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Founded in 1941, Kontinentale Öl AG was tasked with exploiting the oil wells of the Caucasus, thereby laying the foundation for the Nazis' dream of ultimate victory. World War II was a war fought with tanks, trucks, and aircraft. Oil was the indispensable basis for the campaigns. The German Reich had only small reserves and was therefore dependent on conquering an oil base. Founded in 1941, Kontinentale Öl AG was intended to counterbalance the large Allied oil companies and, above all, to exploit the rich oil wells of the Caucasus. However, since this area could not be occupied permanently, the Nazis had to content themselves with other European regions – Romania, Galicia, Estonia. The semi-state-owned, semi-private company involved all relevant economic, state, political, and military interest groups. Konti thus served as a model for future "continental" corporations. The ambitious plans for the future contrasted with the operational failure of Kontinentale Öl AG. Overall, the history of this company offers a new perspective on the Nazi economy, the ruling class of the regime, i.e., high-ranking representatives from business, the party, the military, and the state bureaucracy, and political and military decisions. It challenges supposedly established insights into the relationship between politics and economics.

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