German Scientists Created Synthetic Fuel in 1913 — Then Fought 6 Years Without a Single Oil Well

The story examines the invention of synthetic fuel by German scientists in 1913, developed by Friedrich Bergius. This process, which converted coal into liquid fuel, was initially overlooked due to the abundance of natural oil. However, following World War I and the restrictions imposed by the Treaty of Versailles, it gained significance as a tool for Germany's energy independence. During the Nazi era, under Hitler's Four-Year Plan, synthetic fuel production expanded dramatically, reaching 124,000 barrels per day by 1944, enabling Germany to sustain six years of war without strategic oil wells. The Bergius process involved hydrogenation of coal under high pressure and temperature, complemented by the Fischer-Tropsch method. Nevertheless, synthetic fuel plants were vulnerable and were destroyed by Allied bombing in 1944. The narrative addresses the technical, strategic, human aspects (such as forced labor), and postwar legacy of this technology, emphasizing that chemistry can substitute for natural resources, albeit at substantial economic, environmental, and ethical costs.