As Hitler's Einsatzgruppen (mobile SS killing units) marched into the Soviet Union directly behind the advancing Wehrmacht to murder Jews and others, less well-known units were also following in the footsteps of the German armed forces. They were called, among other things, -petroleum units, - -petroleum commissions, - or -technical brigades.- Their mission was to seize and exploit the oil-producing areas of the conquered territories.

Having pillaged oil in Poland, France, and the Low Countries, these predatory units were the latest examples of Nazi Germany's relentless efforts...