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World War II -- tanks production evonomic factors energy
World War II Tank Production: Economic Factors--Energy
Figure 1.--We constantly see allusion to the belieft thht the Soviet Union was an economic giant which tey say explains why the Soviets out produced Germany in tanks during the War. This simply is not the case. Germany and the Soviets had comparable economies before the War, but Germany led in key factors such as energy production. And this was before Germany conquered most of Europe including large areas of the western Soviet Union (1939-41). Here we see Doviet and German coal production at the height of the vonflict on the Eastern Front. Source: Jonathan Parshall, "Tank production: A comparative study of output in Germany, the US, and the USSR," (November 23, 2013). 2013 International Conference on WWII - Kursk The Epic Armored Engagement.
The Allies were in an enviable position in terms of energy. Coal is am important analog for energy in World War II. In terms of energy, the United States was the leading producer.
And in Europe, Britain was a leading exporter of coal. Germany was in a relatively good position, at least compared to its poor position with other important natural resources. The primary infustrial fuel used in Europe and America was coal. Not only was it used in industrial processes, but it was the primary fuel used to generate electricity.
Coal was the rare natural resource that Germany had in quantity. Oil was important in transport and in fueking the tanks. It was coal, however, that drove industry. And Geramny produced far more coal than the Soviet Union, especally after Barbarossa (1941) gave Germany possession of the Ukranian coal mines, many located in the Don Bas. Germamy actually had nearly as much coal as the United States. Ironically, Germany's conquests adversely affected its energy situation. The new NAZI Großraum had a major problem. It was dependent on British coal. If Germany was hoping to exploit the economies of the occupied countrues they needed to function. And to function European industry needed energy--namely coal. The ecomomies of all the countries occupid by Germany declined--to varying degrees. Therev were many reasons for this, but the primary reason was that the Germans were intent on exploiting what was easily avaialble. But another major reason was energy shortages. Before the War, British mines supplied the energy needs of many countries occupied by the Germans furing the War. So the Germans had to provide some of their coal to keep the economies of the occupied countries functioning at even minimal levels. This created a coal shortage within the Reich itself.
Soviet coal production was far below that of Germamny. The Soviet Union has a cornucopia of natural resurces. Coal was the one resource that Germany outproduced the Soviets. And because unlike other industrial facilities, coal mines could not be evacuated east. Soviet coal production was thus substantially reduced by Barbarossa.
Like most of the other factors, Germany had the capacity to out produce the Soviets in tanks, but failed disasterously to do so.
Sources
Parshall, Jonathan. "Tank production: A comparative study of output in Germany, the US, and the USSR," (November 23, 2013).
2013 International Conference on WWII - Kursk The Epic Armored Engagement.
