Incapacitation of the Oil industry in Case of Approaching Enemy

Abstract

In November and December of 1941 the German army was able to capture Caucasus oil fields and objects of the Soviet petroleum industry. To prevent the capture, People’s Commissariat of Petroleum Industry developed methods and instructions of the liquidation. Successful counter-offensive of the Red Army postponed plans of the liquidation. In 1942 the oilfields of Caucasus were in danger again. The Government of USSR had to destroy them to prevent the capture by German army. It was necessary to find effective methods of destruction so that the enemy could not restore the oil production. The article is dedicated to interaction between People’s Commissariat of Petroleum Industry, army and NKVD on the elimination of Caucasus petroleum objects.