030 THE OIL CAMPAIGN 1944-45: Draining the Wehrmacht's Lifeblood

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US daylight bombing strategy shifted in 1944 to destroying Germany's fuel facilities. The USAAF's Oil Campaign built up momentum during the summer of 1944 and targeted refineries and plants. Decrypted German communications made it clear that the Oil Campaign was having an effect against the Wehrmacht. By autumn, fuel shortages forced the Luftwaffe to ground most of its combat units except for fighters, forced the Kriegsmarine to place most of its warships in harbor except for the U-boats, and greatly hampered German army campaigns. Key photos and illustrations help examine the controversies and debates over the focus of the US bombing campaign in the final year of the war, and the impact it had on the war effort overall.