The German invasion of the USSR, which began on June 22, 1941, went down in history under the code name "Barbaros Plan". This military operation is still the largest in the history of mankind.
Preparation for war
Adolf Hitler from the very beginning considered the non-aggression pact signed between Germany and the Soviet Union to be only a temporary measure, delaying the start of a war between states. The German command prepared for the war in advance. As early as December 18, 1940, the German leadership signed Directive No. 21, better known as the “Barbaros Plan, ” a large-scale tactical operation to attack the USSR. From the moment this military plan came into force, he envisioned waging a war to destroy the Communists, as well as the Jews, who, according to the German fascists, constituted the "racial basis" of the hostile regime.
Gremenia attack on the USSR
June 22, 1941 Germany attacked the USSR. This happened less than two years after the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - a non-aggression pact between the countries. European powers and Soviet intelligence have repeatedly warned the ruling elite about building up Germany’s military capabilities at the borders. Ignoring these warnings, for one reason or another, led to an almost instantaneous invasion of the three millionth German army, as well as the half millionth army of the German allies. Thanks to such a tactical advantage and surprise, the Soviet army at the beginning of the war was demoralized, and almost cut off from supply.
Following the German army, which was moving at a tremendous pace deep into the territory of the Soviet Union, operational punitive detachments followed, which carried out operations to mass extermination of local residents.
German military success at the end of 1941
By the beginning of September 1941, German troops managed to approach Leningrad on the northern front, capture Smolensk on the central and Dnepropetrovsk on the southern front. By the end of the year, the Nazi army approached Moscow.
At this moment, the Germans began to quickly deplete. The command counted on the quick end of the war and the surrender of the USSR, so it did not equip its army with a winter military company. In addition, the troops advanced far deeper into the enemy state, thereby leaving their advanced units without supplies.
