Kissinger CH: 14 Essential Question: What limited Nazi success during Operation Barbarossa?

Hitler turns to the USSR Hitler offer to Stalin the opportunity to help defeat Great Britain. Stalin knew that once Britain was defeated Hitler would attack the USSR. Stalin attempts to continue to prepare the USSR for war. Increase in tensions between Germany and the USSR German invasion of Romania Aug which Stalin believed to be in the USSR sphere. Finland in Aug allowed German troops to pass though. Tripartite Pact Sep stated that any country that joined Britain the others would declare war on that country.

October 1940 Ribbentrop’s letter to Stalin claiming rise in tensions was a misunderstanding Offers a meeting, Stalin accepts and sends Molotov to Germany November 10, 1940 Molotov meets with Ribbentrop Ribbentrop’s offers the USSR to join the Tripartite Pact Says that at the end of the war they would divide the world USSR would gain access to the sea Italy would gain North Africa Japan would gain Southeast Asia Germany would reclaim former African colonies Molotov was not satisfied

Stalin assumptions about Hitler Offer of Tripartite meant Hitler would wait. Avoid a two front war. Japanese-Soviet non-aggression pact 1941 Soviet Union will not have to worry about eastern boarder. Japan could focus on the South Pacific

The Balkan countries were key to attacking the USSR. Hitler wanted to build bases in southeastern Europe and wanted to make sure the British would not interfere. Hitler invaded Yugoslavia and Greece April Yugoslavia fell in 11 days. Greece surrendered in 17 days.

Hitler’s plan to invade the Soviet Union was called Operation Barbarossa. Early Sunday morning, June 22, 1941, Hitler began the blitzkrieg invasion of the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was not prepared. The Germans gained 500 miles inside the Soviet Union. As the Russians retreated, they burned and destroyed everything in the enemy’s path. What is this military strategy called? When did the Russians use this strategy before? Scorched Earth policy – used successfully against Napoleon

By September 8, Germans had surrounded Leningrad and isolated the city. German bombs destroyed warehouses where food was stored. Desperately hungry, people began eating cattle and horse feed, cats, dogs, crows, and rats. 1 million people starved to death, but Leningrad did not surrender.

Hitler moved on to Moscow, the capital of the Soviet Union, on October 2. By December, the Nazis advanced on the outskirts of Moscow. Soviet General Georgi Zhukov counterattacked.

As temperatures fell, the Germans in summer uniforms, retreated. Their fuel and oil froze. Tanks, trucks and weapons became useless. Hitler ordered the troops, “Not to Retreat” The Germans held the line against the Soviets about 125 miles west of the capital. It cost 500,000 German lives.