OPERATION BARBAROSSA THE GERMAN INVASION OF THE SOVIET UNION JUN 22, 1941 – DEC 5, 1941 1941

◼ “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 We have only to kick in the door and the whole Operation rotten structure will come tumbling down. 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 Hitler’s

Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa) was prompted by a number of other factors as well: (A) OIL (B) DESTROY COMMUNISM (C) JEWS (D) “LEBENSRAUM” (E) ELIMIANTE SOVIET THREAT TO ATTACK BRITAIN AGAIN (F) NEEDS CONSTANT VICTORIES TO MAINTAIN POWER (G) GRAIN IN THE

Arguments Against Doing It? •Two Front War •Russian Winter •Immense Russian reserves of manpower

Hitler’s Operation Barbarossa

The invasion of the Soviet Union was much more brutal in nature as Hitler gave explicit orders to Army commanders to eliminate civilian populations in the Soviet Union. Hitler’s Operation Barbarossa

After an area was conquered by the German Army, mobile killing squads known as the Einsatzgruppen specifically killed segments of the local civilian population like Jews, Communists, Gypsies, and local political leaders.

The Germans formed four Einsatzgruppen for the invasion of the Soviet Union

• Einsatzgruppe A – Attached to – 990 men

• Einsatzgruppe B – Attached to Army Group Centre – 665 men

• Einsatzgruppe C – Attached to - 700 men

• Einsatzgruppe D – Attached to German - 600 men

BABI YAR MASSACRE

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont inue=3&v=hyfx9jL1ymI THE MURDERS CONTINUED FOR TWO DAYS, CLAIMING A TOTAL OF 33,771 VICTIMS Hitler’s Operation Barbarossa

Over 1.5 million Jews were exterminated by the mobile killing squads. However, Hitler and other Nazi leaders felt that this was inefficient and developed the “Final Solution” to the Jewish problem in early 1942 by establishing the highly organized and brutal concentration camp system.

1st Week Disaster for USSR

• Over 2000 Soviet planes were destroyed during the first few hours of the war (many still on the ground) • Over 100,000 Soviet troops were captured and over 100 tanks were destroyed in the first week • By the end of 1941, over half the Red army had been killed or captured, and the USSR had less than 1000 tanks The German (“lightening war”) was no less relentless as it raged across the plains of the Western Soviet Union with over three million German troops. By the early winter of 1941, the German Army was closing in on the cities of Stalingrad, Leningrad, and the Soviet capital of .

Scorched Earth Policy

• Stalin demanded the mobilization of all resources in a “patriotic war of liberation” • In occupied areas, citizens were instructed it was their duty to wage guerrilla warfare, and to employ a “scorched earth” policy to evacuated areas • Homes, towns and cities were to be burned rather than give shelter to the advancing German armies

Stalingrad

Stalingrad – The Turning Point

Russian female snipers WW2..the Germans would ‘crap’ their pants when they caught word that they were in the area.

Stalingrad

• On Nov 19 the Soviets launched a massive counterattack north of Stalingrad • Hitler’s overly centralized and completely out-of-touch command system broke down in the face of the Soviet onslaught • The Soviets encircled Stalingrad and Hitler ordered his commanders to stand fast anyway • By this point in the war, no one was willing to confront Hitler Stalingrad The trapped German troops of the were reduced to eating their horses and many froze to death as the brutal Russian winter worsened. The Volga River froze solid and enabled a steady flow of Soviet soldiers and supplies to cross into Stalingrad.

The remnants of the German 6th Army finally surrendered on February 2nd 1943. Over 91,000 prisoners of war were sent to brutal Soviet labor camps where only 6,000 would survive. Stalingrad was arguably the bloodiest single battle in history, with over two million casualties from both sides.

Soviet Losses Stalingrad

The German defeat at Stalingrad signaled the “turning-point” on the Eastern Front. An uninterrupted Soviet counter-offensive continuously regained previously lost territory until Germany surrendered in May 1945. LEARN MORE Take a closer look at something we discussed today: • Operation Barbarossa • Einsatzgruppen • • Massacre • Something Else

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