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EASTERN FRONT 1941-43. Hitler wants Lebensraum Living space to the East Wants the farm production of the Ukraine. Problems for Hitler: *Mussolini invades Greece, gets pushed out -can’t leave it alone, doesn’t want the Brits to move in *worried about Yugoslavia.
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Hitler wants Lebensraum Living space to the East Wants the farm production of the Ukraine
Problems for Hitler: *Mussolini invades Greece, gets pushed out -can’t leave it alone, doesn’t want the Brits to move in *worried about Yugoslavia
Hitler invades the balkans on April 6, 1941 Controls region but costs him time
OPERATION BARBAROSSA Germany has three groups for invasion
Army Group North Von Leeb Army Group Center Von Boch Army Group South Von Runstedt
Germans have: 180 divisions 3,000,000 men 3350 tanks 7200 guns 2800 aircraft Plus divisions from Romania, Italy, Hungary and Finland
Soviet Union forces: 132 divisions 2,500,000 men 20,000 tanks 18,000 aircraft Have 132 divisions in Central and Far Eastern Russia Most are obsolete
Stalin needs time to modernize equipment and replace officers wiped out during purge 60 of 67 Corps Commanders 136 of 199 Divisional Commanders 90% of Generals 80% of Colonels
Stalin ignores warning signs of invasion Hitler attacks June 22, 1941
300,000 captured in each 600,000 captured 100,000 captured
Commissar Order: Order to kill Political Commissars attached to Soviet units 500 shot 1st month
Einsatzgruppen follow behind the Army 33,771 Jews and other civilians killed outside of Kiev
Problems for Germany: *Soviets bring units in from East-non-aggression treaty with Japan
*Supply issues -long supply lines -not enough trucks -Railroad wrong gauge *dispute between Hitler and Generals
Rain stops in November But winter begins Germans have no winter uniforms
Russians counter attack on December 5 and stop Operation Barbarossa
In 1942 Hitler can no longer attack with all groups. Decides to attack south towards Caucus & Stalingrad
Offensive goes good until they approach Stalingrad Wermacht not designed for urban fighting – can’t use tanks to full advantage
After Germans are stopped in city, Stalin begins to build up reserves for counter offensive
November of 1942 Soviets attack the flanks held by Romanian and Italian units that collapse instantly German Sixth Army surrounded-Hitler refuses escape
Sixth Army cut off Goering promises to supply from air . . .he fails Sixth Army surrenders January 1943