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1973 Oil Crisis: Historical Photos From Around The World During The Greatest Oil Crisis

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The 1973 oil crisis began in October 1973 when the members of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries proclaimed an oil embargo. The embargo lasted from October 1973 to March 1974. It was the first global exogenous economic shock that crashed stock markets and sent most of the world’s economies into a major recession. By the end of the embargo in March 1974, the price of oil had risen from US$3 per barrel to nearly $12 globally.

The U.S. government also imposed regulations by creating the EFO that further created the appearance of shortages. The media also falsely reported and even sensationalized purported shortages.

Here below are some pictures from around the world that show the effects of the 1973 Oil Crisis.

#1 Gas station during oil crisis, in December 1973 in Denmark.

Gas station during oil crisis, in December 1973 in Denmark.

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#2 Motorists queue for petrol during the oil crisis, Great Britain, 1973.

Motorists queue for petrol during the oil crisis, Great Britain, 1973.

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#3 Drivers push cars to gas station during ‘oil crisis,’ Roslindale, Boston, Massachusetts, 1973.

Drivers push cars to gas station during 'oil crisis,' Roslindale, Boston, Massachusetts, 1973.

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#4 Motorist pours gas into car from jug during ‘oil crisis,’ Boston, Massachusetts, 1973.

Motorist pours gas into car from jug during 'oil crisis,' Boston, Massachusetts, 1973.

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#5 Empty streets and roads, Stadtautobahn Berlin, during the oil Crisis, 1973.

Empty streets and roads, Stadtautobahn Berlin, during the oil Crisis, 1973.

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#6 Petrol station with information that only 10 liters are sold per customer due to the oil crisis, Germany – November 1973

Petrol station with information that only 10 liters are sold per customer due to the oil crisis, Germany - November 1973

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#7 During the fuel crisis, independent dealers and major oil company dealers began to close some stations permanently.

During the fuel crisis, independent dealers and major oil company dealers began to close some stations permanently.

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#8 A fuel ration book of the like issued by the British government to combat petrol shortages during the 1973 Oil Crisis.

A fuel ration book of the like issued by the British government to combat petrol shortages during the 1973 Oil Crisis.

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#9 A banner calling for saving oil is displayed at a petrol station amid oil crisis circa 1973 in Japan.

A banner calling for saving oil is displayed at a petrol station amid oil crisis circa 1973 in Japan.

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#10 Many people decided to use the bicycle because of the oil crisis. Milan, December 1973.

Many people decided to use the bicycle because of the oil crisis. Milan, December 1973.

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#11 Ralph Nader tells a House subcommittee on Business January 17, 1973 the energy crisis is an oil industry fabrication.

Ralph Nader tells a House subcommittee on Business January 17, 1973 the energy crisis is an oil industry fabrication.

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#12 A man in roller skates reading a page from Corriere sportivo seated at the table in a caf on the first Italian walking sunday due to the oil crisis. Milan, 2nd December 1973

A man in roller skates reading a page from Corriere sportivo seated at the table in a caf on the first Italian walking sunday due to the oil crisis. Milan, 2nd December 1973

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#13 A man in bicycle drawing a little girl and two boys in roller skates on Piazza del Duomo during the first Italian walking sunday due to the oil crisis, 1973.

A man in bicycle drawing a little girl and two boys in roller skates on Piazza del Duomo during the first Italian walking sunday due to the oil crisis, 1973.

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#14 People riding kick scooters on Piazza del Duomo in Milan, December 1973.

People riding kick scooters on Piazza del Duomo in Milan, December 1973.

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#15 People riding horses on piazza del Duomo in Milan during the oil crisis.

People riding horses on piazza del Duomo in Milan during the oil crisis.

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#16 Two girls skating along via Dante during the first Italian walking sunday due to the oil crisis. Milan, 2nd December 1973

Two girls skating along via Dante during the first Italian walking sunday due to the oil crisis. Milan, 2nd December 1973

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#17 Customers purchase toilet rolls amid oil crisis at a super market on November 24, 1973 in Tokyo, Japan.

Customers purchase toilet rolls amid oil crisis at a super market on November 24, 1973 in Tokyo, Japan.

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#18 Taxis are seen amid the oil crisis at Ginza District on November 22, 1973 in Tokyo, Japan.

Taxis are seen amid the oil crisis at Ginza District on November 22, 1973 in Tokyo, Japan.

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#19 British Conservative Party politician, Peter Walker attaching a ‘Save Petrol’ sticker to the rear window of a car, London, November 1973.

British Conservative Party politician, Peter Walker attaching a 'Save Petrol' sticker to the rear window of a car, London, November 1973.

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#20 An empty shelf is seen as all the washing liquids are sold amid the oil crisis on November 21, 1973 in Tokyo, Japan.

An empty shelf is seen as all the washing liquids are sold amid the oil crisis on November 21, 1973 in Tokyo, Japan.

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#21 Press conference by Bélaïd Abdessalam, Algerian Minister for Energy, and Ahmed Zaki Yamani, Saudi Minister for Petroleum, during the oil shock, in Paris, France, November 27, 1973

Press conference by Bélaïd Abdessalam, Algerian Minister for Energy, and Ahmed Zaki Yamani, Saudi Minister for Petroleum, during the oil shock, in Paris, France, November 27, 1973

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#22 Crowds at a gas station in Berlin during the Oil Crisis, 1973.

Crowds at a gas station in Berlin during the Oil Crisis, 1973.

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#23 Illuminations are dismissed to save the electric power in Ginza on November 20, 1973 in Tokyo, Japan.

Illuminations are dismissed to save the electric power in Ginza on November 20, 1973 in Tokyo, Japan.

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#24 A sign at a petrol station in Stuttgart says “Petrol sold out” on the 18th of November in 1973 in Germany.

A sign at a petrol station in Stuttgart says "Petrol sold out" on the 18th of November in 1973 in Germany.

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#25 A woman and a boy fill petrol canisters with petrol at a petrol station on the 7th of November in 1973.

A woman and a boy fill petrol canisters with petrol at a petrol station on the 7th of November in 1973.

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#26 Buildings turn off lights as the oil crisis on November 6, 1973 in Tokyo, Japan.

Buildings turn off lights as the oil crisis on November 6, 1973 in Tokyo, Japan.

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#27 Four horsemen riding through the streets of Amsterdam on a ‘motorless day’, when cars are prohibited due to the oil crisis, November 1973.

Four horsemen riding through the streets of Amsterdam on a 'motorless day', when cars are prohibited due to the oil crisis, November 1973.

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#28 A woman purchases amounts of toilet rolls as oil crisis, Japan.

A woman purchases amounts of toilet rolls as oil crisis, Japan.

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#29 Gasoline hamster purchases at petrol station in Berlin, July 1973.

Gasoline hamster purchases at petrol station in Berlin, July 1973.

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#30 Four men on a tandem bicycle crossing Piazza del Duomo during the first Italian walking sunday due to the oil crisis. Milan, 2nd December 1973

Four men on a tandem bicycle crossing Piazza del Duomo during the first Italian walking sunday due to the oil crisis. Milan, 2nd December 1973

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#31 Some people riding horses, gigs and bicycles across Piazza del Duomo during the first Italian walking sunday due to the oil crisis.

Some people riding horses, gigs and bicycles across Piazza del Duomo during the first Italian walking sunday due to the oil crisis.

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#33 Temporarily out of gasoline sign in American, 1973.

Temporarily out of gasoline sign in American, 1973.

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#34 Coach and Horses, being used to beat the fuel shortage at Walton Hall, Warwickshire, 1973.

Coach and Horses, being used to beat the fuel shortage at Walton Hall, Warwickshire, 1973.

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#35 Private taxi drivers stage a rally demanding the release of the liquefied petroleum gas amid the oil crisis on December 11, 1973 in Tokyo, Japan.

Private taxi drivers stage a rally demanding the release of the liquefied petroleum gas amid the oil crisis on December 11, 1973 in Tokyo, Japan.

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#36 The Swabian Alpine Club wanders across a new part of the motorway Weinsberg-Moeckmuehl on the 9th of December in 1973.

The Swabian Alpine Club wanders across a new part of the motorway Weinsberg-Moeckmuehl on the 9th of December in 1973.

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#37 Riders and cyclers gather in the old part of town of Duesseldorf on the 2nd of December in 1973.

Riders and cyclers gather in the old part of town of Duesseldorf on the 2nd of December in 1973.

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#38 The Kennedy Bridge in Bonn, West Germany, during oil crisis.

The Kennedy Bridge in Bonn, West Germany, during oil crisis.

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#39 Queues in Hanover Street Post Office, Liverpool, for petrol coupons, 29th November 1973.

Queues in Hanover Street Post Office, Liverpool, for petrol coupons, 29th November 1973.

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#40 An empty street in the Vaihingen district of Stuttgart during the oil crisis, 1973.

An empty street in the Vaihingen district of Stuttgart during the oil crisis, 1973.

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#41 Cyclists and pedestrians populate Schadow-Straße in Düsseldorf on the first “Sunday without a car”.

Cyclists and pedestrians populate Schadow-Straße in Düsseldorf on the first "Sunday without a car".

Due to the ongoing oil crisis, a Sunday driving ban was imposed for the first time on November 25, 1973. Further Sunday driving bans followed on December 2 and 9, 1973.

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#42 Empty motorway at Duesseldorf on 25th of November in 1973.

Empty motorway at Duesseldorf on 25th of November in 1973.

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#43 Hackney cabs are an alternative means of transportation on the first carless Sunday.

Hackney cabs are an alternative means of transportation on the first carless Sunday.

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#44 Pedestrians on the Kurfuerstendamm, Berlin, during the oil crisis.

Pedestrians on the Kurfuerstendamm, Berlin, during the oil crisis.

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#45 Cyclists on Kurfürstendamm in Berlin during the oil crisis, 1973.

Cyclists on Kurfürstendamm in Berlin during the oil crisis, 1973.

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#46 People having a picnic on a deserted highway during the Great oil crisis in Netherlands, 1973.

People having a picnic on a deserted highway during the Great oil crisis in Netherlands, 1973.

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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