1940.09.01 “Can You Hear the Engine Knocking?”
Artist Unknown
7 x 7.5 in. ink on art board
Coppola Collection
Death (famine) knocking on the Spain-Axis collaboration over sanctions.
During World War II, the Allies controlled Spain's oil supply in order to limit Spain's support for the Axis. This first of these was a total embargo oil for Spain in August 1940, accompanied by a more general supply embargo, that was surprisingly successful in dissuading Spain from joining the Nazi cause.
Spain did not have the resources to enter into a full-scale war effort and would have relied heavily on supplies from Germany. Spain's requests from Germany included wheat as well as oil. This was also an important request. In 1940 the recovery of Spain's agricultural sector from the Civil War was far from complete. Spain was hungry, and dependent on the United States and Canada for wheat.
The food shortage magnified the significance of the oil embargo, because the fuel was needed for transporting basic staples and fueling the fishing fleet. The US was reluctant to embargo food while still at peace because of the public reaction, but an oil embargo could be cast as being directed against the military. The overall threat was nonetheless clear.
