Operation Barbarossa
- Barbarossa "Red Beard" code name German attack on Russia June 1941
- Complete surprise for Russia despite warnings
- Breaks non-agression pact
- 2000 mile long front
- Blitzkrieg tactics surprise Red Army
- Nazis briefly seen as liberators
- Russian peasants began scorched earth policy (burning all crops and shelters)
- Leningrad was besieged, captured Kiev, reached the Crimea on the outskirts of Moscow
- Cold winter weather halts Germany
- Almost 2 million Red Army troops taken prisoner
Interesting Fact
- The Russians used highly mobile ski troops against the Germans during the winter. Quick and silent, they would wreck havoc on outposts and unsuspecting German positions.
Quote
“When Operation Barbarossa begins, the world will hold its breath.”
-Hitler, 1941
-Hitler, 1941
Subjunctive Question
What would have the outcome of WWII been if it had been the USSR that broke the non aggression pact?
Summary
Opperation Barbarossa is the code name for the attack that the Germans launched on Russia in June 1941. This attack was a complete surprise to Russia becasue of the non aggression pact that they had singed with Germany. Germany had a 2000 mile long front and Blitzkrieg tactics that took the Red Army by surprise. Russian peasants began scorched earth policy which is the militaty act of burning all crops and shelters. Leningrad was besieged, captured Kiev and reached the Crimea on the outskirts of Moscow. The cold winter weather finally haled Germany, but by this time almost 2 million Red Army troops had already been taken prisoner.