Crude oil production was the single most strategic natural resource for modern warfare. The Allies had it and the Axis did not. The US and USSR both had enough that they were self-sufficient, and the US could also export. Germany and Japan both had strategic goals to capture oil resources. The Allies countered by destroying what the Axis Nations could produce and limiting their access to other sources.
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Table of Contents
Oil played a crucial role in industrial, transportation, and military aspects during World War II. At first blush, oil is viewed as a transportation necessity only. Whereas it serves many industrial and military purposes as well.
Industrial Uses
Oil was essential for powering factories and industrial machinery. It provided energy for manufacturing processes, such as refining metals, producing chemicals, and operating machinery.
Oil was also a raw material for industrial processes. It was critical in the making of synthetic rubber. Since the Japanese had occupied the Netherlands East Indies which supplied 90 percent of the world’s natural rubber. To produce synthetic rubber required the making of butadiene, its basic raw material which was synthesized from oil.
Military Uses
Naval Operations
Oil was vital for fueling naval vessels, including battleships, aircraft carriers, submarines, and support ships. It allowed for extended range, increased speed, and greater operational capabilities of naval fleets.
Air Power
Oil-fueled aircraft, enable air forces to conduct strategic bombing campaigns, engage in aerial combat, and provide air support to ground forces. It facilitated rapid transportation of troops, supplies, and equipment.
A distinct Allied advantage was the availability of 100-octane aviation fuel. During the Dunkirk evacuations, both British and German aircraft utilized 87-octane fuel. Before the Battle of Britain, the British aircraft were switching over to 100 octane fuel. The fuel switchover combined with improved superchargers surprised the Luftwaffe pilots with their improved performance. A French petroleum engineer, Eugene Houdry, developed the Houdry process enabling a greater amount of high-octane fuel to be converted from crude oil and lignite coal. After moving to the US, the process was further developed, and now twice as much high-octane could be converted from crude oil.
High octane fuel combined with supercharging gave the US and its allies improved engine performance in every aspect. During take-off and climbing it was estimated that the British Spitfires now had a 25% edge over their German counterparts, a 10% edge in speed, and a 12% edge in altitude.
Mechanized Warfare
Oil-powered tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery played a crucial role in ground operations. These vehicles provided mobility, firepower, and protection to ground forces, enhancing their effectiveness on the battlefield.
Germany allocated its oil supply to the military based on prioritizing the needs of different branches, with the Luftwaffe receiving a higher priority than the Kriegsmarine. Offensive operations were given a higher priority than defensive operations, as they required more fuel. The allocation of oil was a critical issue for the military, and Germany implemented conservation measures to stretch the available oil supply further. To conserve the available oil supply, Germany implemented measures such as reducing the speed of vehicles and planes and limiting training exercises.
Transportation Uses
Logistics and Supply
Oil was essential for transportation and logistics, ensuring the movement of troops, supplies, and equipment to various theaters of war. It supported military operations by maintaining supply lines and sustaining the war effort. World War II is seen as the first truly mechanized war by many, however, that was hardly the case between Germany and the Soviet Union. Once away from a train depot, approximately 80% of German logistics was horse-drawn. About one in six German divisions were mechanized while the other five relied upon the foot soldier to march and the horse to pull. Even though the Soviet Union utilized more horses than Germany they utilized a far greater number of trucks, jeeps, and other motorized vehicles to transport men and materiel. Additionally, the food, materiel, and manpower Germany required to maintain their horses made these divisions less efficient than their enemy counterparts.
Before Germany’s invasion, the Soviet Union had about 270,000 trucks in the military. Soviet domestic truck production for military purposes was approximately 150,000 vehicles. Via Lend-Lease over 430,000 trucks were obtained including:
Over 200,000 Studebaker US6 U3, 2.5-ton, 6×6, Cargo Trucks,
Almost 50,000 Willys MB, truck ¼-ton, 4×4, Command Reconnaissance aka Jeep
Over 60,000 Chevrolet G-7107, 1½-ton, 4×4
Importance and Management
Allied Nations
The Allies, particularly the United States, held a significant advantage in oil supply. The U.S. was energy self-sufficient and the leading crude oil producer during the war. It supplied more than 85% of the oil used by the Allies. The Allies’ access to abundant oil resources allowed for sustained military operations and industrial production.
Axis Nations
The Axis powers, especially Germany and Japan, faced challenges in oil supply. Germany had limited domestic oil resources and relied heavily on imports. The Allied oil campaign targeted facilities supplying Nazi Germany with petroleum, oil, and lubrication products, disrupting their access to oil. Japan also faced oil shortages due to embargoes and limited domestic production. Additionally, Allied submarines targeted Japanese oil tankers with devasting results.
| Oil Tanker Tonnage | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | Totals |
| Built | 197,474 | 379,916 | 555,386 | 10,330 | 1,143,106 |
| Sunk | 4,074 | 388,016 | 754,106 | 324,580 | 1,470,776 |
In conclusion, oil was fundamental for industrial and military power during World War II. It played a critical role in industrial production, transportation, and military operations. The Allies, with their access to abundant oil resources, had a significant advantage over the Axis powers. The management of oil resources and the disruption of oil supplies through strategic bombing campaigns impacted the war efforts of both sides.
Annual Allied Axis Crude Oil Production 1939-1945 Data
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Source: Ellis, John, “The World War II Databook”, BCA by arrangements with Aurum Press Ltd., 1993, Page 275, Table 81
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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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