The German-Soviet Confrontation In the 1930’s Joseph Stalin was afraid that the Soviet Union might be invaded by Germany, so he came up with a plan to make a pact with Hitler and the Germans (4). In 1933, the Soviet Union army took away all farming land, and live stock in Ukraine (5). This resulted in a huge food shortage. This effected Ukraine in the worst way in that era, as millions of Ukrainians died during this time due to starvation (6). A little later into the 1930’s the Soviets arrested anyone in Ukraine that was suspected of patriotism towards Ukraine (2). This included thousands of Ukrainians that were arrested. Ukraine also took a hit when the Soviet Union banned all types of Ukrainian churches, including Catholic, and Orthodox
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This had a massive effect on the families in Ukraine as many family members were forced to leave their own country to work in another. In 1941, Hitler disregarded the pact and attacked the Soviet Union. Germany wanted to make an eastern push, so they decided to attack Ukraine in 1941 (2). On the first day when Germany attacked Ukraine’s borders, Ukrainian cities Kiev, Odessa, and Lviv were bombed, as part of Hitler’s “lightning warfare” tactics (1). Very powerful German armies proceeded through Ukraine, capturing massive territories there. It is said that in some cities in Ukraine, the citizens did not even rebel against German forces when they came, they welcomed them even after they had bombed fellow Ukrainian cities (1). About 4000 Ukrainians even helped German war efforts in Ukraine. Erich Koch was appointed as German governor of Ukraine at the time when the massacre of Babi Yar took place (3). Over a span of two days, 33,000 Ukrainians were massacred by the Germans (3). The cities of Ukraine also suffered immensely, not only from the Germans, but by the Soviets as well because of the war that was going on between them on Ukrainian soil. Ukraine served as a battle ground for these two major powers, this resulted in
This had a massive effect on the families in Ukraine as many family members were forced to leave their own country to work in another. In 1941, Hitler disregarded the pact and attacked the Soviet Union. Germany wanted to make an eastern push, so they decided to attack Ukraine in 1941 (2). On the first day when Germany attacked Ukraine’s borders, Ukrainian cities Kiev, Odessa, and Lviv were bombed, as part of Hitler’s “lightning warfare” tactics (1). Very powerful German armies proceeded through Ukraine, capturing massive territories there. It is said that in some cities in Ukraine, the citizens did not even rebel against German forces when they came, they welcomed them even after they had bombed fellow Ukrainian cities (1). About 4000 Ukrainians even helped German war efforts in Ukraine. Erich Koch was appointed as German governor of Ukraine at the time when the massacre of Babi Yar took place (3). Over a span of two days, 33,000 Ukrainians were massacred by the Germans (3). The cities of Ukraine also suffered immensely, not only from the Germans, but by the Soviets as well because of the war that was going on between them on Ukrainian soil. Ukraine served as a battle ground for these two major powers, this resulted in