The Great Patriotic War, Part I

1. The Great Patriotic War, Part I

2. Russian communism cannot be explained solely through the internal logic of Russian history • It was a specifically Russian product of a global crisis, the hallmark of which was the start of the Era of World Wars • The Russian Revolution was an act of rejection of the World War logic – and of its capitalist roots • In the 1920s, under NEP, USSR experienced a brief respite from global conflict - the Soviet state was tested for its ability to serve society’s peaceful needs • In the 1930s, the logic of global war re-imposed itself • Preparation for war, not prosperity or freedom – and capability to win as the main criterion of the state’s vitality and strength

3. If the essence of War Communism was to win the Russian Civil War, the essence of Stalinism was to win in World War II • Belief in the inevitability of war – of one kind or another • A sense of insecurity in the face of “capitalist encirclement” • Forced modernization was seen by Stalinists as the only way for the Soviet Union to survive

6. January 30, 1933: • Adolf Hitler is appointed Germany’s Prime Minister, after the Nazi Party wins a plurality of seats in a parliamentary election

7. Interconnections between civil wars and interstate conflicts • Fierce Left-Right struggles in European countries since WWI, the lure and fear of revolution • Stalinism in Russia as a new stage in the Russian civil war: forced modernization to strengthen the state and make it fit for the next round of interstate wars • Fascism as a new stage in European Left-Right conflict: to defeat the Left internally and externally • Projection of the internal conflicts on interstate relations

8. 1933-39 • Germany is transformed into a racist totalitarian dictatorship • Abolition of democracy, political repressions • State terror against Jews • State capitalism • Massive rearmament • Preparation for a war for world domination • First aggressive moves against neighbours

9. 1938: Appeasement of Hitler, betrayal of Czechoslovakia • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CAAqfS8lUQ&feature=related

10. Hitler publicly and repeatedly pledged to destroy the Soviet Union, billing himself as saviour of the West from communism • As a state committed to world revolution, Russia wasviewed as a threat by Western elites • The rise of fascism was partly a response to the threat – and anticommunism was one of the motives of Western appeasement of Hitler • Stalin saw the prospect of a new world war as an opportunity for the spread of communism: the WWI template • But ultimately, WWII was not about revolution: it was an interstate conflict of a traditional kind, similar to WWII, waged on a global scale

11. Germany besieged: a Nazi propaganda poster

12. Axis The geopolitical triangle: Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Japan), USSR, Western democracies (WDs) WDs USSR

13. WDs hoped to channel Hitler’s aggression to the East, toward conflict with Russia – reluctant to fight Germany • Hitler was determined to prevent WDs and USSR from joining forces: beat them one by one • Stalin was determined to avoid war with Germany as long as possible – but convinced that such a war was inevitable • 1939: A divergence of interests between USSR and WDs – and a convergence of interests between Germany and USSR • The unexpected deal was logical – but only temporary

14. Moscow, August 23, 1939: German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop signs non-aggression pact with Russia

15. Secret Additional Protocol to the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact • Article I. In the event of a territorial and political rearrangement in the areas belonging to the Baltic States (Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), the northern boundary of Lithuania shall represent the boundary of the spheres of influence of Germany and U.S.S.R. In this connection the interest of Lithuania in the Vilna area is recognized by each party. • Article II. In the event of a territorial and political rearrangement of the areas belonging to the Polish state, the spheres of influence of Germany and the U.S.S.R. shall be bounded approximately by the line of the rivers Narev, Vistula and San. • The question of whether the interests of both parties make desirable the maintenance of an independent Polish States and how such a state should be bounded can only be definitely determined in the course of further political developments. • In any event both Governments will resolve this question by means of a friendly agreement. • Article III. With regard to Southeastern Europe attention is called by the Soviet side to its interest in Bessarabia. The German side declares its complete political disinterestedness in these areas. • Article IV. This protocol shall be treated by both parties as strictly secret. • Moscow, August 23, 1939.

16. Stalin’s and Ribbentrop’s signature on the secret map establishing division of Eastern Europe between USSR and Nazi Germany

17. Stalin offers a toast to Hitler

19. September 1, 1939: Nazi Germany invades Poland

20. German and Soviet invasions of Poland

21. Soviet and Nazi officers in occupied Poland, 1939

23. May 1940, Dunkirk: British troops evacuated from the continent

24. Hitler and his High Command after occupation of France, summer 1940

25. 1940: Hitler in occupied Paris

26. Hitler and Mussolini in Munich, June 1940

27. 1939-1941: growing tensions between USSR and Germany • At first: division of the spoils. But then: • Germany’s unexpected triumph in the West emboldens Hitler • Hitler’s strategic goal of conquering the USSR was never abandoned – for geopolitical and ideological reasons • Stalin expected the new war to generate a new wave of revolutions – and intended to get involved • By 1941, his fear of German power became the overwhelming factor • He was appeasing Hitler – and preparing for war against him at the same time • Each of the two intended to strike first • Hitler outfoxed Stalin and delivered a crushing blow

28. War of the Century, BBC documentary • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVo-2jfeoMM&feature=related

30. Operation Barbarossa • June 22, 1941 • Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along an 1,800 mile front • Goals: • Total destruction of the Soviet state • Colonization of the Soviet territory, together with allies – Japan especially • Enslavement of the population, turning the territory into a resource base for the Third Reich

31. Hitler explaining the future war against Russia, March 1941: • “It is a struggle between two ideologies… Communism presents an enormous danger for the future. A communist has never been and never will be our comrade. It is a struggle for annihilation. If we think otherwise, then, even if we should crush the enemy, the communist threat will rise again in 30 years… • This war will be vastly different from the onw in the West. In the East, brutality is a benefit for the future. Commanders must be ready for sacrifice and overcome their doubts.” • From the diary of General F. Halder, Chief of Staff, Land Forces, Germany

32. Nazi propaganda poster: SS forces kill the Red beast of communism

33. German poster depicting Soviets: “The lower race”

34. Soviet POWs

36. The Wehrmacht rolling down Ukraine: 1941

37. Invaders

38. General von Richthoffen in Russia with his officers

39. Celebrating success in Lightning War

40. In the first 10 days, German armies moved 550 km into Soviet territory • In the first 20 days of the war, the Red Army lost 1/5 of its manpower – 600,000 men • By July, 20 mln. Soviets found themselves under occupation. Nazi terror began. • Resistance • Redeployment of industry to the East

42. Victims of German occupation

43. Stubborn resistance

45. The Battle of Moscow: September 1941 – January 1942

46. Moscow, October 1941

47. Women digging anti-tank moats near Moscow

48. Antitank barriers in downtown Moscow

49. November 7th, 1941: military parade in Red Square

50. Marshal Georgi Zhukov, commander of Soviet forces in the Battle of Moscow