The End of Barbarossa

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The End of BarbarossaThe Battle of Moscow

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+Six weeks had come and gone

Despite initial success, the German army did not defeat the Soviets in six weeks

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In 2 months

1,000,000 prisoners, 700,000 Russians dead, 500 miles into Russia.

Hitler orders part of Army Group Center (converging on Moscow) north to Leningrad and south to the Ukraine.

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Ukrainians initially see Germans as liberators. SS + SD change their minds quickly.

+The last Dash for the Germans

Began on November 15, 1941

German Panzers used the frozen ground to their advantage

Established positions only 35 away from the Kremlin in Moscow

The army soon began to slow down though

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Siege of Leningrad

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September 8, 1942German army within 25 miles of Leningrad

Surrounded and bombed. No food, starvation: 11,000 Nov; 53,000 Dec; 500,000 all winter.

+Stories from the Siege

Astoria Hotel

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Major Lozak

+Story of the people

+Winter is cold in Russia…

German army not supplied with winter clothing

Wearing the summer uniform or denim overalls

Had to remove clothing and boots from civilians

Tammen, Sean. Weather on the Eastern Front During the Second World War. Research Essay, 2011

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Supply ProblemsHitler thought it better to send ammunition

On one occasion, clothing was found sitting in a train station in Warsaw

+Frostbite

Temperature was -63 F

On Christmas, 100,000 cases of frostbite

Amputations were common

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Froze their asses off

+Tank troubles

Roads had turned to canals of bottomless mud

Ice made steering difficult

No anti-freeze

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+More tank problemsEngines would not work in the cold

Cold air flowed through the tank, cold for men

Tanks had to use more fuel, strained the supply lines

+Infantry Problems

Arms frozen

Guns frozen

Everything frozen