For the most part, purely scientific and technical problems were dealt with in the departments, but war preparation issues were also taken up. The Transport, Storage, Distribution Department, for example, dealt with questions of air protection for tank farms as early as 1935. Due to the regime's efforts to achieve self-sufficiency, technical issues were raised in all areas, which were dealt with in the departments of the DGM. The aim was to increase domestic oil production and to produce fuel from coal.
From the very beginning, the DGM has included functionaries of the National Socialist Party of Germany (NSDAP) in its board work. Gottfried Feder was elected honorary chairman. The articles in the journal Oel und Kohle (Oil and Coal), published by the DGM, were accompanied by forewords from the board, in which National Socialist ideas were disseminated and thus demonstrated loyalty to the regime.
From 1934 onwards, "territorial groups" were gradually formed, which organised lecture events. In 1942, there were 9 regional groups, including one in Vienna. The activities of the DGM were severely affected by the Second World War from 1943 onwards and were completely discontinued in 1945.
Unfortunately there are no documents about the DGM available at the DGMK office. We only have the journal Oel und Kohle at our disposal.
From the very beginning, the German Society for Petroleum Research was geared to supporting National Socialist economic policy. By including party functionaries, it supported the dictatorship's policy of equalisation. Leo Ubbelohde, however, failed with his plan for the development of a German mineral oil industry. It is not apparent that the DGM would have had any significant influence.
What's left? What has remained is a comprehensive presentation of the state of the art of the 1930s in all fields of work of DGM. It was published in the journal Oel und Kohle. Numerous renowned scientists have contributed to it.
What has remained is the idea of a scientific cross-divisional service society that promotes interdisciplinary cooperation among its members. What remains is the idea of having a scientific society in Germany that is a contact for corresponding societies abroad and that is involved in international cooperation. And what has remained is the idea of giving young scientists the opportunity to obtain information and further training at the Society's events.
The tradition of the DGMK is based on these ideas.