What significance does this new interpretation of the German war economy have for understanding the bomber war? If mobilization already was in full swing in 1942, then Spaatz and Tedder were at least partially right. Although Germany’s entire economic fabric was not stretched tight by 1944, at least two vital areas were: oil and transportation. This made them perfect target systems when they were finally hit, Germany having no reserves of either gasoline or rolling stock to replace what was lost to the bombers.
