"Comrade Shaposhnikov, we were now desperately producing tanks and armored vehicles. Especially the T-34 tank—it was about to enter mass production. This would be a powerful tank. I had already decided to produce it on a large scale. By then, our oil consumption would rise even further. With the oil we had stockpiled, we simply could not hold out for long. Even if the Americans could provide us with oil, how much could they transport here? The Great Siberian Railway's transport capacity was extremely limited!" Joseph sighed.
He had originally thought that after the Russian army captured the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, it could plunge Germany into an oil crisis. Yet not only had his strategic objective failed, it had instead dragged Buru into a predicament. An oil crisis was about to descend upon Buru! For Buru, that would be a fatal blow.
Shaposhnikov nodded. He likewise knew just how terrifying this problem was for Buru. If things went badly, Buru would not be able to withstand the Germans' offensive for very long due to its lack of oil.
"Comrade Shaposhnikov, we must redeploy troops to defend Baku. If we can hold the Baku oil fields, that would naturally be best. But if we truly cannot hold them, then blow up the oil wells and all the other equipment at the Baku oil fields. We absolutely cannot let that equipment fall into German hands!" Joseph said through gritted teeth. He would rather destroy those oil wells and facilities than let the Germans pick up a bargain.
"Yes, Comrade Joseph!" Shaposhnikov replied. However, he did not agree with this in his heart. Given the oil fields the Germans controlled in the Middle East, they probably did not care about the Baku oil fields' meager output at all. To Buru,