World
War One
Romania
- Ploesti Oil Field Raids 1916
(All images copyright © 2009 Peter
Shouler.)
These
photographs show the Ploesti oil fields of Romania in 1916 after destruction
by British Sappers, from an album of photographs taken during the tour of a
German staff officer of the oilfields after destruction and during repairs.
Romania joined the
Allies in late 1916, and the Germans responded by capturing the Romanian oil
fields around Ploesti, but they were partly
thwarted by a group of British destruction teams led by Colonel John
‘Empire Jack’ Norton-Griffiths. The Romanian government
reluctantly gave permission for the destruction and the British Sappers
wrecked derricks and pipelines, set the wells ablaze, and left such
destruction that production could not be resumed until spring. Output by the
Germans for all of 1917 was only one-third that of 1916. After the war,
General Ludendorff acknowledged the dire effects. All Images copyright © 2009 Peter Shouler.
German staff officer and party inspect
the damage to Ploesti Oil Fields Romania 1916, after British raids
Repairing damage to Ploesti Oil Fields
Romania 1916, after British raids.
Repairing damage to Ploesti Oil Fields
Romania 1916, after British raids.
Repairing damage to Ploesti Oil Fields
Romania 1916, after British raids.
German staff officer and party inspect
the damage to Ploesti Oil Fields Romania 1916, after British raids
Damage
to Ploesti Oil Fields Romania 1916, after British raids.