"Caroluo II" Romanian Oil Company

Hello,

Can anyone tell me more about the "Caroluo II" Romanian Oil Company"? The reason why I ask is that a German officer worked as a director at this company soon after the end of WWI. I was hoping that someone recognizes this company and can shed some light on this for me.

best wishes,

Darren

It's strange because Carol became king of Romania in june 1930 (under the name of Carol II).

The germans were evict from oil industry at the end of the first world war...

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C'est bizarre car Carol devient roi de Roumanie en juin 1930 (sous le nom de Carol II).

Les Allemands ont été évincés de l'industrie pétrolière à la fin la première guerre mondiale.

Hi vicslav,

The letter I mentioned was written in 1920. Were the Germans 'evicted' by this year? I know the name is a little strange. Was king Carol well-known before he took the throne? I wonder if it is just a coincidence. Let me know if you find our anything new. I appreciate the help.

regards,

Darren

Georges Castellan, "Histoire de la Roumanie", Presses Universitaires de France, 1984. (Que Sais-je n°2124) :

page 79 :

Au premier rang venait l'industrie du pétrole, dans laquelle l'Etat roumain était devenu le principal propriétaire par la nationalisation des parts allemandes (loi minière de juillet 1924). Mais à côté des 60% de capital roumain subsistaient plus de cent sociétés mixtes à capitaux anglais, français, américains.

State of Romania is the first proprietor (60%) since july 1924 and the nationalisation of german parts.

In 1920, Germans are still in Romania.

But the name of the compagny is problematic...[/i]

Thank you Vicslav for the great information and the quote from your book. You are right, the name still needs more explanation. At least the dates correspond properly, as it would be very confusing if the Germans didn't have dealings with Romania in 1920. If you dig up any further information on this, I would be most appreciative.

best wishes,

Darren

Hélas ! I've a little bibliography for you about oil in Rumania. But it's only in french. Perhaps these books have bibliographies with english titles ?

P. Marguerat, Le IIIe Reich et le pétrole roumain 1938-1940, Institut universitaire des hautes études internationales, Genève, 1977.

P. Marguerat, Banque et investissement industriel. Paribas, le pétrole roumain et la politique française, 1919-1939, Genève - Neuchâtel, 1987.

Cordialement

Hi again,

Thanks for the references on oil in Romania. You are most kind. I will see what they can tell me (once I find them!). While I don't know French, I have translation software that does a pretty good job. It is definitely worth a try.

best regards,

Darren

Good luck.

The germans lost their shares in oil companies in Romania immediately after losing the war, and by 1921 there was no more german capital in oil companies.
The Constitution of 1923 nationalised the underground resources of Romania, and the Mine Law of 1924 actually came to undo that nationalisation.
Yet the 1923 nationalisation was not the one to end german participation in the capitalisation of the companies. That was already gone.
Hope this clarifies the issue a bit.

take care

As you say, "germans lost their shares in oil companies in Romania immediately after losing the war"

But to find qualify staff to work again quickly must be difficult at the end of the war.

We can suppose that oil compagnies kept its germans few months (years ?).

It wasnt that difficult because the german shares in oil companies were bought by English, French, Dutch and Belgian (and even American) investors.
They were bought immediately starting with 1918.
I think these new investors brought their own high qualified specialists. And the romanian specialists already employed before that most likely remained at their jobs.
Probably some germans remained for a matter of months before the new owners showed up, but I dont know the details of that.
If I find something, I'll post it here.

take care