During World War II, United States and English carried out a long-term strategic bombing on Germany. At first, they had no idea what kinds of bombing targets can achieve the goal of consuming German military power.
In June 1943, United States and English first took Germany Aircraft Industry as the prior bombing targets, but these actions had little effect. Later they found that, the bearing industry, as an important factor of German war machine, mainly concentrated in three big cities. Only the production capacity of Schweinfurt bearing factory occupied half of overall German bearing production capacity.
Therefore, United States and English took bearing factory as the main bombing targets. In Aug and Oct 1943, they carried out two massive bombing on German bearing factories and in a very short time, it led to German bearing supply short. After the second bombing, compared with July, the unaffected month, the overall German bearing industry production had decreased by 32%. German had to purchase bearings from Sweden to make up the bearing shortage that was caused by bombing. After the war, German Secretary of War Production admitted that: if United States and English concentrated on bombing ball bearing, “two months later, it will weaken war production fundamentally and four months later, the war production will stop completely”.
Bearings, seemingly ordinary parts, directly influenced the whole war production of Germany and even influence the entire war.
Source SKET BEARING
