UK Ministry of Defence

Oil As a Factor in the German War Effort, 1933-1945 UK Ministry of Defence

This declassified March 1946 UK government report is an account of Germany's oil economy from 1933 up to the time of her defeat. Its compilation is the result of the work of three groups: the Technical Sub-Committee on Axis Oil, the Oil Committee of the Combined Strategic Targets Committee, and the Inter-Departmental Bombing Survey. Sections include planning for war, position at the outbreak of the war, the blockade, Romania, first year of the war, oil imports and the efficiency of transport, failure of the short war, oil requirements of Italy, Germany on the defensive, preparations for the oil defensive, the beginning of the strategic bombing offensive against oil, the concluding phases of the offensive, the military effects of oil shortage, the crippling effect of fuel shortages on the Luftwaffe, and the oil situation as affecting the German Navy and German industry. An intelligence assessment of the German oil position is included, along with numerous appendices, illustrations, figures, and tables. There is one map showing Germany and the surrounding countries (the oil target- sources of oil production at the time in April 1944).