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The USSR in World War II

The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill. The Big Three: Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin at Yalta, Feb.1945. The ultimate test of the Russian battle order has usually been war The Romanov Empire failed that test in WWI – and fell

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The USSR in World War II

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  1. The USSR in World War II

  2. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill

  3. The Big Three: Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin at Yalta, Feb.1945

  4. The ultimate test of the Russian battle order has usually been war • The Romanov Empire failed that test in WWI – and fell • By the time of the next test – WWII, the Russian state was transformed into a more formidable machine • The “socialist” organization of the country was aimed at making the state more militarily capable • A similar logic unfolded in Italy and Germany under different forms of “socialism” • They talked of “socialism”, but they meant winning world wars

  5. 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 • The slide to war • Forced modernization • The Great Terror of 1937-38 • Skirmishes in the 1930s: China, Spain • Diplomatic maneuvers in 1934-39: attempts to contain the fascist powers, then a non-aggression pact with Hitler

  6. Global civil war and interstate conflict • 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 • The Spanish Civil War • Appeasement: betrayal of Czechoslovakia • The fall of democracies across Europe due to both internal (Left vs. Right) and external (actions of Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union)

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

  8. As a state committed to world revolution, the Soviet Union was viewed 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 • But the Axis powers were also challenging other Great Powers in Europe and Asia – the continuing conflict between empires • In the 1920s-early 1930s, before Hitler’s coming to power in Germany, USSR cooperated with Germany against Britain and France • When Germany became a radical anticommunist force, USSR and Western democracies discussed “collective security” arrangements to prevent Hitler’s aggression – without success • Then Britain, France and the USSR made their separate deals with Hitler, which enabled him to start World War II

  9. Britain and France hoped to channel Hitler’s aggression to the East, toward conflict with Russia – reluctant to fight Germany • Hitler was determined to prevent Western democracies 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 Western democracies – and a convergence of interests between Germany and USSR • The unexpected deal was logical – but only temporary

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

  11. Hitler and Mussolini in Munich, June 1940

  12. 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 preempted Stalin and delivered a crushing blow

  13. 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

  14. The Nazi invasion : • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StYywx7Uzok&feature=related • BBC, “War of the Century”, Parts 2,3,4

  15. 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

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

  17. STAKES IN THE BATTLE FOR RUSSIA • Will the Soviet state survive? • Will Soviet society as a product of the transformations since 1917 be crushed? • Will the Soviet Union become a German colony? • How many Soviet citizens will survive? • Will genocide become a new global norm? • What will become of the world?

  18. 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

  19. Victims of German occupation

  20. Japanese terror in occupied China

  21. Resistance • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IAfigTgzmU&feature=related

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

  23. Moscow, October 1941

  24. Women digging anti-tank moats near Moscow

  25. Antitank barriers in downtown Moscow

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

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

  28. Women in the war: medics

  29. Women in the war: pilots

  30. Children workers assembling weapons

  31. Partisans

  32. Partisans

  33. The Battle of Moscow was the first Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. • Casualties in the battle of Moscow: • 250,000 – 400,000 German • 600,000 – 1,300,000 Soviet

  34. The Siege of Leningrad • September 1941 – November 1943 • The Germans and Finns failed to take the city • The cost to Soviet population: • About 1.4 million people were rescued by military evacuation from the besieged city of Leningrad in two years between September 1941 and November 1943. • Another 1.2 million civilians perished in the city.

  35. In 1939-41, states of the Global Right attacked the world order, aiming at global primacy • Western democracies joined forces with the communist state in a defensive Center-Left coalition against the Right • The battle for Russia became decisive for the defeat of the Global Right

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