Operation Barbarossa

Operation Barbarossa (Unternehmen Barbarossa) was the German codename for Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that commenced on June 22, 1941. It was to be the turning point for the fortunes of Hitler's Third Reich in that the failure of Operation Barbarossa arguably resulted in the eventual overall defeat of Nazi Germany. The Eastern Front which was opened by Operation Barbarossa would become the biggest theatre of war in World War II, with some of the largest and most brutal battles, terrible loss of life, and miserable conditions for Soviets and Germans alike. The operation was named after the emperor Frederick Barbarossa of the Holy Roman Empire.

Outcome

The climax of Operation Barbarossa came when Army Group Centre, already short in supplies because of the mud in October, was ordered to advance to Moscow; forward units came within sight of the spires of the Kremlin in early December 1941. It was as close as they would ever get, for Stalin's troops, well supplied, defended Moscow ferociously in the Battle of Moscow, and drove the Germans back into the frozen wastes of Russia as the winter advanced. Not surprisingly, the bulk of the counter-offensive was directed at Army Group Center, which was closest to Moscow. Moscow later also received the honorary distinction of Hero City.

Related Topics:
Army Group Centre - The Kremlin - Battle of Moscow - Hero City

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With no shelter, few supplies, little winter clothing, chronic food shortages, and nowhere to go, German troops had no choice but to wait out the winter in the frozen wasteland. The Germans managed to avoid being routed by Soviet counterattacks but suffered heavy casualties from battle and from exposure—Operation Barbarossa had failed. In December 1941 war had been declared against the USA. Within six months the strategic position of Germany had become desperate, since German military industries were unprepared for a long war.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The war on the Eastern Front went on for four bloody years. The death toll may never be established with any degree of reasonable certainty. Estimates of Soviet military deaths alone vary from roughly 8.5 million to as much as 15 million. Soviet civilian deaths remain under contention, though roughly 20 million is a frequently cited figure. German military deaths are also unclarified to a large extent. The highest and most recent estimate (Rüdiger Overmans) concluded that more than 3 million German servicemen lost their lives fighting against the Red Army, or in Soviet captivity. Stalin deported to labour camps Soviet soldiers who had surrendered, German POWs, and entire nations suspected of collaboration. The horrible losses in the Eastern Front were perhaps a major cause of the Cold War, as the war-ravaged Soviet Union kept tight control over much of Central and Eastern Europe, partly to discourage new potential invasions from the West.

Related Topics:
Eastern Front - Cold War

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~