Oil.

This is coolbert:

During the Second World War [WW2], strategic decisions made by both the allied and Axis high commands quite often centered upon the Ploesti oil fields of Romania! Strategic decisions influencing military operations the purpose of which was either to defend [German] or deny [allied] the flow of POL [petroleum/oil/lubricants] to the German war machine!

Strategic decisions to include:

* The German airborne invasion and conquest of Crete [Merkur]!

A German paratrooper/mountain troop operation that was done in part to deny the airbases of the island to British long-range strategic bomber aircraft. Without the Cretan airfields being available, British long-range bombers COULD NOT HAVE COMPLETED ROUND-TRIP MISSIONS TO PLOESTI!
* Hitler giving the command to begin planning for the invasion of the Soviet Union, with the resolve to see the deed through.

An order, prompted by the movement of two Soviet airborne brigades to airfields in Bessarabia. A movement that placed those two airborne units within range of Ploesti.

"In the same month [June, 1940] the 201st and 204th airborne brigades [Soviet] were dropped in Bessarabia to capture the towns of Ismail and Belgrad-Dnestrovsky. This was close by the Ploesti oilfields."

Let us be clear about this. Hitler had instructed his general staff to begin planning for the invasion of the Soviet Union in the fall of 1940. AND THE GERMAN ARMY GENERAL STAFF HAD BEGUN PRELIMINARY PLANNING FOR SUCH AN INVASION EVEN BEFORE THAT!!

The movement of 3 million men [German army troops arrayed against the Soviets] and all their impedimenta creates a momentum that is difficult to stop under any circumstances. Hitler had intended to invade the Soviet Union - - “come hell or high water!!”

THE INVASION WAS GOING TO TAKE PLACE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE SOVIETS MOVED TWO AIRBORNE BRIGADES INTO STRIKING DISTANCE OF THE PLOESTI OIL FIELDS!!
The command by Hitler, “get ready to go - - now!!” was prompted by the movement of those two airborne brigades?

More than anything else, the TIMING OF WHEN TO GO IS THE QUESTION HERE!!
"I cannot take responsibility for the waiting any longer, because I cannot see any way that the danger will disappear . . . . The concentration of Soviet forces is enormous . . . All available Soviet armed forces are now on our border . . . It is quite possible that Russia will try to destroy the Rumanian oilfields." - - Hitler - - in a letter to Mussolini - - 21 June 1941.

[it has been argued that the German invasion was month late due to excessive flooding of the Bug River and complications arising from the German campaign earlier that year [1941] in the Balkans. Hitler, however, ABSOLUTELY SAW THE MOVEMENT OF THE TWO SOVIET AIRBORNE BRIGADES AS A CLEAR INDICATION OF THE NEED TO BEGIN PREPARATIONS!!]

* Tidal Wave. The American massed long-range strategic bomber attack on Ploesti [1943]!

A low-level attack, by unescorted American B-24 bombers, flying out of Benghazi, Libya, the idea being to utterly destroy the Ploesti oil fields and associated refining capability. A single attack that would drastically shorten the war and compel German surrender.

An attack, only partially successful, with great loss to the attacker. In the aftermath of the attack, ONLY SEVENTEEN [17] OUT OF ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY EIGHT [178] AIRCRAFT WERE AIRWORTHY FOR COMBAT THE DAY AFTER THE MISSION!! NOT INCLUDING LOSS OF HIGHLY TRAINED AIRCREWS, THE TIDAL WAVE FORCE BEING MORE OR LESS OBLITERATED!!
* The decision by Hitler NOT to evacuate and withdraw German forces from the Crimea [1943]!

In the aftermath of the Kursk debacle [1943], German units all along the eastern Front were on the defensive, an overall withdrawal to more suitable defensive positions being mandated!

Against all military logic, Hitler forbade a withdrawal of German units from the Crimea, ordering those units already engaged to hold fast, regardless of the situation.

There was sound reasoning to this strategic move? Soviet bomber aircraft, flying out of Crimean airfields, WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHIN RANGE OF PLOESTI!!

It was not until a year later that the final evacuation [with great loss of life] of German forces from Crimea was completed. BUT - - THE REASONING OF HITLER - - WAS SOUND - - WITH REGARD TO THE DANGER POSED TO PLOESTI FROM SOVIET AIRCRAFT OPERATING OUT OF CRIMEAN AIRFIELDS?
* The formation and deployment of the First Special Service Force [FSSB]!

The FSSB! A ranger/commando/guerrilla warfare unit, comprised of American and Canadian soldiers! Highly trained and motivated soldiers, unconventional warfare practitioners, skilled in demolitions and all aspects of behind-the-lines-missions!

AS ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED, ONE MISSION OF THE FSSB WOULD HAVE BEEN TO PARACHUTE INTO THE MOUNTAINS OF ROMANIA, FOR THE PURPOSE OF WAGING GUERRILLA WARFARE, INTERDICTING THE SUPPLY OF OIL FROM PLOESTI!

AN INTERDICTION MISSION - - THAT NEVER TRANSPIRED, BUT, NEVERTHELESS, WAS HIGH ON THE AGENDA OF THE FSSB, AS ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED!!

The internal-combustion engine, so vital to warfare as fought in the Twentieth Century [20th], requires military forces to have access to an abundance of oil. Either acquiring sources of oil or denying same to your opposition was important to all warring parties in WW2.

BUT - - please keep in the mind that for almost all of the war, at least until late 1944, the production, refining, and movement of oil from Ploesti went unabated and uninterrupted!

“Defense is the stronger form of combat!” - - Clausewitz. Easier to do, accomplish more with less. True at the strategic level as well as at the tactical?

coolbert.