Minutes 1-19 of Operation Barbarossa World at War film (sets up the fighting) Minutes 1-19 of Operation Barbarossa World at War film (sets up the fighting)

Operation Barbarossa Hitler’s Invasion of the Soviet Union Hitler’s Invasion of the Soviet Union The largest military action in the history of the world, ever. (yes, still…) The largest military action in the history of the world, ever. (yes, still…) 4.5 million troops invaded simultaneously along a 1800 mile front 4.5 million troops invaded simultaneously along a 1800 mile front We have only to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure will come tumbling down.

Background Hitler was frustrated in Battle of Britain Hitler was frustrated in Battle of Britain Continues Battle of the Atlantic… Continues Battle of the Atlantic… Has Taken over most of Europe Has Taken over most of Europe Turns east to pursue lebensraum and the natural resources of the Soviet Union Turns east to pursue lebensraum and the natural resources of the Soviet Union ‘with these resources, the 3 rd Reich will last for 1000 yrs’ ‘with these resources, the 3 rd Reich will last for 1000 yrs’ Necessary to combat British blockades Necessary to combat British blockades

Hitler acknowledged that Blitzkrieg might not work in the Soviet Union. Why wouldn’t it? Immense Distances!

Why Would Hitler Attack East? Ukraine like Britain’s India (lebensraum) Ukraine like Britain’s India (lebensraum) Grain in the Ukraine Grain in the Ukraine Oil in the Caucasus Oil in the Caucasus Mortal enemies Mortal enemies Incompatible Political systems  fascism and communism Incompatible Political systems  fascism and communism Needs constant victory to maintain his authority Needs constant victory to maintain his authority Arguments Against Doing It? Two Front War Russian Winter Immense Russian reserves of manpower

Grain Supplies in 16 c Europe

Good Quote from a Churchill speech after he found out about the invasion of Russia on pages of his history of the war. I have scanned this! Good Quote from a Churchill speech after he found out about the invasion of Russia on pages of his history of the war. I have scanned this!

Why wasn’t Stalin ready? Hoped for Peace with Nazis… division of spoils of the British Empire in the Middle East Hoped for Peace with Nazis… division of spoils of the British Empire in the Middle East Soviets had good equipment but they’d suffered purges Soviets had good equipment but they’d suffered purges Stalin believed he’d have to fight Hitler, but hoped to have until 1942 to get himself ready… Stalin believed he’d have to fight Hitler, but hoped to have until 1942 to get himself ready… Stalin refused to believe Churchill’s warning that the Soviet Union was about to be attacked… Stalin refused to believe Churchill’s warning that the Soviet Union was about to be attacked… Thought that Western warnings were desperate lies to take the strain off of the British Thought that Western warnings were desperate lies to take the strain off of the British

Interesting Anectodes #1- ‘train going to Hitler with weapons’ anecdote #1- ‘train going to Hitler with weapons’ anecdote #2 - British delegates go to Moscow to discuss why Stalin’s demanded invasion of France was impossible… #2 - British delegates go to Moscow to discuss why Stalin’s demanded invasion of France was impossible… “ This is the Eden Hotel, formerly Ribbentrop Hotel. Here is Churchill Street, formerly Hitler street. Here is the Beaverbrook Station, formerly Goering Station. The marine being shown around said, “Thank you comrade, formerly bastard.” “ This is the Eden Hotel, formerly Ribbentrop Hotel. Here is Churchill Street, formerly Hitler street. Here is the Beaverbrook Station, formerly Goering Station. The marine being shown around said, “Thank you comrade, formerly bastard.”

Commissar Order… Commissar Order…

Hitler's Commissar Order to his Generals Hitler's Commissar Order to his Generals "The war against Russia cannot be fought in knightly fashion. The struggle is one of ideologies and racial differences and will have to be waged with unprecedented, unmerciful, and unrelenting hardness. All officers will have to get rid of any old fashioned ideas they may have. I realize that the necessity for conducting such warfare is beyond the comprehension of you generals, but I must insist that my orders be followed without complaint. The commissars hold views directly opposite to those of National Socialism. Hence these commissars must be eliminated. Any German soldier who breaks international law will be pardoned. Russia did not take part in the Hague Convention and, therefore, has no rights under it." "The war against Russia cannot be fought in knightly fashion. The struggle is one of ideologies and racial differences and will have to be waged with unprecedented, unmerciful, and unrelenting hardness. All officers will have to get rid of any old fashioned ideas they may have. I realize that the necessity for conducting such warfare is beyond the comprehension of you generals, but I must insist that my orders be followed without complaint. The commissars hold views directly opposite to those of National Socialism. Hence these commissars must be eliminated. Any German soldier who breaks international law will be pardoned. Russia did not take part in the Hague Convention and, therefore, has no rights under it."

The Nazi execution of Soviet civilians kneeling by the side of a mass grave at Kraigonev, USSR, following the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Anyone suspected of being a Communist official, along with Red Army officers and male Jews were chosen for execution.

Critical Five-Week Delay in the Balkans Mussolini invaded Greece, but was stopped and reversed there Mussolini invaded Greece, but was stopped and reversed there Hitler rode to his rescue Hitler rode to his rescue Unexpected resistance to the Nazis in Yugoslavia ate up more time Unexpected resistance to the Nazis in Yugoslavia ate up more time 5 weeks closer to Napoleonic Winter (invasion launched to the day!) 5 weeks closer to Napoleonic Winter (invasion launched to the day!)

The Attack The Red Air Force took an incredible beating in the first few days of the fighting… The Red Air Force took an incredible beating in the first few days of the fighting… Basically ceased to function Basically ceased to function Three main German thrusts… North, Center, and South… Three main German thrusts… North, Center, and South… North surrounds Leningrad… (siege- but city doesn’t fall) North surrounds Leningrad… (siege- but city doesn’t fall) Center pushes for Moscow… Center pushes for Moscow… South pushes into the Ukraine towards the Caucasus oil… South pushes into the Ukraine towards the Caucasus oil… Stalin shoots generals who lose… great motivator Stalin shoots generals who lose… great motivator Scorched Earth Policy… similar to Napoleon… Scorched Earth Policy… similar to Napoleon… Nazis make it to the gates of Moscow  Counterattack  Nazis stalled Nazis make it to the gates of Moscow  Counterattack  Nazis stalled

Why stop the story of Barbarossa here (for the time being)? Moscow counterattack occurred 2 days after Pearl Harbor… Moscow counterattack occurred 2 days after Pearl Harbor… (why is this important and why is this nearing the end of this unit? (why is this important and why is this nearing the end of this unit?

Stalin begins to ask Britain for war materials… interesting decision for the British… Stalin begins to ask Britain for war materials… interesting decision for the British… Arguments in favor of giving aid? Arguments in favor of giving aid? Arguments against? Arguments against?

“The German army is like an elephant attacking a host of ants. He will crush and kill thousands, perhaps millions; but in the end, their numbers will overcome him, and he will be eaten in the end. “ “The German army is like an elephant attacking a host of ants. He will crush and kill thousands, perhaps millions; but in the end, their numbers will overcome him, and he will be eaten in the end. “ - German Soldier - German Soldier

Operation Barbarossa WWII film – World at War 19 minutes – 30 min. Operation Barbarossa WWII film – World at War 19 minutes – 30 min.

HansenName ____________________ World War II Period _________ Unit III Barbarossa Note-Taking Guide ► _____________________ of the Soviet Union The largest military action _____________________ ____________________, ever. (yes, still…) –_________________ troops invaded simultaneously along an __________________________ ► Background Hitler was frustrated in _______________________________ Continues __________________________________________ Hitler has ______________________________________________ Turns east to pursue __________________ and the _________________________________of the Soviet Union –‘with these resources, the 3 rd Reich will ________________ _______________________________ –Necessary to combat British _____________________ Hitler acknowledged that Blitzkrieg might not work in the Soviet Union. Why not? –_____________________________________ ► Why would the Germans attack east? Ukraine like Britain’s _________ (lebensraum) –_____________ in the Ukraine Oil in the ______________________ Mortal enemies –Incompatible ______________________________ _________________________________________ Needs constant victory to maintain his authority ► Arguments Against Doing It? _____________ War Russian ______________ Immense Reserves of ____________________ ► Why wasn’t Stalin ready? Hoped for Peace with Nazis… division of spoils of _______ ________________________________________________ Soviets had good ___________ but they’d suffered _______ Stalin believed he’d have to fight Hitler, but hoped to have until _________________________________________… Stalin __________________________ Churchill’s warning that the Soviet Union was about to be attacked… –Thought that Western warnings were _____________ ___________________________________________ ► The Commissar Order What was it? _____________________________________ ________________________________________________ ►Critical Five Week Delay in the Balkans Mussolini invaded Greece, but ________________________ Hitler ____________________________________________ Unexpected resistance to the Nazis in ___________ ate up _________________ 5 weeks closer to Napoleonic _______________ (invasion launched _______________________________________!) We have only to ______________ and the _________________ will come tumbling down.

►The Attack The Red ________________ took an incredible beating in the first few days of the fighting… –Basically ______________________ Three main German thrusts – North, Center, and South… –North _________________________________… –Center ________________________________… –South _________________________________... Stalin shoots ____________________… great ________________ ___________________________________… similar to Napoleon… Nazis make it to the _________________________  Counterattack  ________________________________ Moscow counterattack happened two days after _____________________… –(why is this important and why is this the end of this unit? _____________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Stalin begins to ask Britain for _______________… interesting decision for the British… Arguments in favor of giving aid? –____________________________________ Arguments against? –____________________________________ –___________________________________