Why was Nazi Germany short of Tungsten?
- phylo_roadking
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Re: Why was Nazi Germany short of Tungsten?
There may have been an active decision that sources via Franco's Spain were safer/more to be relied upon after war began than from halfway round the world - especially if the Allies managed to reconstitute the Economic Blockade. Otherwise Nazi Germany would have had to spend out a lot to stockpile Chinese materiel prior to the start of the war...
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- T. A. Gardner
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Re: Why was Nazi Germany short of Tungsten?
While this resurrects an old thread, I thought it was valuable to add this:
The biggest bottleneck in German tungsten products, and tungsten carbide in particular was that Krupp held a monopoly on its manufacture through their subsidiary, Hartzmetallzentralle. Krupp only produced three grades, and no company in Germany was allowed to purchase more than one of the three except Krupp themselves.
Thus, the supply of tungsten carbide for everything outside of products made by Krupp was severely restricted even if there was no shortage of raw material available. That the Nazi government allowed Krupp to retain their monopoly was the single biggest problem with using tungsten in manufacturing in Germany.
The biggest bottleneck in German tungsten products, and tungsten carbide in particular was that Krupp held a monopoly on its manufacture through their subsidiary, Hartzmetallzentralle. Krupp only produced three grades, and no company in Germany was allowed to purchase more than one of the three except Krupp themselves.
Thus, the supply of tungsten carbide for everything outside of products made by Krupp was severely restricted even if there was no shortage of raw material available. That the Nazi government allowed Krupp to retain their monopoly was the single biggest problem with using tungsten in manufacturing in Germany.
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Re: Why was Nazi Germany short of Tungsten?
Is there any evidence of anyone working around this restriction by manufacture of tungsten alloyed products in areas outside nazi control? ie: Machine tool or arms component factories in Spain, Italy, Switzerland... Spain had its own production of the raw Wolfram (as did Portugal) Was Krupp able to extend its control into Spanish industry as well?
Re: Why was Nazi Germany short of Tungsten?
A good source is
''Preparing for the Next Blockade:Non-ferrous metals and the Strategic Economic Policy of the Third Reich'' (by Jonas Scherner )
Scherner refutes the general assumption that Germany was short on non-ferrous metals and that it could not sustain a long war .
''Preparing for the Next Blockade:Non-ferrous metals and the Strategic Economic Policy of the Third Reich'' (by Jonas Scherner )
Scherner refutes the general assumption that Germany was short on non-ferrous metals and that it could not sustain a long war .
Last edited by ljadw on 07 Oct 2023, 06:31, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Why was Nazi Germany short of Tungsten?
Wolfram was imported from Spain. Though it was neutral during the war, Spanish volunteers joined the German Army and Air Force.
Re: Why was Nazi Germany short of Tungsten?
Against the USSR only .
Re: Why was Nazi Germany short of Tungsten?
The question ''why was Nazi Germany short of Tungsten '' is a loaded question , as there are no proofs for the claim that Germany (why always Nazi Germany ?) was short of Tungsten .
Besides : wolfram was imported not only from Spain .
Besides : wolfram was imported not only from Spain .
Re: Why was Nazi Germany short of Tungsten?
Found this snippet of info relevant to the topic:
Source: https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA951103.pdf
Source: https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/ADA951103.pdf