text: Energy supply has been a major player in world events since the start of World War II. German expansion was auned toward the East, with the objective of gaining control over U. S. S. R. Caucasus oil resources. In June 1941, the United States, Britain, and the Netherlands embargoed oil to Japan because of aggression against China. Japan had a 1-year oil supply and had the choice of giving in to these nations' demands or securing oil sources in Southeast Asia. The result was the December 7 attack on Pearl Harbor, simultaneous attacks on the Philippines and British Malaya, followed by attacks on the Dutch East Indies. Within months, Japan had secured its oil resources and a brutal war left millions dead.