Hitler’s War Against Stalin

Operation Barbarossa, 1941 Hitler’s ultimate dream Smash USSR & carve out (G) empire 22 June 1941: Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union 3,000,000 German soldiers in 153 divisions poured across the frontier into the USSR Blitzkrieg devastates Red Army June-August 1941: (G) destroys 7,000 planes, 22,000 tanks, kills 2 million soldiers & captures another 2 million soldiers Sept 1941: Leningrad under siege, Ukraine taken, Crimea falling to (G) advance 1942: Germany continues to advance Despite losses the USSR fights on One of the most extraordinary turnabouts in world history “ It was the Red Army which tore the heart out of the German army” Winston Churchill Would you say that the Soviet position in October 1941 (when Soviet records show that Stalin was seriously considering giving up) was worse than Britain’s in 1940? Explain your answer.

Hitler’s ultimate dream

Smash USSR & carve out (G) empire

22 June 1941: Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union

3,000,000 German soldiers in 153 divisions poured across the frontier into the USSR

Blitzkrieg devastates Red Army

June-August 1941: (G) destroys 7,000 planes, 22,000 tanks, kills 2 million soldiers & captures another 2 million soldiers

Sept 1941: Leningrad under siege, Ukraine taken, Crimea falling to (G) advance

1942: Germany continues to advance

Despite losses the USSR fights on

One of the most extraordinary turnabouts in world history

“ It was the Red Army which tore the heart out of the German army”

Winston Churchill

‘ Europe’s victory is your prosperity’

The USSR Reorganizes Winter 1941-42 ‘ General Winter’; Severe cold saved Stalin S & generals used time to modify tactics Copied (G) tactics & invented new ones Officers given greater freedom to act CCCP officials banned from interfering (G)-style tank armies & air forces created T34 tank; best in war (simple, durable, deadly) Supplied all tanks & aircraft w/ radios (mostly (E) & USA radios) Radio-jamming units created; by 1943 2/3 of (G) radio traffic was jammed Order 227 (July 1942): ‘not a step back’; fight & die, but do not retreat or else execution (thousands were executed)

Winter 1941-42

‘ General Winter’; Severe cold saved Stalin

S & generals used time to modify tactics

Copied (G) tactics & invented new ones

Officers given greater freedom to act

CCCP officials banned from interfering

(G)-style tank armies & air forces created

T34 tank; best in war (simple, durable, deadly)

Supplied all tanks & aircraft w/ radios (mostly (E) & USA radios)

Radio-jamming units created; by 1943 2/3 of (G) radio traffic was jammed

Order 227 (July 1942): ‘not a step back’; fight & die, but do not retreat or else execution (thousands were executed)

The Real Focus of World War II The Eastern Front 1941-1944: 85% of (G) armed forces committed to campaign in USSR Eastern Front over 1000 miles long Vast scale & great brutality (G) guilty of war crimes against Russian people Rules of war did not apply to Eastern front (G) regarded war as one of extermination Either Fascism or Communism was going to survive, not both!

The Eastern Front

1941-1944: 85% of (G) armed forces committed to campaign in USSR

Eastern Front over 1000 miles long

Vast scale & great brutality

(G) guilty of war crimes against Russian people

Rules of war did not apply to Eastern front

(G) regarded war as one of extermination

Either Fascism or Communism was going to survive, not both!

Number of divisions deployed to different fronts in Europe in 1944

Soviet Resistance Soviet citizens rallied to defense Stalin emerged as great leader S changed call from defending Communism to defend ‘Mother Russia’ Guess why? WWII called ‘Great Patriotic War’ S allowed church a role; it raised over 150 million roubles (roughly $28 million + ) * Nazis also helped Stalin Treated Soviet citizens brutally Einsatzgruppen murdered 10,000s & turned 10,000s more into slave laborers Ukrainians at first welcomed (G) as liberators H could have had 50 divisions of motivated Ukrainian soldiers if he wasn’t a racist Fighting behind (G) lines USSR practiced ‘scorched earth’ policy 700,000 ‘partisans’ operated behind (G) lines * from 1937 the exchange rate was determined on US dollar basis; 1 US Dollar was equal to 5 Rubles and 30 kopecks (100 Kopecks = 1 rouble)

Soviet citizens rallied to defense

Stalin emerged as great leader

S changed call from defending Communism to defend ‘Mother Russia’ Guess why?

WWII called ‘Great Patriotic War’

S allowed church a role; it raised over 150 million roubles (roughly $28 million + ) *

Nazis also helped Stalin

Treated Soviet citizens brutally

Einsatzgruppen murdered 10,000s & turned 10,000s more into slave laborers

Ukrainians at first welcomed (G) as liberators

H could have had 50 divisions of motivated Ukrainian soldiers if he wasn’t a racist

Fighting behind (G) lines

USSR practiced ‘scorched earth’ policy

700,000 ‘partisans’ operated behind (G) lines

Activity: Rethinking the Red Army Many of the new ideas adopted by the Red Army in 1942 were completely different from its previous ways of working. Put yourself in the position of a Red Army officer early in 1942. Write some notes for a talk in which: You explain the changes in organization and tactics to the men and women under your command You reassure them that these changes will help them fight the Germans

Many of the new ideas adopted by the Red Army in 1942 were completely different from its previous ways of working.

Put yourself in the position of a Red Army officer early in 1942. Write some notes for a talk in which:

You explain the changes in organization and tactics to the men and women under your command

You reassure them that these changes will help them fight the Germans

The Soviet War Economy 1941: (G) advances captured: 1/2 USSR’s food supply (Ukraine) 40% electrical generation 75% iron, coal, steel Citizens rebuilt industry @ great cost Dismantled, moved east, rebuilt 2500 major industrial complexes in Urals, Siberia 25 million workers forced to move w/ factories The rest of the story Every scrap of raw material into arms production, nothing else Adults in USSR received no food unless working in war industry Citizens received 1/5 (E) citizen wartime ration Slave labor & control of Pop. by secret police 1/2 workforce female New industrial city of ‘Tankograd’. Guess what it produced?

1941: (G) advances captured:

1/2 USSR’s food supply (Ukraine)

40% electrical generation

75% iron, coal, steel

Citizens rebuilt industry @ great cost

Dismantled, moved east, rebuilt 2500 major industrial complexes in Urals, Siberia

25 million workers forced to move w/ factories

The rest of the story

Every scrap of raw material into arms production, nothing else

Adults in USSR received no food unless working in war industry

Citizens received 1/5 (E) citizen wartime ration

Slave labor & control of Pop. by secret police

1/2 workforce female

Great Sacrifice, Extraordinary Results What the Soviet citizens achieved: Vast quantities of a few simple, reliable weapons that didn’t need to be carefully made (T-34 tank (over 40,000 produced), PPSh 41 sub-machine gun ‘burp gun’, Katyusha rockets ‘Stalin’s organs’) 1942: Surpassed (G)’s war production 1943: 1.5 X planes, 2 X tanks as (G) Remember, (G) was fighting (E) & USA too USSR buried (G) in tsunami of men & material

What the Soviet citizens achieved:

Vast quantities of a few simple, reliable weapons that didn’t need to be carefully made (T-34 tank (over 40,000 produced), PPSh 41 sub-machine gun ‘burp gun’, Katyusha rockets ‘Stalin’s organs’)

1942: Surpassed (G)’s war production

1943: 1.5 X planes, 2 X tanks as (G)

Remember, (G) was fighting (E) & USA too

USSR buried (G) in tsunami of men & material

Discussion Explain how Stalin rallied the Soviet people to fight the Germans. Explain briefly the role of the Soviet people in the USSR’s war effort.

Explain how Stalin rallied the Soviet people to fight the Germans.

Explain briefly the role of the Soviet people in the USSR’s war effort.

Other reasons for Soviet victory Hitler made many errors Overconfident, predicting victory by Oct ‘41, so no winter gear for troops (OUCH!) 100,000s died from exposure or disease Supplies pulled by horses, slowing use of technology (G) industry inefficient, using more raw materials to produce fewer weapons (E) & USA helped Vast amounts of food, raw materials, equipment shipped through dangerous routes USA supplied 500,000 vehicles, 1900 locomotives, 1/2 supply of tires & copper Allied bombing slowed (G) production Turning points of the Eastern Front Soviet sacrifices, (G) errors, Allied help did not win war automatically Two major battles were turning points

Hitler made many errors

Overconfident, predicting victory by Oct ‘41, so no winter gear for troops (OUCH!)

100,000s died from exposure or disease

Supplies pulled by horses, slowing use of technology

(G) industry inefficient, using more raw materials to produce fewer weapons

(E) & USA helped

Vast amounts of food, raw materials, equipment shipped through dangerous routes

USA supplied 500,000 vehicles, 1900 locomotives, 1/2 supply of tires & copper

Allied bombing slowed (G) production

Turning points of the Eastern Front

Soviet sacrifices, (G) errors, Allied help did not win war automatically

Two major battles were turning points

Discussion Explain how the USSR’s allies helped the Soviet war effort. Choose three examples to prove that Stalin was an effective leader in war time.

Explain how the USSR’s allies helped the Soviet war effort.

Choose three examples to prove that Stalin was an effective leader in war time.

The Battle of Stalingrad: Sept 1942 – Jan 1943 Early 1942 Renewed (G) offensive in south aimed at capturing USSR oil resources 500,000 Soviet troops killed Stalingrad key city: hold it & (G) is stopped; lose it & all of Soviet south falls to (G) Stalingrad Hand-to-hand, room-by-room fighting took away (G) advantage of blitzkrieg This was war at most barbaric level 19 Nov 1942: Soviet counter-offensive under Marshall Zhukov encircled (G)’s 6 th army H ordered von Paulus, 6 th Army to fight to death Soviet arty & Katyusha rockets 24 hours/day 31 Jan 1943 6 th Army surrendered (300,000) Proved the Wehrmacht could be defeated

Early 1942

Renewed (G) offensive in south aimed at capturing USSR oil resources

500,000 Soviet troops killed

Stalingrad key city: hold it & (G) is stopped; lose it & all of Soviet south falls to (G)

Stalingrad

Hand-to-hand, room-by-room fighting took away (G) advantage of blitzkrieg

This was war at most barbaric level

19 Nov 1942: Soviet counter-offensive under Marshall Zhukov encircled (G)’s 6 th army

H ordered von Paulus, 6 th Army to fight to death

Soviet arty & Katyusha rockets 24 hours/day

31 Jan 1943 6 th Army surrendered (300,000)

Proved the Wehrmacht could be defeated

The Battle of Kursk: July–August 1943 (G) still held huge amount of USSR land July 1943: (G) counter-attack Surprise ruined when Soviets discovered plan USSR dug in & prepared for attack Greatest tank battle in history (G) army was destroyed @ Kursk Vast # of T-34 tanks Soviet planes a qualitative match for Luftwaffe, many were tank-killers, & they outnumbered Luftwaffe 10 to 1 Russia wins war of attrition USSR replaced all losses from battle Germany could not because: Allied bombing of factories & rail-lines (G) refused to use women in factories Luftwaffe diverted to fighting bombers Aug 1943: Red Army had 4 Xs tanks as (G)

(G) still held huge amount of USSR land

July 1943: (G) counter-attack

Surprise ruined when Soviets discovered plan

USSR dug in & prepared for attack

Greatest tank battle in history

(G) army was destroyed @ Kursk

Vast # of T-34 tanks

Soviet planes a qualitative match for Luftwaffe, many were tank-killers, & they outnumbered Luftwaffe 10 to 1

Russia wins war of attrition

USSR replaced all losses from battle

Germany could not because:

Allied bombing of factories & rail-lines

(G) refused to use women in factories

Luftwaffe diverted to fighting bombers

Aug 1943: Red Army had 4 Xs tanks as (G)

Victory Kursk was the turning point of the war on the Eastern Front (G) started its long, slow retreat Jan ’44: Leningrad siege (since ’41) lifted Aug 1944: Red Army reached Poland April-May ’45: last great battle … Berlin! Hitler committed suicide in his bunkers minutes before Soviet troops reached him

Kursk was the turning point of the war on the Eastern Front

(G) started its long, slow retreat

Jan ’44: Leningrad siege (since ’41) lifted

Aug 1944: Red Army reached Poland

April-May ’45: last great battle … Berlin!

Hitler committed suicide in his bunkers minutes before Soviet troops reached him

Focus Task: Dissecting Victory Look at the poster celebrating the Soviet victory over Hitler Write an explanation of how this victory was achieved. Mention the contribution of: The Soviet people Soviet technology Soviet industry The Soviet air force Soviet leaders, especially Stalin Now write two further paragraphs explaining how important you think: German mistakes & The contribution of the USSR’s allies were in the Soviet victory

Look at the poster celebrating the Soviet victory over Hitler

Write an explanation of how this victory was achieved. Mention the contribution of:

The Soviet people

Soviet technology

Soviet industry

The Soviet air force

Soviet leaders, especially Stalin

Now write two further paragraphs explaining how important you think:

German mistakes

&

The contribution of the USSR’s allies were in the Soviet victory

PSDs on the Eastern Front In Berlin on 4 October 1941 Hitler announced to his people that the Soviet enemy was beaten and would never rise again. This turned out to be one of Hitler’s most profound misjudgments. Over the next two years the Soviet Union proved to be the graveyard of the German war effort. Few historians now dispute that the Eastern Front was the critical battleground of the Second World War … the Soviet system organized a massive war effort which blunted, and then reversed, the tide of German victory. British historian, Professor Richard Overy, writing in 2000 The horses have already been eaten. I would eat a cat, they say its meat is very tasty. The soldiers look like corpses or lunatics, looking for something to put in their mouths. They no longer take cover from Russian shells. They haven’t the strength to run or hide. From the diary of German infantryman William Hoffman, December 1942 Stalingrad is hell on earth. It is Verdun, bloody Verdun, with new weapons. We attack every day. If we capture twenty meters in the morning the Russians throw us back again in the evening. The comments of a German soldier in a letter home, 1943

In Berlin on 4 October 1941 Hitler announced to his people that the Soviet enemy was beaten and would never rise again. This turned out to be one of Hitler’s most profound misjudgments. Over the next two years the Soviet Union proved to be the graveyard of the German war effort. Few historians now dispute that the Eastern Front was the critical battleground of the Second World War … the Soviet system organized a massive war effort which blunted, and then reversed, the tide of German victory.

British historian, Professor Richard Overy, writing in 2000

The horses have already been eaten. I would eat a cat, they say its meat is very tasty. The soldiers look like corpses or lunatics, looking for something to put in their mouths. They no longer take cover from Russian shells. They haven’t the strength to run or hide.

From the diary of German infantryman William Hoffman, December 1942

Stalingrad is hell on earth. It is Verdun, bloody Verdun, with new weapons. We attack every day. If we capture twenty meters in the morning the Russians throw us back again in the evening.

The comments of a German soldier in a letter home, 1943

PSDs on the Eastern Front We can no longer tolerate commanders, commissars, and political officers, whose units leave their defenses at will. We can no longer tolerate the fact that the commanders, commissars and political officers allow several cowards to run the show at the battlefield, that the panic-mongers carry away other soldiers in their retreat and open the way to the enemy. Panic-mongers and cowards are to be exterminated at the site … From now on the iron law of discipline for every officer, soldier, political officer should be – not a single step back without order from higher command. Company, battalion, regiment and division commanders, as well as the commissars and political officers of corresponding ranks who retreat without order from above, are traitors of the Motherland. They should be treated as traitors of the Motherland. This is the call of our Motherland. Joseph Stalin, Order #227 by the People’s Commissar of Defense of the USSR

We can no longer tolerate commanders, commissars, and political officers, whose units leave their defenses at will. We can no longer tolerate the fact that the commanders, commissars and political officers allow several cowards to run the show at the battlefield, that the panic-mongers carry away other soldiers in their retreat and open the way to the enemy. Panic-mongers and cowards are to be exterminated at the site … From now on the iron law of discipline for every officer, soldier, political officer should be – not a single step back without order from higher command. Company, battalion, regiment and division commanders, as well as the commissars and political officers of corresponding ranks who retreat without order from above, are traitors of the Motherland. They should be treated as traitors of the Motherland. This is the call of our Motherland.

Joseph Stalin, Order #227 by the People’s Commissar of Defense of the USSR