During the Second World War, the region became strategically important for Nazi Germany. The largest German oil company, DeutscheErdölA.G., operated over 1,200 wells in the vicinity of Hodonín at that time. The oil refineries, including refineries in Litvínov, Bratislava (Apollo refineries), Dubová, Kralupy nad Vltavou, Kolín and Pardubice (operated by Fanto Werke) were later bombed by the Allies.