German plans for Operation Barbarossa began in December 1940, with the goal of invading the Soviet Union. Hitler expected a quick victory but underestimated Soviet strength and the harsh Russian winter. Over 3 million German troops invaded the USSR in June 1941. Although initially successful, German supply lines became overextended, and the Red Army began to push back in December. This marked the turning point in the war, as Hitler's overconfidence and poor preparation for the Russian conditions led to failure of his plans for domination of Europe.

2. 1941-1945
Soviet-German Conflict
1941-1945
German-Soviet Conflict

4. German Plans…
• The invasion was expected and the
non-aggression treaty was only for Hitler’s
convenience.
• Through propaganda, Germans thought that
the Red Army was going to attack so they were
supportive of the invasion into the Soviet
Union.

5. ...
• The plans on the biggest military
operation in WWII and history began on
December 18, 1940, codenamed
Operation Barbarossa.
• Hitler expected a victory within a
couple of months and the Soviet
Union’s defence was not expected.
• They planned to take the eastern
portion first with the Ukraine, Ostland,
Kauasus, and other divisions. Eventually
to take control of Leningrad, a symbolic
capture.

6. • Hitler believed that once he captured the Soviet Union, he
would have such a control that the allies would fall (Britain).
• Hitler and Germany did not prepare as well as they
thought they did for Operation Barbarossa.
• Hitler was too overconfident based upon recent success in
Western Russia and he did not anticipate the operation to carry
on into the winter as it did.

7. …
• 3300 tanks crossed into Soviet
Border
• 3 – 4 Million men were
assembled and sent into
the USSR under German command
• Material was stockpiled within
the East Soviet Border
• German troops were slightly
outnumbered by Soviet troops
on the frontier, as well as a
number of the USSR’s allies.

8. …
• The further into the Soviet Union Germany advanced,
the more difficult it became to supply troops with
supplies
• His tanks were under-gunned and the gear that soldiers
had along did not protect them from the weather.
• This was especially due to weather and transportation
was very limited.

9. • Hitler lost interest in the Battle of Britain,
and focused on the desire to attack
Russia.

10. • When September hit, winter was fast approaching
and German troops moved deeper into the Soviet
Union. The supply lines became limited.
• The Red Army was to destroy anything that the
enemies could use
(This was called the “Scorched Earth Policy”)
• This made it very difficult for Germany’s soldiers to
become supplied with necessary food and
ammunition
…

11. Moscow
• October 1941- German troops were approaching
Moscow, and Stalin made orders for a mass
evacuation of the city
• November 1941- German Army launched a new
attack on Moscow, the Soviet army held out and
the Germans were brought to a halt
• December 4- There was a counter-attack by the
Red Army, and this led to the Germans retreating
200 miles.

12. Failure of Operation Barbarossa
• The Germans were originally on the upper
hand, but once they had a bit of time to
arm themselves, the Red Army became very
strong
• Germans greatly underestimated the
potential and power of the Russian army…
and the Russian winter!

13. Fin
• They were overall ill
equipped to fight in the
Russian territory
• Hitler gave the ‘stand or
die’ order to his soldiers
• Led to many more German
defeats
This battle was the turning point in the war due
to the extreme haste and greed of Hitler.

14. 1942 – 1943

15. How To Break into Hitler’s Europe?

16. The Atlantic Wall
• Heavily defended coastline
• from northern Norway to Spain
• 5300 km in length
• thickest defences
were near Pas
de Calais

18. On August 19, 1942 over 6000 Canadian
and Newfoundland men infiltrated the
German port
 The (reported) objective was to take
control of the German port and gather
intelligence from prisoners
 The (real) objective was to test Hitler to
see if it was possible to land in Europe
None of these objectives were successful
Over half of the men were killed, wounded
or captured
The Allied air forces lost 119 planes and
the Royal Navy suffered 555 casualties
The catastrophe at Dieppe eventually
helped the Allies because of many lessons
learned

19. 1943 - Invasion of Sicily
• July 9th – August 17th 1943
• Allied forces: US, Britain, Canada
• Axis forces: Germany, Italy
• Goal: To remove Axis naval and air forces
from Sicily, allowing free passage to Allied
ships in the Mediterranean Sea and to put
pressure on Mussolini’s regime

20. • Allies drove Axis air
and naval forces from
the island back to the
mainland
• Sea lanes were opened
and Mussolini’s
government collapsed
• Approximately 29 000
Axis casualties and
140 000 captured

21. Events:
-Bombing raids during the weeks
prior were intended to take out
major cannons, bridges, and
machine gun bunkers (not effective
on all beaches)
-Parachuters dropped the night
before
-The Normandy Campaign began
with the storming of the beaches on
June 6, 1944
-Throughout the summer, Allies
were able to push back the
Germans
-This was the beginning of the end
for Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany
D-Day is a military term used to denote the
day on which a combat will take place

22. The Greatest Armada
In the First Wave:
• Over 5000 ships
• 700 warships
• 6 monstrous
battleships
• 130 000 men

23. “The feeling for me was more intense during the approach to the beach
than the beach itself. Would I being coming back, or would my life be
snuffed out?”
Lance Corporal William Bleakley, 1st Can. Regiment
“You’re in the water now. In the breakers. You try to remember how to
move. Smoke up ahead, and the noise... It’s like nothing you’ve ever
heard before. We were told to not stop and help any of our buddies
as we too might be hit”
Wilfred Bennett, Royal Winnipeg Rifles
“I was the eleventh off the landing craft. The first eight were all killed,
and two more were wounded. I was shot in the hand. A potato
masher (German grenade) landed in front of me. I tossed it back
over the wall.
Ralph Jackson, Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada

24. “All day and all night, the guns blasting the way for fighting men.
Millions of shells helping to win this close, bloddy and ferocious
battle in Normandy...”
Matthew Halton, reporting for CBC Radio
“My Dear Mr. And Mrs Duncan:
It is with my deepest regret that I have to write you this letter.
Your son, my Platoon Commander, met with an accident which
proved fatal... I can say with great pride, that he will always be
remembered by his boys and myself. We buried him in a orchard.
In a good a grave as is permitted under these conditions. I must
close now with regret of the whole platoon on your sad
bereavement.
Yours,
Sergeant M. Brimble

26. JUNO BEACH

28. U-Boats
-During the Battle of the Atlantic, the German U-boats fought
against the allied convoys to take more power and defend his
own land and power.
- The Allies won in 1943 when Hitler’s U-boats were destroyed.
-This was significant because it was one of the first times Hitler
was opposed and defeated.
- The name “Battle of the Atlantic” was coined by Winston
Churchill.

29. U-Boats

30. U-Boats… in Canada?

32. What’s Camp X?
• Top Secret Base in Canada
– If Britain fell, it would be the Allies HQ
– James Bond’s start?
– The perfect site (munitions, airport, POW)
– Dr. Death
– Only revealed info in the 1980’s

33. Assassination Attempts
• Resistance in Germany
•Stauffenberg Bombing (Valkyrie)
• The Great Cover - Up
•42 different attempts made on Hitler’s
life

34. -1943, Allies begin round-the-clock bombings on
Nazi Germany.
- June 6, 1944, After D-day Allies start push Axis
Powers back
- By March 1945, Allies had fought through Western
Europe to Germany, from Italy to Czechoslovakia, and
Russian had pushed through to Poland.
-April – Death of leaders: 12th Roosevelt, 28th Mussolini
(assassinated by Italians), 30th (or May 1st) Hitler
(suicide).
-May 7th, 1945– Germany Surrenders = VE Day
The End for Hitler

38. Is The War Over?
Not Yet!!!