Oil and its products in all shapes and forms including aviation, motor, and diesel fuels were a German strategic weakness. Allied strategic bombing targeted the oil refineries in Ploesti, Romania. Germany's 1942 summer campaign, Case Blue, aimed to capture the oil fields of the Caucasus both providing themselves needed oil and denying the Soviet Union oil. The above graph … [Read more...] about German Aviation, Motor, and Diesel Fuels Availability
Natural Resources
German Oil Production by Source 1939-1945
Germany placed great importance on self-sufficiency in their war preparations. They implemented several strategies to achieve this goal, including the construction of synthetic oil production and rubber plants, prioritizing military over civilian economic policy, and stockpiling raw materials. Additionally, Germany envisioned a series of short wars or political takeovers of … [Read more...] about German Oil Production by Source 1939-1945
Annual Allied Axis Crude Oil Production 1939-1945
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 … [Read more...] about Annual Allied Axis Crude Oil Production 1939-1945
Annual Allied Axis Iron Ore Production 1939-1945
The global conflict of World War II witnessed a vast array of economic and industrial endeavors, with iron production playing a crucial role in the war efforts. This article aims to examine the annual iron production from 1939 to 1945, comparing the output of the Allied nations (USA, USSR, UK, and Canada) with that of the Axis nations (Germany, Italy, Hungary, Romania, and … [Read more...] about Annual Allied Axis Iron Ore Production 1939-1945
Annual Allied Axis Coal Production 1939-1945
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 … [Read more...] about Annual Allied Axis Coal Production 1939-1945
Strategic Raw Materials Self Sufficiency or Deficiency
The strategic self-sufficiency or deficiency in raw materials played a critical role in shaping the military and economic strategies of the major belligerent nations during World War II. The Allied nations, including the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), pursued diverse approaches to address their raw material … [Read more...] about Strategic Raw Materials Self Sufficiency or Deficiency
Allies Axis Vital Commerce and Raw Materials
Modern warfare demanded great raw material quantities and the combatants scrambled to ensure they had enough for their needs. Axis nations were at a disadvantage especially with regards to oil which drove the armored fighting vehicles, naval vessels, trucks, aircraft, and a myriad of other machinery. Additionally, the Axis nations did not have the commerce infrastructure that … [Read more...] about Allies Axis Vital Commerce and Raw Materials
German vs. USSR Volume of Industrial Production, 1940
Industrial production needs such as raw material, power, and tooling prior to Germany’s invasion of the USSR shows German advantages in the iron categories but at a disadvantage everywhere else. These measures partially represent Germany’s and Soviet Union’s industrial capacity to wage war. Industrial Production These numbers alone don’t tell … [Read more...] about German vs. USSR Volume of Industrial Production, 1940
