The Soviet Union Hitler looks to Soviet Union

The Soviet Union

Hitler looks to Soviet Union Mein Kampf – “When we think of new territory we must think of Russia – destiny itself points the way there” Lebensraum Frustration with Battle of Britain Assumed Soviet Union was weak – why?

Soviet Union Nazi-Soviet Pact gave Stalin time West fell too quickly! Tripartite Pact threatens Stalin German relations strained over Finland

Germany Hitler wants to attack the Soviet Union German generals against it - why? o 2 front war o Huge population o Large amounts of equipment Hitler orders it anyway

German troops along Soviet borders

Soviet Union waits Stalin warned of German attack o By spies o By British Stalin slowed defensive build-up on borders o Not to offend Germany o Give Soviets time to reform army (purges, Finland)

Operation Barbarossa Plan – use three armies to destroy Russian army in 4 months

June 1941 – Germany attacks the Soviet Union

Early Successes (for Germans) Germans gained 100 kilometers a day 2, 000 airplanes destroyed (1 st 2 days) Russians in retreat – “scorched earth” policy

Scorched Earth Policy

Early Successes (for Germans) Germans gained 100 kilometers a day 2, 000 airplanes destroyed (1 st 2 days) Russians in retreat – “scorched earth” policy Cities fall quickly Russians o 1 st 2 weeks • ½ million dead • A million take prisoner o End of September 1941 – Russians lost 3 million

Russian Prisoners

The Attack on Leningrad

The Attack on Leningrad Historical significance of Leningrad Strategic significance

The Attack on Leningrad “…Following the city's encirclement, requests for surrender negotiations shall be denied, since the problem of relocating and feeding the population cannot and should not be solved by us. In this war for our very existence, we can have no interest in maintaining even a part of this very large urban population. “ - German directive to Army Group North – September 1941

The Siege of Leningrad September 1941 - Germans blockade Leningrad - why? Leningrad under siege for 882 days o Sept 1941 – January 1944 Impact on the people and city Watch Leningrad Movie

Fighting the Russians Massive territory and population Frustrated Germans - Soviet Union does not surrender Soviet motto: Trade space for time

Fighting the Russians German officer: Fighting the Russians is like “the elephant attacking armies of ants – the elephant will kill millions but in the end he will be eaten to the bone”

South to destroy armies before Moscow

Battle of Moscow Civilians prepare - Churches reopen Siberian troops brought to Moscow October 1941 – Germans return to attack Moscow October 10 th – it began to snow Snow melted – roads mud – Germans stalled Soviets gained time

Battle of Moscow 2 million evacuate Moscow – Stalin stays Impact Temperatures drop o 11 miles from Moscow – Germans halt December 5 th – Russian counteroffensive - Siberian troops Impact “Comrade kill your German”