We know World War II lasted for 6 years.

But have you ever wondered how soldiers managed to last that long?

There was a complex system behind it that no one talks about.

This is the full breakdown of the logistics network that kept the war going: 🧵 By 1942, the U.S. faced a nightmare scenario: a two-front war in Europe and the Pacific.

– Europe demanded endless supplies to fight Nazi Germany.

– The Pacific’s vast oceans posed a nightmare for resupply.

The solution? A revolution in logistics.

The British East India Company (EIC) was one of the most powerful companies in history.

It was an empire-builder. With a supply chain so advanced, it could rival Amazon or Walmart today.

Here's the full breakdown of the company that dominated over half of the world's trade: Founded on December 31, 1600, the EIC was granted a monopoly on British trade with the East.

Its mission? To dominate the lucrative trade in spices, tea, textiles, and opium.

By the 1800s, it controlled 50% of global trade—half the world’s commerce!

In 2004, when Hurricane Frances was about to hit, many stores prepared for impact, rushing to close.

But Walmart saw this disaster as an opportunity.

They turned this deadly Hurricane into a profit machine.

Here's how: Meet Linda M. Dillman, Walmart’s CIO.

Dillman spearheaded Walmart’s adoption of RFID (wireless barcodes) to track products globally.

She believed in turning Walmart's vast shopper data into actionable insights.

And in 2004, her vision faced its ultimate test.

In the 1960s, MIT Professor Jay Forrester created something that changed the way we think about supply chains—The Beer Game.

This game is a simple simulation, but it messed with the minds of thousands.

Here's the game: The game wasn’t just an academic exercise. It came from a real-world problem.

Forrester noticed that a factory was experiencing wild swings in production, even though the customer demand was relatively stable.

This was the start of what we now call the bullwhip effect.

In 1806, Britain’s naval blockade cut France off from its sugarcane supply.

Sugar became scarce. Prices soared.
And riots erupted. Not over bread, but sugar.

This was a national crisis. And Napoleon swore he won't let sugar break his empire.

Here’s what he did next: In the early 19th century, sugar wasn’t a kitchen staple—it was a luxury. And the poor masses couldn't afford it.

Europe’s sugar came from colonies like Saint-Domingue (modern Haiti), which supplied 70% of France’s sugar.

This trade fueled French wealth—until it collapsed...

Ever wondered how Santa sends gifts to over 2 Billion kids?

Santa’s supply chain is one of the most complex in the world.

While Amazon delivers 4,000 packages/min, Santa hits 49,320/min.

Here's the strategy that makes Santa more efficient than Amazon and FedEx combined: Not me doing the math at 3 AM, but get this:

2.2 billion kids
195 countries.
416M households.

That too in one night!

In the 1800s, Brazil controlled 90% of the world’s rubber supply.

But the British didn't like this, so they sent a spy to Brazil with a detailed strategy to destroy their empire.

Here's the full story: With bicycles, automobiles, and industrial machines taking over the late 19th century, the world was hungry for rubber.

And the heart of this boom?

A Brazilian city deep in the Amazon: Manaus.

Coca-Cola made a bold promise during WWII:

“Every U.S. soldier, anywhere in the world, would get a Coke for only five cents.”

They partnered with the U.S. War Department to achieve this. But there's more to this story.

This is the strategy behind it that no one talks about: So why did Coca-Cola make this promise?

Sure, they wanted to lift the spirits of soldiers, but it was also a huge opportunity.

Coca-Cola’s president, Robert Woodruff, saw beyond doing something nice for the troops. He saw a way to set up the brand for global success.

In 1948, during the Cold War, the Soviet leader played a ruthless game.

He cut off food supply to 2.5 Million Berlin residents, hoping they would starve.

But the Allies (US, UK, and France) had a bold response.

Here's how they rallied together to keep an entire city alive: After WWII, Berlin was split among the Allies.

The US, UK, and France controlled West Berlin. The Soviets had East Berlin.

By 1948, the Cold War was heating up. Stalin, the Soviet leader, wanted West Berlin under Soviet control.

His weapon? A total blockade.

John D. Rockefeller is the richest man in American history.

He created a ruthless business strategy that horizontally and vertically swallowed his competitors and suppliers.

Until he controlled 90% of all oil in America in 1900.

Here's the full breakdown of his strategy🧵 It all started in 1863 when Rockefeller opened a refinery in Cleveland.

By 1865, he bought out his partners and controlled the main refinery in the city.

But he didn’t stop there.

His goal? Dominate every part of the oil supply chain.

In June 2017, a ransomware attack brought global shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk to its knees.

This brought down 20% of world trade, 800 ships to a standstill, stranded 76,000 containers, and cost Maersk $300M.

Here's how one virus paralyzed worldwide trade: Maersk isn’t just another company; it is the backbone of global shipping.

With operations in 130 countries, they move 20% of the world’s trade—from Amazon packages to medical supplies. But on June 27, 2017, everything stopped.

Before global trade, there was the Silk Road.

A 4,000-mile route with no trucks, no internet—just one brilliant strategy.

Here’s the strategy that kept this ancient trade network running smoothly:🧵
The Silk Road was a vast network of trade routes connecting major civilizations—China, India, Persia, and Rome.

It carried silk, spices, paper, and ideas across continents.

But moving goods across such a massive distance wasn’t easy.

The solution? Specialization.

In 1973, FedEx was struggling, so it decided to move its entire operation from Arkansas to Memphis.

Critics laughed at this risky move.

But FedEx saw something everyone missed.

Today, that decision is a Masterclass in Strategy:🧵 In the 1970s, traditional shipping methods were slow and inefficient.

Deliveries often took days to reach their destinations.

Smith believed that shipments could be faster and more reliable.

Apple's Golden Secret 👀

Did you know that by just trading in your used iPhone, you've involuntarily become a huge part of Apple's high-level secret strategy?

This is an innovation with a strategic goal: Maybe you've upgraded and traded in your old iPhone, feeling a mix of nostalgia and excitement.

But have you ever wondered where your device goes next? It's not just tossed aside or destined for a landfill or a dusty backroom.

In 2016, a tiny $60 part nearly wrecked Volkswagen.

What started as a dispute with suppliers quickly spiraled into chaos.

The damage? Massive.

– Six factories shut down
– 27,000 workers sent home

Here’s what really happened (and what everyone can learn from it): In August 2016, Volkswagen was at the top of its game.

Its "just-in-time" system was running smoothly, allowing parts to arrive exactly when needed, saving millions on inventory and storage costs.

This efficient, cost-effective model made production easier and minimized waste.

In the early 2000s, the mobile industry was fiercely competitive.

Nokia and Ericsson were fighting for dominance—until one disaster changed everything.

This is the untold story of the disaster that ended Ericsson's mobile phone journey.🧵 In March 2000, a lightning strike hit Philips' semiconductor plant in New Mexico, sparking a fire.

The damage seemed manageable, and Philips reassured clients that production would resume soon.

But that promise would unravel everything for Ericsson.

In 2018, Intermarché reduced Nutella prices by 70% (from €4.50 to €1.40).

People went crazy over “Chocolate spread.”

This turned stores into bloody battlegrounds & cost millions in losses.

Here's how a €3 price cut broke the supply chain: The idea of dropping the price looked great on paper…

Drop the price, draw in customers, and watch sales soar.

But, instead of a successful promo, Intermarché faced chaos, testing the limits of their retail operation.

In the U.K., 950 wheels of award-winning cheddar, worth $540K, vanished in a heist.

The wild part? The cheese is still missing.

Here’s the story behind the Grate Cheese Robbery 🧵

(And what you can learn from it:)
In September, Neal’s Yard Dairy received their largest order ever!

A French supermarket ordered 22 tonnes of luxury, award-winning cheese made from century-old recipes.

They were so thrilled; they couldn't help but brag about it.

But it was too good to be true.

In 2020, Unilever was paying millions just to ship water.

So, they started selling empty bottles. (Well, almost empty)

Here's how shipping 'nothing' saved their supply chain...
When the pandemic hit, Unilever was slammed with supply chain challenges for their shampoo products:

• Delays in raw materials
• Soaring transportation costs
• Bottlenecks in inventory

Instead of waiting it out, they rolled up their sleeves and went to work.

After WWII, Toyota was in ruins, barely getting any sales.

The solution?

JIDOKA and Just-In-Time (JIT) production.

These game-changing strategies helped them overtake big names like Ford and GM.

Here’s what those strategies mean (and how you can use them):
Today, "Toyota" practically means reliability.

Now even Tesla, Honda, and Ford have adopted the JIT and Lean Manufacturing principles Toyota pioneered.

It’s all about persistence and a laser focus on setting new industry standards.

On March 23, 2021, the Ever Given blocked the Suez Canal, freezing 12% of global trade.

While most expected a 1-day delay, AI at Rotterdam predicted 6+ days.

Only 3 companies trusted it—and saved $2.8B.

Here’s how one stuck ship reshaped the supply chain forever: Why does the Suez Canal matter so much?

It connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, offering a shortcut between Europe and Asia.

This waterway is the Internet of physical goods.