What was the code name for the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union ?

Operation BarbarossaWhy? • Living Space, Oil, WheatWhen? • June 22, 1941Who? • 3 Million German troops attack

along an 1800 mile frontWhat? • 3 Pronged attack

– 1. Moscow 2. Kiev 3. Leningrad

How? • Blitzkrieg

Operation Barbarossa:Hitler’s Biggest Mistake

Operation Barbarossa: June 22, 1941

y 3,000,000 German soldiers.

y 3,400 tanks.

Soviet InvasionScorched earth policy - Stalin’s order to destroy anything of

value (land, materials )that can be used by the Germans• By November - Nazis control 40% of Soviet population

and are near Moscow• Hitler’s Big Mistake

– Generals say take Moscow– Hitler spits his troops and sends some to Leningrad and Stalingrad- (Made it personal-Morale)

What is the Scorched Earth Policy?

• The Scorched Earth Policy is a military strategy or operational method in which the military destroys anything that may be useful to the enemy while advancing through or leaving an area. They burned crops, bridges, factories, and the railway system so the Germans would be unable to use them

• ? What affect will this have after the war ?

I wish the Soviet’s would quit burning

everything and leave us some

supplies.

I know, I’m so hungry and worn down.

German Soldiers

Soviet Invasion• Stalin’s Plan: 3 Russian Generals - Time, Winter,

Distance• Nazi Problems: Thin Supply lines, Exhausted troops

• Lack of winter clothing• By December Nazi’s are 20 miles from Moscow • General Zhukov arrives with reserves (freed

prisoners) from Siberia & winter sets in• Nazis unable to take Moscow

Soviet Union

• Siege of Leningrad ( Nov. 1941-Jan. 1944)– 1 Million Russians trapped inside Leningrad

die of starvation, cold, disease

Siege of Leningrad:What It Was

• Also known as the Leningrad Blockade, it was an unsuccessful attack by the Axis powers – Germany, Italy, and Japan – to capture Leningrad. Capturing the Leningrad was part of Hitler’s plot to conquer the Soviet Union. This siege was one of the longest in history and the second most costly.

Preparing and Establishing the Siege

• The German army planned to surround the perimeter of Leningrad, however the Finnish army planned on doing the same thing. Once the perimeter had been fully encircled by German troops, the siege began, and continued on for the next 900 days.

The Siege Begins• There were hundreds of thousands of people living in Leningrad at this

time, and they endured endless hardships, including food shortages, no heating, and no water supply. Dogs and cats were disappearing off the streets, as they were becoming the main course for the starving in the streets. There were even rumors of cannibalism. The extremely cold winter didn’t help, either. Within two months, 200,000 people had died. Even then, they did not surrender.

The End of the Siege• The 900-day siege finally

ended in January 1943, but was not fully lifted for another year. With the help of the 1st and 2nd Baltic Armies, the German troops were pushed up to 100 km back. An estimated 1.2 million people died during the four years of the siege, mainly from starvation.

Churchill Refuses Stalin’s Request• In July 1942, Germans were

quickly approaching the city of Stalingrad in the Soviet Union

• The Soviet Union, being in desperate shape from the war, asked Churchill to create a second front to relieve his nation from the weight of battle

• That August, Churchill went to Moscow and told Stalin that there would be no second front in 1942

• What did Stalin think about this ?

Battle Fronts Were in the East

U.S. help, it’s just us

against the Nazis.

We’re not ready yet.

We have to build up our army again.

The U.S. and G.B. are delaying on purpose to weaken the USSR

Stalingrad

By Lindsey Shook

Stalingrad

Battle of Stalingrad

•Hitler Reasons - Destroy Russian Morale, Oil•Stalin - Hold city at all costs•Russians counterattack in Nov. 1942 – Why? “General Winter”• Russians encircle German army • Hitler refuses to allow troops to retreat

• Stalingrad was a very industrial city located on the Volga River.

• The Volga River connected a transportation route between the Caspian Sea and Northern Russia.

Significance of Stalingrad

• Occurred during the winter of 1942-1943

• It was one of the most violent battles in World War Two.

• The areas that Germany conquered during the day were taken back by Russia in the night.

• Many people consider this battle the turning point of World War Two.

• After this battle, the Germans began to withdraw from the war.

The Battle of Stalingrad

• Hitler simply attacked Stalingrad because it was named after Stalin.

• He also did it to decrease Stalin’s and Russia’s morale.

• And to cut off trade for Northern Russia.

• This cut off included Russia’s oil trade, Russia would’ve suffered from this because Stalin had a new “war machine”.

Why was Stalingrad attacked?

Casualties• Russian Casualties:• 478,741 killed or missing

650,878 wounded and sick40,000+ civilian dead4,341 tanks15,728 guns and mortars2,769 combat aircraft Total: 1,129,619 casualties

• German Casualties:• 750,000 killed or wounded

91,000 capturedAircraft: 900 (including 274 Transports and 165 Bombers used as Transports)Total: 841,000 casualties

The German’s Loss in Stalingrad

Dummkopfs! You have lost the oil fields of Russia and

Iran! How will we transport our armies and artillery to

win the war now? What will power our machinery?

The loss of the battle of Stalingrad was one of the biggest turning points of World War II. One of the biggest losses of the battle was the opportunity to harvest oil from Iran and Russia. This became a problem as the Germans now had no means of getting around, transporting troops, using tanks, or moving artillery and supplies.

That’s going to be a slight

problem, we’re out!

Battle of StalingradTurning point 1st major defeat for Hitlerbroke the German Military - lose 20

Generals, best soldiers and equip.Germany no longer on the offensive on

Eastern Front

Battle of Stalingrad:Winter of 1942-1943

German Army Russian Army1,011,500 men 1,000,500 men 10,290 artillery

guns 13,541 artillery

guns 675 tanks 894 tanks

1,216 planes 1,115 planes