On June 22,1941 Germany launched an attack on the Soviet Union called operation Barbarossa. It was called Barbarossa in honer of German ruler Fredrick I. Fredrick I had orchestrated a ruthless attack on the Slavic (The Defeat of Hitler). The reason why Germany wanted to seize Soviet union for its prime land for long-term German settlement. Germany was at its strongest at its time with hundred fifty divisions, and three thousand tanks (Williamson Murray). Hitler then ordered a blitzkrieg but on a continental scale. Soviet union has Stalin’s red army, estimated to have around two hundred divisions, from German intelligence. Even though outnumbered, Hitler believed that they do not pose a threat. Hitler wanted to start his campaign on May
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The idea of having enemy troops in southern Europe made Hitler nervous. So Germany needed to secure Balkans, before he invades Soviet Union. Balkans is a major oil producer for Germany. So hitler made alliances with Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia government was overthrown by its own citizens because of its alliance with Hitler. When Hitler heard of the news he was outraged. He ordered his Göring's Air Force to destroy the capital city Belgrade. The Luftwaffe quickly turned the capital into rubble killing seventy-thousand civilians (The Defeat of Hitler). On April 6, 1941, Wehrmacht sent 29 divisions into Yugoslavia for a quick take over and then took Greece . Which forced British troops to retreat. This took five weeks and lots of wear and tear on the Germany to secure the southern boarder (The Defeat of …show more content…
Another problem that faces German soldiers is traversing endless countryside. This caused more problems with worn out foot soldiers and overstretched supply lines Army Group north had supply situation that wasn't favorable for Germany( Jeff Rutherford 209) . It also made the Luftwaffe to provide close cover for advancing ground troops. Also the scorched-earth policy had an effect on the German soldiers. Slowly Germany started to lose momentum. Soviet Russia started to get control on the military and started to begin counter-attacks on advancing Germans. They also started to set up defensive positions. Germany slowly started to lose momentum. So Hitler decided not to attack Moscow snd moved them to help aid Army Groups in the North and the South. After the South captured the city of Kiev in Ukraine. Then Leningrad surrounded because of aerial and artillery bombardments (The Defeat of Hitler, Alexander Dallin 165). Hitler’s generals wanted to focus all of its military strength toward Moscow, Hitler had a different plan. He wanted three major fronts over thousands miles long. This intern will result in stretching their manpower and resources to the absolute limit. The troops that were stationed outside Moscow had remained idle for nearly two months, waiting on there orders. Hitler thought that he had won, so he made a speech to his
The idea of having enemy troops in southern Europe made Hitler nervous. So Germany needed to secure Balkans, before he invades Soviet Union. Balkans is a major oil producer for Germany. So hitler made alliances with Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia government was overthrown by its own citizens because of its alliance with Hitler. When Hitler heard of the news he was outraged. He ordered his Göring's Air Force to destroy the capital city Belgrade. The Luftwaffe quickly turned the capital into rubble killing seventy-thousand civilians (The Defeat of Hitler). On April 6, 1941, Wehrmacht sent 29 divisions into Yugoslavia for a quick take over and then took Greece . Which forced British troops to retreat. This took five weeks and lots of wear and tear on the Germany to secure the southern boarder (The Defeat of …show more content…
Another problem that faces German soldiers is traversing endless countryside. This caused more problems with worn out foot soldiers and overstretched supply lines Army Group north had supply situation that wasn't favorable for Germany( Jeff Rutherford 209) . It also made the Luftwaffe to provide close cover for advancing ground troops. Also the scorched-earth policy had an effect on the German soldiers. Slowly Germany started to lose momentum. Soviet Russia started to get control on the military and started to begin counter-attacks on advancing Germans. They also started to set up defensive positions. Germany slowly started to lose momentum. So Hitler decided not to attack Moscow snd moved them to help aid Army Groups in the North and the South. After the South captured the city of Kiev in Ukraine. Then Leningrad surrounded because of aerial and artillery bombardments (The Defeat of Hitler, Alexander Dallin 165). Hitler’s generals wanted to focus all of its military strength toward Moscow, Hitler had a different plan. He wanted three major fronts over thousands miles long. This intern will result in stretching their manpower and resources to the absolute limit. The troops that were stationed outside Moscow had remained idle for nearly two months, waiting on there orders. Hitler thought that he had won, so he made a speech to his