Öl für den Endsieg
Die Kontinentale Öl AG 1941-1945
Abstract
Founded in 1941, Kontinentale Öl AG was tasked with exploiting the oil wells of the Caucasus, thereby laying the foundation for the Nazis' dream of ultimate victory. World War II was a war fought with tanks, trucks, and aircraft. Oil was the indispensable basis for the campaigns. The German Reich had only small reserves and was therefore dependent on conquering an oil base. Founded in 1941, Kontinentale Öl AG was intended to counterbalance the large Allied oil companies and, above all, to exploit the rich oil wells of the Caucasus. However, since this area could not be occupied permanently, the Nazis had to content themselves with other European regions – Romania, Galicia, Estonia. The semi-state-owned, semi-private company involved all relevant economic, state, political, and military interest groups. Konti thus served as a model for future “continental” corporations. The ambitious plans for the future contrasted with the operational failure of Kontinentale Öl AG. Overall, the history of this company offers a new perspective on the Nazi economy, the ruling class of the regime, i.e., high-ranking representatives from business, the party, the military, and the state bureaucracy, and political and military decisions. It challenges supposedly established insights into the relationship between politics and economics.
Keywords
World War II; Oil production; Oil industry; War economy; Extractivism; Resources; Oil fields; Company history; Energy company; Occupation; National Socialism; Economic policy; System of rule; GeologyDOI
10.46500/83536059ISBN
9783835381766, 9783835381766, 9783835360594Publisher
Wallstein VerlagPublisher website
https://www.wallstein-verlag.de/Publication date and place
Göttingen, 2026Classification
Second World War
Invasion, conquest and occupation
Economic history
Political structures: totalitarianism and dictatorship
Battles and campaigns
History of specific companies / corporate history
Extractive industries


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