The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-02-06

rHE RoLE oE OIL

THE ROLE OF OIL
Hitler's fate may rest upon OIL
Whether the Axis powers have
enough oil to stage an invasion OF
England TO say nothing Of Pro-
tracted war, is a question arous
ing keen interest in the oil indus
try.
No one can provide an accurate
answer to the question, how much
oil has Germany IL is one OF
Germany's secrets. Only Hitler
and a small group OF his close
advisers and technical experts
know the answer.
Il is inconceivable, that the cold
" calculating Hitler would at
tempt a "blitzkrieg' against Eng
land-or in any other direction
unless he felt he had sufficient
oil to carry him through.
However the Royal Air Force
bombngs Of German occupied ter
ritories. and Germany itself, I'M
Questionsbiy have cut into the
Nszi oil supply.
Rumania is the key TO Germany S
oil situation and explains why the
Nazis have pushed into that Bal.
kan country 1t is Germany's most
important source of crude petro-
leum. In 1889 Rumania produced
45,996O0O barrels OF oil and the
estimated 1910 production is A.
000, 00l barrels. Without Ruman-
ian oil Hitler. would be in a tight
fix.
Germany produces a fair supply
of natural crude petroleum with
in her own borders. She must be
getting some oil from Russia, a
little from Aisace-Lorraine. some
from occupied Poland and a nom
inal quantity from Austria. But
Rumania is Germany's primary
source.
Hitler. as far back as Septem-
Der, 1885. put into operation a
plan 10 make Germany self-suf-
ficient in essential materials i'm.
ported from abroad, including oil.
Together with all other basic in
dustries, the oil trade Of Germany
became part Of the "amt fur deut-
sche rob and workstoffe the cen
trail body for the mobilization Of
the Reich's material resources.
Drastic restrictions were i'm.
posed upon civilian consumption
Germany's private motoring. which
accounted for the bulk Of peace
time consumption. has been almost
completely suppressed since the
war broke out.
The war now one year and five
months old, has emphasized the
importance Of oil in the war econ
omy as well as in actual J war
fare. Oil was the first commodity
10 be rationed in most affected
countries
Germany military strategy is
based on the "blitzkrieg" The
German advance on the western
front was so rapid they we're able
TO rely upon seizing from their
victims the bulk Of oil which their
mechanical divisions consumed.
When account is taken OF the
oil seized in occupied countries.
Reichs-Marshall Hermann Goer.
ing's boast that at the end OF the
flrst year of war the Reich had
more oil than in the beginning. may
have been true.
The continuous activity OF the
LuitWatfe and the less modest &C.
tivity OF the German fleet has not.
in the opinion Of oil experts. mater
tally altered the situation. Con
sumption probably has not been So
great as TO oyertax the POSSIBLE
tiles Of supply.
In 1896 no more than 435, 900 tons
OF crude oil there are roughly
seven barrels % a metric tom were
produced in the Reich The ont
Aut had risen TO nearly - mil
Mons by 1888 and TO at least IL
million tons in 1899.
il. as is believed possible. the
planned program Of construction
has been fulfilled and assuming
that all the plants remained in
working order-as much as two
and one half million tons nigh,
nave been produced in 1870. In
TACT the rate Of coal oil production
~ the present time might lpoten
tially be equivalent 10 three mil
lion tons a year. with A turtle,
substantial increase scheduled FOR
the future '''
PRODUCTION n crude petroleum In
the greater Reich including Aus
ira, Czecho-slovakia and German
occupied Poland. As well as Ger
many proper may have amounted
TO over one million tons in 1910
against $4,000 tons in 1896
Striking as This achievement,
seems 10 be. il does not enfiref,
solve the Nazi oil supply Tbart
Is said TO be deficiency in Diose
OIL Also. II is unlikely the Cor
mans will be able 10 produce .u,
hcient OF the high grade aviator
gasoline 100 octsne material
which the Luftwaffe will rcopi-,
" II Is 10 compete with tho Rova
Ar force m prolonged war.
According 10 the British mimic
TER OF economic warfare. tho Y A 3,
bombing attacks have affected Cor
manys refinery capacity and he,
coal oil output II Is the homo o
the Raj 70 speed the day wber
an acute oil shortage will holm =,
immobilize the German miIiiar,
machine and thus assist IN bring