Why did the German-led invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 fall short?
Why did the German-led invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 fall short?
Learn about Operation Barbarossa, the German-led invasion of the Soviet Union that began in June 1941. From The Second World War: Triumph of the Axis (1963), a documentary by Encyclopædia Britannica Educational Corporation.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn about Operation Barbarossa, the German-led invasion of the Soviet Union that began in June 1941. From The Second World War: Triumph of the Axis (1963), a documentary by Encyclopædia Britannica Educational Corporation.
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Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail Department of Defense/National Archives, Washington, D.C.; Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.War in Europe ending with Germany's unconditional surrender, May 1945.
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Public DomainLearn about Adolf Hitler's public speaking style by listening to him delivering the closing address at the 1934 Nürnberg Rally. Footage of this speech served as the climax of Leni Riefenstahl's film Triumph des Willens (1935; Triumph of the Will). This excerpt is translated as “The movement [National Socialism] is a living expression of our people and, therefore, a symbol of eternity. Long live the National Socialist movement! Long live Germany!”
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.In 1933 Adolf Hitler's National Socialists were voted into power, and the campaign of terror began. From The Second World War: Prelude to Conflict (1963).
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Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, MainzWest German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer negotiating the release of 10,000 German POWs from the Soviet Union, 1955.
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Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, MainzOverview of the Battle of Stalingrad (1942–43).
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.Learn more about the development of antibiotics and their use in World War II.
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Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz; Thumbnail Dinos Michail-iStock Editorial/Getty ImagesOverview of the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp, located in a part of Poland annexed and controlled by Germany during World War II.
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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.The 1930s consisted of many individual but significant events that bound the Axis powers and culminated in a World War.
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Transcript
[Music in]
NARRATOR: In June, 1941, 135 divisions plunged deep [music out] into Russia on a 1500 mile front that stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Hitler expected a quick, knockout blow within a matter of weeks.
Like Napoleon's invasion more than a century before, everything went almost too well. The German infantry found it difficult to keep up with the tanks that smashed through the Russian defenses.
[Music in]
Hundreds of thousands of prisoners were taken.
But the Soviets could afford to sacrifice both men and territory--they had plenty of both, and in their retreat they gained time. As the Germans advanced, all they found were burning buildings--for the Russians had "scorched the earth," depriving their enemy of winter quarters . . . and guerilla fighters sabotaged German lines of communication.
In the big cities like Stalingrad and Moscow, the people were put to work barricading the streets. The Russians are stubborn fighters, and they were going to fight for every street--every house.
Outside the towns, the women and old men were sent to dig huge tank traps to help stop the German advance. But with the Germans at the very gates of Moscow [music out] . . .
the deadly cold of a Russian winter arrived. Not having bothered to equip his troops with winter uniforms, Hitler was reluctantly forced to call a halt with victory almost within his grasp.
NARRATOR: In June, 1941, 135 divisions plunged deep [music out] into Russia on a 1500 mile front that stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea. Hitler expected a quick, knockout blow within a matter of weeks.
Like Napoleon's invasion more than a century before, everything went almost too well. The German infantry found it difficult to keep up with the tanks that smashed through the Russian defenses.
[Music in]
Hundreds of thousands of prisoners were taken.
But the Soviets could afford to sacrifice both men and territory--they had plenty of both, and in their retreat they gained time. As the Germans advanced, all they found were burning buildings--for the Russians had "scorched the earth," depriving their enemy of winter quarters . . . and guerilla fighters sabotaged German lines of communication.
In the big cities like Stalingrad and Moscow, the people were put to work barricading the streets. The Russians are stubborn fighters, and they were going to fight for every street--every house.
Outside the towns, the women and old men were sent to dig huge tank traps to help stop the German advance. But with the Germans at the very gates of Moscow [music out] . . .
the deadly cold of a Russian winter arrived. Not having bothered to equip his troops with winter uniforms, Hitler was reluctantly forced to call a halt with victory almost within his grasp.
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