Figure 1.-- One of Germany's greatest weaknesses was the lack of many vital natural resources to supply factories. The most critical resource Germany lacked was petroleum, but Germany also needed to import iron ore and many other industrial metals. Germany was only able to pursue the War for 6 years because its Soviet ally shipped it vast quantities of natural bresources (1939-41) and its early conquests gave it access to the natural resources of other European countries. Here DJ boys collect scrap metal. The photograph is undated but looks to be very early in the War, perhaps October 1939. Click on the image for a fuller discussion of the photograph.

Strtegic materials played a critical role in World War II, in both the desire to launch the War and in the ability to wage an etended conflict. Acquiring natural resources was a major war aim of Germany and the other Axis powers. Only one country at the outbreak of World War II had the industrial and agricultural capacity as well as the resource base to wage world war and that was the United states which had no desire to participsate in another world war. The Soviet Union had significantly expanded the Russian indutrial base, but weakened the country's agricultural productivity through enducung the Ukranian famine and collectivzing agriculture. Like the United States, the Soviets posessed enormous natural resources and like Germany, they had designs on neigboring countries. Britain was less well situated. It had a substantial industrial and scientific base, but except for coal and iron, limited natural resources. And it had to import large quantities of food. Those resources, however, existed in the Empire and overseas trading partners like America. The Royal Navy existed to ensure access to those resources in time of war, but had been allowed to decline in strength during the inter-War period by budget-minded governments. France was better situated in terms of Britain as to food production and as a result of its navy and alliance with Briain was guaranteed access to needed raw materials in its colonies and trading partners. The Axis powers were less favorably positioned for War in term of raw materials. Germany was an important industrial and scientific power, but could neither feed itself nor possessed the strategic resources needed for industrial world war. The one critical resource Germany possessed in abundance was coal. Other important strategic materials would have to be imported. This made Germany vulnerable to blockade and as in World War I, Germany did not have the naval power to contest a Royal Navy blockade. Germany was particularly defecient in access to petroleum, a necesity for the modern mechnized war it planned to wage. Germany's answer to this was a synthetic petroleum industry, but this did not even meet the country's need in peace time. The limited resource base was why Hitler in his strategic thinking from a very early stage looked east to the copious resources of the Soviet Union--resources that were not subject to a Royal Navy blockade. Italy was the least prepareed of all the major beligerants. Italy had neither the industrial base or the raw materials to wage a protracted war. Japan was the most industrialized country in Asia, but its industrial base was small in comparison to America. And the Home Islands had almost no natural resources. Japan had acquired some in Korea and Manchuria. Like Germany, Japan had virtually no petroleum and imported most of its needs from the United States, making it even more vulnerable than Germany.

Importance

Strtegic materials played a critical role in World War II, in both the desire to launch the War and in the ability to wage an etended conflict. Acquiring natural resources was a major war aim of Germany and the other Axis powers, but the lack of these resources affected the conduct of the War launched to obtain them. The Axis powers were less favorably positioned for War in term of raw materials. Germany was an important industrial and scientific power, but could neither feed itself nor possessed the strategic resources needed for industrial world war. Germany's Axis allies were in a similar situation. Italy was the least prepareed of all the major beligerants. Italy had neither the industrial base or the raw materials to wage a protracted war. Japan was the most industrialized country in Asia, but its industrial base was small in comparison to America. And the Home Islands had almost no natural resources. Japan had acquired some in Korea and Manchuria. Like Germany, Japan had virtually no petroleum and imported most of its needs from the United States, making it even more vulnerable than Germany.

Other Beligerants

The countries Germany set out to counquer were in a far bttr situation regarding raw matrials. Only one country at the outbreak of World War II had the industrial and agricultural capacity as well as the resource base to wage world war and that was the United states which had no desire to participsate in another world war. The Soviet Union had significantly expanded the Russian indutrial base, but weakened the country's agricultural productivity through enducung the Ukranian famine and collectivzing agriculture. Like the United States, the Soviets posessed enormous natural resources and like Germany, they had designs on neigboring countries. Britain was less well situated. It had a substantial industrial and scientific base, but except for coal and iron, limited natural resources. And it had to import large quantities of food. Those resources, however, existed in the Empire and overseas trading partners like America. The Royal Navy existed to ensure access to those resources in time of war, but had been allowed to decline in strength during the inter-War period by budget-minded governments. France was better situated in terms of Britain as to food production and as a result of its navy and alliance with Briain was guaranteed access to needed raw materials in its colonies and trading partners.

Specific Resources

The one critical resource Germany possessed in abundance was coal amf even that would not prive sufficent as the War unfolded. Other important strategic materials would have to be imported. This made Germany vulnerable to blockade and as in World War I, Germany did not have the naval power to contest a Royal Navy blockade. Germany was particularly defecient in access to petroleum, a necesity for the modern mechnized war it planned to wage. Germany's answer to this was a synthetic petroleum industry, but this did not even meet the country's need in peace time. While oil while by far the most imporant resource Germany lacked, it was not by any means the only raw materoal Germany needed to wage another world war. Hitler gave considerable thought to this and was an issue he addressed in the Hossbabach Memorandum. He explained how the Autarky Policy adopged hy his government had gelped Geramny prepare for war, there were many materials that Autarkey, even under National Socialist leadership, could not provide. [Hossnach] Oil was by far the most importantg, but there was a long list of other problematic materials. Some of the most imprtantbeing: was cobalt, copper, iron, rubber, tin, tungsten, and other meral ores. The limited resource base was why Hitler in his strategic thinking from a very early stage looked east to the copious resources of the Soviet Union--resources that were not subject to a Royal Navy blockade.

Sources

Hossbach, Friedrich. ' Memorandum' (November 5, 1937). This was the summary prepared by Col. Hossbach , Hitler's Milkiktary Adjutant at time. It was a record of a meeting in Berlin on November 5, 1937. Hitler announced his expansionistbplans to the NAZI militaryy and vforeign poolicy nleadership. The meeting was a turning point in Hitler's foreign policies which with growing NAZI power had begun to radicalize.

Created: 8:09 PM 3/10/2010
Last updated: 5:45 AM 10/16/2020