Mineralölkommando

[Snautzer]

Thank you. Very intresting

[edwest2]

Originally Posted by Buckeye30

As I read it.
"Mineral oil Command in Italy (Hptm. v. Hammer). Location of refineries, 2 in Trieste, one each in (Fiume), Marghera bei Mestre, La Spezia. The Livorna refinery dismantled by Dr. Kuppinger. Sept. 1943-May 1944."
Looks like the last attack (by Fifteenth AF) was July 13 1944 (Trieste) though there were still oil targets in Germany, Austria, Rumania, Poland, Hungary, Czech., Albania and Yugoslavia.


Nick

Italy was getting oil from Libya. In Germany, I.G. Farben, the world's largest chemical cartel at the time, was making Leuna-Benzin, which included synthetic lubricants.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by edwest2

Italy was getting oil from Libya. In Germany, I.G. Farben, the world's largest chemical cartel at the time, was making Leuna-Benzin, which included synthetic lubricants.

(a) Oil drilling in Libya didn't start until 1959 apparently (I had to Google it) and exports begain in 1961.

(b)Producing oil by hydrogenation was enormously expensive according to Adam Tooze's excellent book on the German econonomy, The Wages of Destruction. It's not always easy reading but it explains a lot about how the Germans were able or unable to fight the war.

[edwest2]

Thank you, Nick, regarding oil from Libya.


I think people underestimate the German ability to produce synthetic fuel and lubricants. Since the treasuries of occupied countries had been looted, monies gained were diverted to other projects.
A bit harder to pin down is the smuggling of various things into Germany from countries that were neutral during the war. Tungsten from Spain and Portugal was one item, even though both countries were bringing it in through regular channels.

[pvanroy]

Italy has significant deposits of oil shale.

[Snautzer]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kontinentale_%C3%96l

Kontinentale Öl AG (Konti Öl) was a German oil company during World War II.