the lower quality of Soviet coal. Finally, Germany’s coal industry was severely affected by strategic bombing, causing disruptions to their transportation, utilities, industry, and domestic consumption. Transportation disruptions were so great that even though coal was being mined in increasing quantities it could not reach its destinations. In fact, there were cases where coal trains were not getting coal to run their locomotives.
Japan, on the other hand, implemented a policy of concentrating resources and production on their most efficient mines. However, with the US embargo restricting the export of essential resources including oil, Japan faced significant challenges in their coal supplies making up for other energy deficiencies. These limitations impacted Japanese industries and added further strain to their war efforts.
Conclusion
The annual coal production of the Allied nations consistently surpassed that of the Axis nations throughout World War II. The Allies, driven by the industrial might of the United States, were able to maintain a steady increase in coal production, peaking in 1944. In contrast, the Axis nations, particularly Germany, faced challenges in sustaining their coal production, leading to a decline in the later years of the war.
The disparity in coal production played a significant role in shaping the war effort, directly influencing each side’s industrial capabilities and energy resources. Ultimately, the Allies’ superior coal production contributed to their eventual victory in World War II.
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Source: Ellis, John, “The World War II Databook”, BCA by arrangements with Aurum Press Ltd., 1993, Page 275, Table 79
Other Raw Material and Commerce Data Links
Merchant Ships Produced by Nation by Total Tonnage 1940-45
Strategic Raw Materials Self Sufficiency or Deficiency
Gains and Losses of British Flag Tonnage
Mobilizing; U.S. Industry World War II
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