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Operation Barbarossa. Invasion of the Soviet Union. Reasons for the Invasion. More land for Germany lebensraum Control oil fields of Azerbaijan Destroy Communism a Nazi policy since the 1920’s Get rid of “racially inferior” people Jews making up the “racial basis” of the Soviet Union.
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Operation Barbarossa Invasion of the Soviet Union
Reasons for the Invasion • More land for Germany • lebensraum • Control oil fields of Azerbaijan • Destroy Communism • a Nazi policy since the 1920’s • Get rid of “racially inferior” people • Jews making up the “racial basis” of the Soviet Union
Invasion Plans • Hitler had decided to invade the Soviet Union just one year after the signing of the NA Treaty and the fall of France • Less than two years after signing the NA Pact • Hitler organizes an invasion force of 4 million (3 million Germans) • Hitler would attack along a 1000 mile long front • Invasion begins June 22nd 1941
Invasion • Germans invade deep into Soviet territory • Stalin had killed many of his generals • Great purge • Stalin orders a scorched-earth policy July 3rd • Stalin moves the government & industry to the east German soldiers walk by destroyed building in Zhitomir Column of Soviet refugees following German invasion
Invasion • The German advance is brought to a halt in October • The Germans falls short of Moscow by about 10 miles • Germans surround Leningrad and this will turn into a 900 day siege • No supplies would get in or out of the city A German army column struggles through the mud, past a destroyed Soviet tank. Nevel, Soviet Union, fall 1943.
Stalingrad • Hitler reaches the Volga River August 23rd, 1942 • Germany opens an all-out assault • Stalin announces Order 227 • any kind of retreat can result in military tribunal
Stalingrad • Stalingrad is bombed by 1,000 planes at a time • Germany Army will eventually run low on all supplies and be surrounded • By February 2nd, 1943, Germans surrender at Stalingrad
Results of Barbarossa • About 800,000 German casualties • About 1.1 million Soviet casualties • After the German defeat at Stalingrad, the Soviets will go on the offensive and push the Germans back to the west
Enemy at the Gates • Hollywood film “based” on events surrounding the battle • A Russian sniper and a German sniper play a game of cat-and-mouse during the Battle of Stalingrad. (IMDB)