Part 2/13:
To understand the rationale behind German military decisions, one must first grasp the importance of oil during WWII. Nazi Germany faced an epic oil and fuel crisis during the war, with shortages that severely hampered their mechanized and logistical capabilities. Many of their campaigns, including Operation Barbarossa—the invasion of the Soviet Union—were heavily influenced by the need to secure resources, particularly in the Caucasus region, which housed significant oil reserves.