Invasion of the USSR WWII - A Complete Study Guide
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Course
European History
Institution
3rd Degree
**Operation Barbarossa: Hitler's Fateful Invasion of the Soviet Union**
This comprehensive document examines the pivotal Operation Barbarossa, a massive invasion of the Soviet Union launched by Germany in June 1941. Led by Adolf Hitler, the operation aimed to capture key territories and disrupt ...
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Course : History
Theme : WWII
Topic : Invasion of the USSR
Years : 1941
In Text
Hitler believed that controlling the USSR would be highly profitable for Germany,
providing access to valuable resources such as oil, land, and labor for the German war
machine. He planned to achieve this goal through Operation Barbarossa, a massive
invasion of the Soviet Union that would allow Germany to capture key territories and
disrupt the Soviet war effort.
Operation Barbarossa was a massive undertaking, with around 3 million German
soldiers mobilized for the invasion. The front stretched an impressive 1,800 miles,
making it one of the longest and most complex military campaigns in history.
As German forces advanced into Soviet territory, they encountered fierce resistance
from the Red Army and the Russian people. One of the most brutal aspects of the
campaign was the Siege of Leningrad, which lasted an astonishing 872 days. During this
time, around 100,000 Leningrad citizens died each month due to hunger and starvation,
as the German army blocked all supply lines to the city.
The Germans also employed scorched earth tactics, burning crops and buildings to
deprive the enemy of resources and disrupt their supply lines. However, these tactics
ultimately proved counterproductive, as they only served to galvanize Soviet resistance
and unite the nation against the invaders.
The harsh winter conditions and strong resistance from the Soviet army eventually
halted the German advance. By this point, around 750,000 to 800,000 German soldiers
had been lost in the initial invasion. Despite these heavy losses, Hitler remained
convinced that victory was within reach.
, However, the outcome of Operation Barbarossa was ultimately disastrous for Germany.
The USSR changed its view on the Allies and despite their differences, they became
allies in the fight against Nazi Germany. The Eastern Front had become a major theater
of conflict between Germany and the Soviet Union, with both sides suffering heavy
losses.
In fact, around 80% of the Nazi army was deployed on the Eastern Front during World
War II. The failure of Operation Barbarossa marked a major turning point in the war, as it
drained Germany's resources and manpower and diverted attention away from other
critical fronts.
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