Invasion of the Soviet Union 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 German soldiers walk by destroyed building in Zhitomir 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 Column of Soviet refugees following German invasion

Soviet Soldiers Outside Moscow

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)