Standard Oil
The Rockefeller fortune began through deceitful practices. William Rockefeller made wads of cash traveling from town to town selling magic potions — cures for whatever a person was willing to pay for. When in 1933 Germany needed oil, Rockefeller-owned Standard Oil was happy to oblige. The company was one of many during that era used as part of a reciprocal investment scheme straddled between Germany and the U.S. Farber, a German chemical company, was Standard Oil’s second largest stockholder (and run almost entire by the Gestapo).
Deep economic ties with German investors created an incentive for Standard Oil to discourage anti-German war efforts by suppressing access to natural resources that could make a bigger profit if sold overseas to Germany. Standard Oil acted in ways that suggest there was more than wheeling and dealing for money occurring. The company discouraged American development of synthetic rubber for an entire decade, between 1932-1942.
It is alleged Standard gave the recipe to make rubber to Farber. There are a number of other allegations about conspiring between the American and German companies. Magnesium production fell in America and suddenly soared in Germany. Add that to deals being struck with a variety of other reciprocally owned companies, and things begin to look suspicious. In 1938, production of tungsten carbide was limited in America, it is a vital ingredient for hardening tools.
At the war’s onset, Standard Oil helped fuel all the German aircraft being made by GM by building an oil refinery specifically for planes. To show that Standard Oil had no problems with aiding the enemy, they helped out Italy by refueling their aircraft. Like General Motors, the company emphasized the importance of maintaining work contracts and profits during times of war.