600 and 700 million Reichsmarks. This was less than the Germans had hoped for, but it was the composition, not the absolute volume of Soviet supplies to Germany that was critical. 125 The Soviet Union rapidly became Germany’s main source of imported animal feed. In 1940 the Soviet Union also supplied Germany with 74 per cent of its phosphates needs, 67 per cent of its asbestos imports, 65 per cent of its chrome ore supplies, 55 per cent of its manganese, 40 per cent of its nickel imports and 34 per cent of its imported oil.126 As the Quartermaster General of the German army, Colonel Eduard
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