Walther Rathenau (1867-1922), a leading German industrialist, initiated the establishment of the Raw Materials Department [Kriegsrohstoffabteilung] of the Prussian War Ministry during the First World War and became its director. He oversaw the coordination of the German economy so that necessary industrial materials could be deployed for the war effort. Rathenau’s successful efforts allowed Germany to continue fighting despite shortages in basic materials. This article illustrated with Rathenau's portrait appeared in numerous American newspapers in early 1916. It explains the role Rathenau played in the German wartime economy to U.S. readers.