German Invasion of the Soviet Union

Writing Newspaper Article Write a newspaper article that focuses on the two attempts Axis forces made to invade the Soviet Union. Use p.442 for information about the first attempt & p for the second attempt FOCUS ON Who, What, When, Where, Why, How, & the Significance of the attempts. Include particulars, such as numbers of dead, who was leading certain forces, etc. Don’t forget the headline!

First Attempt: 1941  June 1941 – Hitler broke non-aggression pact with Stalin – 3 million German soldiers into Soviet Union  Germans used blitzkrieg tactic (again) – effective at first

First Attempt: 1941  Red Army was no match for overwhelming German forces  Soviet Union did NOT collapse – Germans failed to reach goals (Moscow, Leningrad) – Germans unprepared for Soviet winter  Siege of Leningrad

Second Attempt:  Spring 1942 – Hitler ordered new attack – soldiers from Germany, Italy, Romania, & Hungary  Summer 1942 – large Axis force ready to take Stalingrad on Volga River

Second Attempt:  Stalingrad – grain, oil, etc. shipped from ports on the Volga  Battle of Stalingrad – city bombed heavily (air, artillery attacks) – civilians in Stalingrad were NOT evacuated

Second Attempt:  Fall 1942 – Soviets regroup for a counterattack – November 1942  Soviets broke through Axis defenses  Hitler did not allow Axis troops to retreat – promised air support – effort fell short of needed aid

Second Attempt:  January 1943 – Germans had no: ammunition, food, & medicine – Hitler did not allow Axis troops to retreat – 90,000 “half-dead” Axis soldiers were captured

Second Attempt:  Hitler was defeated  Axis forces retreated  Axis forces were losing in North Africa & Italy