1. Zach Zener and Lorenzo (Junior) Patton
Battle of the Baltics
Zach Zener and Lorenzo (Junior) Patton
“With the exception of Poland, no region or territory suffered more greatly during World War II than the Baltic States.”

3. THESIS
The Nazis found initial success in their Baltic campaign via Blitzkrieg, but after faltering at Stalingrad due to Hitler’s overzealousness, the Soviets were able to push back through the Baltic region, ultimately leading to the march on Berlin in 1945.

4. Joseph Stalin: Power-hungry, took all control over military decisions.
People to Know
Adolf Hitler: Seized military power from generals. Authorized extermination of Jewish people in Baltic region.
Erich von Manstein: Field Marshal of Army Group North, relieved of service in middle of Baltic Offensive (1944).
Joseph Stalin: Power-hungry, took all control over military decisions.
Georgy Zhukov: Former member of Politburo, transferred to 1st Belorussian Front, led through Baltics to Berlin.

5. Background August 1939 - Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
Consigned Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia to the Soviets.
Pact ends with Operation Barbarossa in June 1941.
Stalin didn’t heed Churchill’s warnings that Hitler would launch a surprise attack.

6. THESIS
The Nazis found initial success in their Baltic campaign via Blitzkrieg, but after faltering at Stalingrad due to Hitler’s overzealousness, the Soviets were able to push back through the Baltic region, ultimately leading to the march on Berlin in 1945.

7. Baltic Operation (Part One)
June 22nd, Nazis move their Army Group North into the Baltics.
The Soviets launched the Baltic Operation in a sudden defense - but there was mass confusion amongst the Red Army soldiers.
Stalin decided to stage a larger defensive at Leningrad, rather than risk the Red Army in the Baltics.

8. Final Solution
The Baltic area was part of “bloodlands” - a region stuck between the U.S.S.R. and Nazi Germany.
His Einsatzgruppen directly followed the front, and executed many Baltic citizens.
For Lebensraum.

9. Result of 1941 Campaigns The German military was far more prepared:
Germans planted mines days before just off the Baltic Coast.
Received help from Finland - revenge for _____.
Blitzkrieg proved successful yet again, pushing the Red Army eastward after inflicting heavy casualties.

11. THESIS
The Nazis found initial success in their Baltic campaign via Blitzkrieg, but after faltering at Stalingrad due to Hitler’s overzealousness, the Soviets were able to push back through the Baltic region, ultimately leading to the march Berlin on in 1945.

12. Stalingrad ( )
Hitler attempted to take Stalingrad to gain control over the oil-rich Caucuses.
Driven back, massive loss for both sides.
Results? Significance?

14. THESIS
The Nazis found initial success in their Baltic campaign via Blitzkrieg, but after faltering at Stalingrad due to Hitler’s overzealousness, the Soviets were able to push back through the Baltic region, ultimately leading to the march on Berlin in 1945.

15. Baltic Offensive (1944) Germans retreat west after Stalingrad.
They settle at the “Panther Line” (fortified border of Estonia), and prepare to defend.
The Soviets respond by launching Operation Bagration, in which Zhukov pushed directly to the Baltic Coast behind the Panther Line.
The Germans were then cut off, and suffered a tremendous defeat.

17. THESIS
The Nazis found initial success in their Baltic campaign via Blitzkrieg, but after faltering at Stalingrad due to Hitler’s overzealousness, the Soviets were able to push back through the Baltic region, ultimately leading them to march on Berlin in 1945.

18. Importance
Victory in the Baltics sets up Zhukov to liberate Baltics, and later march on Berlin (next week).
⅞ Jews living in the region were killed.
The Soviets maintained control over the region until 1990, afterwards, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia declared themselves independent.

19. Regurgitation of Learning!
Why were the Baltics such a vital region for Hitler to obtain?
They were part of the Bloodlands, targeted in Hitler’s Lebensraum.
2. How did the Soviet victory at Stalingrad affect the Baltics?
It forced the Germans to retreat to the Panther Line, to put up a final defense.
3. How was the German Army Group North defeated in 1944?
The Red Army invaded from behind, cutting off German supplies and communication.

20. Works Cited
“World War II.” The Battle of Stalingrad, stalingrad#impo.
Glantz, David M. Before Stalingrad: Barbarossa—Hitler's Invasion of Russia Stroud, U.K.: Tempus, 2003.
Fugate, Bryan I. Operation Barbarossa: Strategy and Tactics on the Eastern Front, Novato, Calif.: Presidio Press, 1984
Buttar, Prit. Between Giants: the Battle for the Baltics in World War Ii. Random House, “Baltic Offensive.”
World History Project, worldhistoryproject.org/1944/9/14/baltic-offensive.
Goda, Norman J.W. “Jewish Histories of the Holocaust.” JSTOR, Bergahn Books,