Operation Barbarossa, Battle of Stalingrad, Siege of Leningrad and

Battle of El-Alamein

Daniel MacRae, Joe Cormier, Connor Owens and Santtu Sibakov

Operation Barbarossa was named after the Holy Roman emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Originally named operation Fritz was Nazi Germany’s invasion of Russia. On June 22, 1941 the largest military attack of World War two started.

German Army had 150 divisions containing 3 million men, 3000 tanks, 7000 artillery pieces and 2500 aircraft.

Axis and Soviet air operations during Operation Barbarossa took place over a six-month period, 22 June – December, 1941. Aviation played a critical role in the fighting on the Eastern Front during this period, in the battles to gain and maintain air superiority or air supremacy, to offer close air support to armies on battlefield, interdicting enemy supply lines, while supplying friendly forces.

Germany had advanced 400 miles into Russian territory and were 200 miles from Moscow. Hitler and his generals argued as Hitler wanted to head southeastward and the Oberkommando des Heeres (OKH) wanted to keep Moscow as their primary target. They eventually had a minor swing northeastward to Leningrad to converge with Leeb’s army.

As winter approached Hitler stopped Leeb’s northward drive towards Leningrad. Rundstedt and Kleist pressed on from Dnieper to head for Don and Caucasus. Bock was to resume his advance to Moscow on october 2, 1941. Bock’s prospects looked bright with the encirclement of Vyazma where 600,000 soviets were captured.

The Russians produced a total of 200 new divisions. The last phase of the battle were fought in sub-zero temperatures. German soldiers suffered from frostbites and paralysis. The Germans suffered some 730,000 casualties.

South of Kelerso the Germans reached Rostov-na-Donu which was their gateway to Caucasus. The Russians counter recapture Rostov on November 28 and four days later Hitler relieved Rundstedt of command.

Summary - Operation Barbarossa was a military operation by Germany occurring between June and December of 1941 with the goal being to defeat and take control of Russia in one swift strike. Hitler doubted Russia’s strength so much that he felt no need to coordinate with his Japanese allies, believing the operation would be completed in under 3 months. Stalin refused to accept the fact that Hitler would attack after signing a treaty which led to Russia having poor defenses to take the brunt of Germany’s initial offensive. Russia eventually managed to turn things around after sending in reinforcements and a larger military force. Germany put roughly 75% of their military forces into the operation. After committing over 3 million men, the largest invasion force in history, Germany’s failure to take control of Russia led to the allies gaining a stable advantage until the end of World War 2.

Siege of LeningradThe Siege of Leningrad is also known as the 900-day siege because it lasted from September 8th, 1942

to January 27th, 1944. The German army surrounded the city Leningrad in order to siege it. They cut

off all supply lines into the city, causing the city’s inhabitants to suffer. Most inhabitants were still able

to survive because of food rations and new gardens.

The Soviets began weakening the German forces in 1943

allowing for supplies to enter the city. At the beginning

of 1944, they drove the German forces away and

ended the siege.

Siege of Leningrad Map and TimelineSeptember 8th, 1942 - The Germans begin the

siege by attacking Leningrad

Early 1943 - The Red Army makes a significant

counterattack, weakening the German’s formation

January 27th, 1944 - The Soviets defeat the

German Forces and send away the attackers

1975 - A monument in memory of the event was

created

Battle of StalingradFrom the 1942 to 1943 the Soviets defended Stalingrad from the Germans. The Soviets were

successful and their victory turned the war in favour of the Allied Powers. The Soviets took advantage

of their industry caused by the Five-Year Plans in

order to possibly help them win the battle.

Germany wanted control of Stalingrad because it

was a very industrial city which created

weapons for the war. Slightly before his forces

reached Stalingrad, Hitler split his forces in order

to also attack Caucasus.

Battle of Stalingrad ContOperation Uranus was the Soviet plan that turned the tides of the battle by sending two spearheads to

the Germans. The Germans surrendered when they were outnumbered and were starving in the

Russian winter. Eight million Germans died while

One Million One Hundred Thousand of the Red Army

died.

Fun Fact! The citizens of Stalingrad were still in the

city during the battle.

Battle of Stalingrad Map and TimelineJuly 9, 1942 - Hitler divides his forces to attack

Caucasus

July 17, 1942 - The Germans began the battle by

attacking Stalingrad

November 19, 1942 - Operation Uranus turns the

battle in favor of the Soviets

February 2, 1943 - The Germans surrendered,

causing the Soviets to win the battle

Battle of El-AlameinIn Egypt

2 battles

● First battle was a stalemate (1-27 July, 1942)● Second battle (23 Oct. 1942- 11 Nov. 1942)

Western Desert Campaign

● Began Sept. 1940 ● Ended 1943 - Allied Victory

Phase 1: The Break-inAllies attack the Axis line

9:40PM, 23rd October 1942

● Began with heavy shelling across the line (40 mi)● Switched to precision targets for the infantry● 882 guns fired 529,00 shells in 5½ hours● Operation lightfoot● Infantry attacked first● Engineers cleared a 24ft wide path, 5 miles long● 6 hours later lead tanks were in minefields

Phase 2: The Crumbling● Oct 24 - 25● British attack came to a halt● At dawn aerial reconnaissance showed little change in Axis disposition, so

Montgomery gave his orders for the day: the clearance of the northern corridor should be completed and a smaller unit should push south.

● The morning of Saturday 24 October brought disaster for the German headquarters. The German commander went forward himself to observe the state of affairs and finding himself under fire, suffered a heart attack and died.

● Both sides tried to push forward but didn’t get far● Both sides began bombing raids to some success

Phase 3: The Counter26 Oct. - 1 Nov.

Back and forth between the Allies and Axis

Rommel returned 25th October, German forces suffered many casualties

Back and forth between both sides

British sunk 2 German oil tankers

Bombing raids continued

Both sides redeploy Axis fail to push forward Allies push back

Rommel redeploys

Operation supercharge beginsAustralians fail to break through

Phase 4: Operation Supercharge2 Nov - 3 Nov

Allies wanted destroy enemy armour

Started 2ith a 7 hour aerial bombardment

Same as Lightfoot, infantry then anti mine then tanks

Operation Supercharge begins Axis forces begin to retreat

Phase 5: The Break-out4 Nov - 11 Nov

Axis forces greatly weakened, losing the battle, exhausted and short on supplies, they decided to retreat

● 2 Nov. Rommel tells Hitler that the Axis forces need to withdraw, or face destruction

● Axis forces begin partial retreat, with some corps holding positions● Heavy Allied bombing on Axis forces● Allies were tired and short on resources, but attacked and chased the

retreating forces● 11 Nov many Axis forces captured or killed, the pursuit cleared the Egyptian

border

Axis retreat halted Allied forces break through, 3 Italian divisions destroyed, Axis forces flee

Battle of El Alamein Aftermath● Decisive Allied victory● about 50 thousand casualties in total● From a psychological perspective, Second El Alamein revived the morale of

the Allies, being the first major offensive against the Axis since the start of the European war in 1939

● "Before Alamein we never had a victory. After Alamein we never had a defeat."

○ Winston Churchill.

● Allies push through Africa○ Western Desert Campaign

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John Merriman and Jay Winter. Vol. 4. Detroit: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2006. Gale

Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 Mar. 2016.

"Joseph Stalin." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2016. Web. 9 Mar. 2016.

"Battle of Stalingrad." Britannica School.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2016. Web. 31 Mar. 2016.

"Siege of Leningrad." Britannica School.Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2016. Web. 1 Apr. 2016.

Royde-Smith, John Graham. "Operation Barbarossa." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.

Van Hartesveldt, Fred R., and Tucker, Spencer C. "Battle of El Alamein: World War II." World at

War: Understanding Conflict and Society. ABC-CLIO, 2016. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

Royde-Smith, John Graham. "Operation Barbarossa." Encyclopedia Britannica Online.

Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.