"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
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"Alan Minyard" wrote in message
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On 19 Oct 2003 15:11:17 -0700, (robert arndt) wrote:



Because they HAD to. They were cut off from all natural sources.


Well yes and no

They started building those plants a long time before the war began
so as to be independent of foreign suppliers, memories of the
blockade of WW1 were doubtless a significant factor but
its worth recalling that similar plants were built in Britain which
wasnt cut off.

In those days both Germany and Britain had ample coal reserves
so being less reliant on foreign oil suppliers was seen as good
strategy.

Britain had the best coal in the world, and, thanks to Churchill, the Iraqi
and Kuwaiti oil as well, subject to the not-to-be-discounted difficulty of
getting it safely to where it was needed.

Interested in the UK coal to oil facilities. Would you care to enlarge?

South Africa was pretty big on this in the 80's I believe, but for much the
same reasons as Germany in WW2 ISTR; difficulty importing it and no natural
reserves to speak of.

Do you think there's anything in the OP's suggestion that the US would have
exported, or allowed the export of US oil? Venezeluan oil?

Myself I'd say it would have been difficult to prove. Interesting though.

John