The Soviet-German War

1. The Soviet-German War 1941 – 1945 By Krieger

2. "Business Partners" • August 23 1939, Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact ensures non-aggression between Hitler and Stalin • Secret condition dictates division of territory including Poland, Finland and Baltic States • Shortly after pact is signed, Nazi Germany invades Poland, prompting France and Great Britain to declare war • Soviet Union invades Poland on Sept. 17, 1939

3. Misplaced Trust? • Following the conquest of mainland Europe, Hitler starts to look East • Despite reports from Soviet spies and captured German soldiers announcing the date of the invasion, Stalin refuses to believe reports of any German threat

4. Operation Barbarossa • June 22nd, 1941 – Over three million soldiers of the Wehrmacht invade the Soviet Union • Divided into Army Groups North, Center, and South • Soviet soldiers caught off guard are either killed, captured or found deserting

5. On the surface invasion is a massive success • Luftwaffe virtually unchallenged, able to routinely bomb Soviet cities • Underlying problems such as supply lines help slow the advance, creating problems in the future Initial Success

6. Faltering Blitzkrieg • Stavka (Soviet High Command) makes plans to move Soviet factories towards the Ural Mountains in the east • Lack of long-range bomber puts targets out of Luftwaffe’s reach • Fighting in areas such as Smolensk and Sevastopol slow German advance even more

7. The Gates of Moscow • After freeing up route to Moscow, Army Group Center dashes to the capital in late 1941 • advance halts 30 km outside of the city • Soviet counter-attack commanded by Georgy Zhukov pushes Germans back • Counter-attacks continue through January 1942

8. Leningrad • Beginning in Sept. 1941, Army Group North besieges the city of Leningrad • Siege lasts over 900 days, lifted by the Soviets in Jan. 1944 • Over 1 million Soviet citizens perished from bombardment or starvation

9. A New Objective • After failing to capture Moscow, Hitler orders the Wehrmacht to strike south with aims to reach the oilfields in the Caucasus Mountains • Wehrmacht appears revitalized, pushing the Red Army to the Volga River by August 1942

10. War of the Rats • In August 1942, the Wehrmacht begins attack on Stalingrad starting with massive bombardment • The ruined city plays to Soviets’ advantage, supplying many areas to hide • Bitter street fighting ensues, leaving the Germans virtually stranded in the city through the Russian winter

11. War of the Rats cont. • In November 1942, Soviets counter-attacked in Operation Uranus • Trapped the German 6th Army • By Jan. 1943 they were forced into surrender • Battle of Stalingrad proved to be the turning point in the war • Costliest battle in history; up to 2 million casualties overall

12. Citadel • In July 1943, Wehrmacht attempted encircling 3 Soviet armies in salient near city of Kursk • The Soviets, well aware of the plan for some time, built up elaborate lines of defense • The resulting clash would end up as largest armored engagement in history • Also included most costly day in aerial combat history

13. The Gates of Hell • In January 1944, 56,000 elite German soldiers are encircled at Korsun-Cherkassy • The original rescue plan was altered by Hitler to attempt to outflank the attacking Soviets • About 35,000 of the soldiers were able to escape • Though mostly a success, the incident served as an example of the increasing Soviet threat in both size and skill

14. Retaking the Motherland • Throughout 1944, the Soviet Union starts to regain the last of the territory lost since the war started in 1941 • Local resistances in German-occupied countries inadvertently help the Soviets retake territory

15. Operation Bagration • June 22nd, 1944 (3 years after Barbarossa), the Soviets launch a secret massive attack against Army Group Center • The Germans expected an attack on the weakened Army Group South • This offensive combined with another operation brought the Soviets within reach of Warsaw by the end of July

16. Beginning of the End • Vistula-Oder Offensive, Soviets take Baltic States, East Prussia, etc. • 60 mi. east of Berlin by end of offensive • Enter Austria on March 30, 1945 • Capture Vienna by April 13

17. Der Untergang • April 20, 1945 (Hitler’s birthday) – Soviets begin shelling center of Berlin • Don’t cease until city surrendered • Hitler commits suicide 10 days later • German High Command surrenders unconditionally May 8, 1945 • V-E Day celebrated globally the next day

18. Endgame • Post-War Germany divided into four zones • Eastern half occupied by Soviets for 4 decades • Axis forces deaths more than 4 million • Soviet military/civilian deaths over 20 million • War covered more land than all other WWII fronts combined

19. Bibliography • Books • Glantz, David and Jonathan House. When Titans Clashed. University Press of Kansas: Lawrence, Kansas 1995. • Bonn, Keith E. Slaughterhouse: Handbook of the Eastern Front. The Aberjona Press: Bedford, PA 2005. • Pleshakov, Constantine. Stalin’s Folly. Hougthton Mifflin Company: New York, NY 2005. • Website • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Front_%28World_War_II%29 • http://www.aeronautics.ru/archive/wwii/photos/gallery_002/page_01.htm