>Well what are the odds of them being able to extract Helium?
ONLY if they have access to a natural Helium pocket.
https://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2010/03/17/why-is-helium-so-scarce
Or if Helium isn't rare in this world for some reason.
I guess Germany couldn't afford Helium extraction from the upper reaches of the atmosphere (5ppm).
Tangentially related, the beginnings of working with gases to produce cold (and get other gases): https://www.amazon.com/Absolute-Zero-Conquest-Tom-Shachtman/dp/0395938880