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Operation Barbarossa

We have only to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure will come tumbling down. Operation Barbarossa. Hitler’s Invasion of the Soviet Union The largest military action in the history of the world, ever. (yes, still…) 4.5 million troops invaded simultaneously along a 1800 mile front.

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Operation Barbarossa

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  1. We have only to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure will come tumbling down. Operation Barbarossa • Hitler’s Invasion of the Soviet Union • The largest military action in the history of the world, ever. (yes, still…) • 4.5 million troops invaded simultaneously along a 1800 mile front

  2. Background • Hitler was frustrated in Battle of Britain • Continues Battle of the Atlantic… • Has Taken over most of Europe • Turns east to pursue lebensraum and the natural resources of the Soviet Union • ‘with these resources, the 3rd Reich will last for 1000 yrs’ • Necessary to combat British blockades

  3. Hitler acknowledged that Blitzkriegmight not work in the Soviet Union. Why wouldn’t it? Immense Distances!

  4. Why Would Hitler Attack East? • Ukraine like Britain’s India (lebensraum) • Grain in the Ukraine • Oil in the Caucasus • Mortal enemies • Incompatible Political systems  fascism and communism • Needs constant victory to maintain his authority Arguments Against Doing It? • Two Front War • Russian Winter • Immense Russian reserves of manpower

  5. Grain Supplies in 16c Europe

  6. Why wasn’t Stalin ready? • Hoped for Peace with Nazis… division of spoils of the British Empire in the Middle East • Soviets had good equipment but they’d suffered purges • Stalin believed he’d have to fight Hitler, but hoped to have until 1942 to get himself ready… • Stalin refused to believe Churchill’s warning that the Soviet Union was about to be attacked… • Thought that Western warnings were desperate lies to take the strain off of the British

  7. Hitler's Commissar Order to his Generals • "The war against Russia cannot be fought in knightly fashion. The struggle is one of ideologies and racial differences and will have to be waged with unprecedented, unmerciful, and unrelenting hardness. All officers will have to get rid of any old fashioned ideas they may have. I realize that the necessity for conducting such warfare is beyond the comprehension of you generals, but I must insist that my orders be followed without complaint. The commissars hold views directly opposite to those of National Socialism. Hence these commissars must be eliminated. Any German soldier who breaks international law will be pardoned. Russia did not take part in the Hague Convention and, therefore, has no rights under it."

  8. The Nazi execution of Soviet civilians kneeling by the side of a mass grave at Kraigonev, USSR, following the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Anyone suspected of being a Communist official, along with Red Army officers and male Jews were chosen for execution.

  9. Critical Five-Week Delay in the Balkans • Mussolini invaded Greece, but was stopped and reversed there • Hitler rode to his rescue • Unexpected resistance to the Nazis in Yugoslavia ate up more time • 5 weeks closer to Napoleonic Winter (invasion launched to the day!)

  10. The Attack • The Red Air Force took an incredible beating in the first few days of the fighting… • Basically ceased to function • Three main German thrusts… North, Center, and South… • North surrounds Leningrad… (siege- but city doesn’t fall) • Center pushes for Moscow… • South pushes into the Ukraine towards the Caucasus oil… • Stalin shoots generals who lose… great motivator • Scorched Earth Policy… similar to Napoleon… • Nazis make it to the gates of Moscow  Counterattack  Nazis stalled

  11. Why stop the story of Barbarossa here (for the time being)? • Moscow counterattack occurred 2 days after Pearl Harbor… • (why is this important and why is this nearing the end of this unit?

  12. Stalin begins to ask Britain for war materials… interesting decision for the British… • Arguments in favor of giving aid? • Arguments against?

  13. “The German army is like an elephant attacking a host of ants. He will crush and kill thousands, perhaps millions; but in the end, their numbers will overcome him, and he will be eaten in the end. “ • - German Soldier

  14. Hansen Name ____________________World War II Period _________Unit III Barbarossa Note-Taking Guide We have only to ______________ and the _________________ will come tumbling down. • ►Why wasn’t Stalin ready? • Hoped for Peace with Nazis… division of spoils of _______ ________________________________________________ • Soviets had good ___________ but they’d suffered _______ • Stalin believed he’d have to fight Hitler, but hoped to have until _________________________________________… • Stalin __________________________ Churchill’s warning that the Soviet Union was about to be attacked… • Thought that Western warnings were _____________ ___________________________________________ • ► The Commissar Order • What was it? _____________________________________ ________________________________________________ • ►Critical Five Week Delay in the Balkans • Mussolini invaded Greece, but ________________________ • Hitler ____________________________________________ • Unexpected resistance to the Nazis in ___________ ate up _________________ • 5 weeks closer to Napoleonic _______________ (invasion launched _______________________________________!) ► _____________________ of the Soviet Union • The largest military action _____________________ ____________________, ever. (yes, still…) • _________________ troops invaded simultaneously along an __________________________ ► Background • Hitler was frustrated in _______________________________ • Continues __________________________________________ • Hitler has ______________________________________________ • Turns east to pursue __________________ and the _________________________________of the Soviet Union • ‘with these resources, the 3rd Reich will ________________ _______________________________ • Necessary to combat British _____________________ • Hitler acknowledged that Blitzkrieg might not work in the Soviet Union. Why not? • _____________________________________ ► Why would the Germans attack east? • Ukraine like Britain’s _________ (lebensraum) • _____________ in the Ukraine • Oil in the ______________________ • Mortal enemies • Incompatible ______________________________ _________________________________________ • Needs constant victory to maintain his authority ► Arguments Against Doing It? • _____________ War • Russian ______________ • Immense Reserves of ____________________

  15. Stalin begins to ask Britain for _______________… interesting decision for the British… • Arguments in favor of giving aid? • ____________________________________ • ____________________________________ • Arguments against? • ____________________________________ • ___________________________________ ►The Attack • The Red ________________ took an incredible beating in the first few days of the fighting… • Basically ______________________ • Three main German thrusts • North, Center, and South… • North _________________________________… • Center ________________________________… • South _________________________________... • Stalin shoots ____________________… great ________________ • ___________________________________… similar to Napoleon… • Nazis make it to the _________________________  Counterattack  ________________________________ • Moscow counterattack happened two days after _____________________… • (why is this important and why is this the end of this unit? _____________________________________________ ______________________________________________

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