World: Oil for Tanks

One of the significant reasons why the British were able to retake Cyrenaica—and still more significant evidence on the much-disputed state of Nazi oil supplies —was found last week among their African loot. It was a German military directive saying:

"Owing to the great expenditure of fuel on the Eastern Front the liquid fuel situation of the Reich is exceptionally stringent. The fuel allowance for Panzer Gruppe Afrika accordingly has been severely cut down. In particular we can no longer expect that liquid fuel lost by enemy action will be made good."

Only flaw in the ointment: the Germans may have faked and...

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