The Eastern The Eastern FrontFront

1941-19451941-1945War in the Soviet BlocWar in the Soviet Bloc

BackgroundBackground Aug 23, 1939-Aug 23, 1939- Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression

Pact was signed. A Military Alliance was Pact was signed. A Military Alliance was signed, lasting for ten years.signed, lasting for ten years.

Two Agreements:Two Agreements:1.) Economic Cooperation- Hitler agreed to 1.) Economic Cooperation- Hitler agreed to

give Stalin 200 million marks in exchange for give Stalin 200 million marks in exchange for raw materials- petroleum, grain, cotton, iron.raw materials- petroleum, grain, cotton, iron.

2.) Secret Protocol- Nazi Germany and 2.) Secret Protocol- Nazi Germany and Communist Russia agreed not to fight each Communist Russia agreed not to fight each other. They also decided to annex territories other. They also decided to annex territories between their borders.between their borders.

The Game PlanThe Game Plan

Invasion of PolandInvasion of Poland

Sept 1, 1939-Sept 1, 1939- Germany invades Germany invades Poland, beginning World War II.Poland, beginning World War II.

Sept 17, 1939-Sept 17, 1939- Soviet Union Soviet Union invades Poland from the East, as invades Poland from the East, as planned in the secret protocol.planned in the secret protocol.

Oct 6, 1939-Oct 6, 1939- German and Soviet German and Soviet forces occupies the entirety of forces occupies the entirety of Poland. The Polish government Poland. The Polish government never surrendered. never surrendered.

German BlitzkriegGerman Blitzkrieg

German Bf 110 Bomber German Stuka Dive-Bomber

German Air Force (Luftwaffe)

German Armored Division

Panzer IV Panzer III

Strength ComparisonStrength Comparison GermanyGermany::

56 divisions56 divisions4 brigades4 brigades10,000 guns10,000 guns2,700 tanks2,700 tanks1,300 aircraft1,300 aircraftTotal: 1,800,000Total: 1,800,000

CasualtiesCasualties16,343 dead16,343 dead27,280 wounded27,280 wounded320 missing320 missing

Poland:Poland: 39 divisions39 divisions

16 brigades16 brigades4,300 guns4,300 guns880 tanks880 tanks400 aircraft400 aircraftTotal: 950,000Total: 950,000

CasualtiesCasualties66,000 dead66,000 dead133,700 wounded133,700 wounded694,000 captured 694,000 captured

Three Reasons for Polish Three Reasons for Polish DefeatDefeat

1.) Polish forces mobilized too late. The Polish 1.) Polish forces mobilized too late. The Polish leadership hesitated in making a military leadership hesitated in making a military decision. Many tanks were unable to fire decision. Many tanks were unable to fire their first shots. The majority of the Polish their first shots. The majority of the Polish Air Force was destroyed before they took Air Force was destroyed before they took off.off.

2.) Polish defenses were spread too thin along 2.) Polish defenses were spread too thin along the 800 mile front. The German attack came the 800 mile front. The German attack came from the North, South and West.from the North, South and West.

3.) Britain and France failed to come to the aid 3.) Britain and France failed to come to the aid of Poland.of Poland.

June 22, 1941June 22, 1941

The Largest Full Scale Land The Largest Full Scale Land Invasion… Ever.Invasion… Ever.

Operation Barbarossa Operation Barbarossa

Hitler wanted to conquer the Soviet Union for Hitler wanted to conquer the Soviet Union for Lebensraum, or living space for the Aryan Lebensraum, or living space for the Aryan People. He viewed the Russians (Slavs) as People. He viewed the Russians (Slavs) as inferior untermenschen (subhuman). inferior untermenschen (subhuman).

June 1941 June 1941 Hitler ignores the Nazi-Soviet Hitler ignores the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact and invades the Soviet Nonaggression Pact and invades the Soviet Union. Union.

The Wehrmacht attacked with 188 divisions, The Wehrmacht attacked with 188 divisions, 3,300 tanks, 2,700 aircrafts, 7,000 artillery, 3,300 tanks, 2,700 aircrafts, 7,000 artillery, 600,000 vehicles, 650,000 horses, and 600,000 vehicles, 650,000 horses, and 100,000 wagons. (3.3 Million Men) 100,000 wagons. (3.3 Million Men)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIqINNdqvCU4:30-8:00

Battle PlanBattle Plan This massive force was divided into three This massive force was divided into three

army groups: North, Center, South.army groups: North, Center, South.Army Group North- Attack from the North, Army Group North- Attack from the North,

targeting the city of Leningrad.targeting the city of Leningrad.Army Group Center- Penetrate central Army Group Center- Penetrate central

Soviet territory and encircle Moscow.Soviet territory and encircle Moscow.Army Group South- Capture the oil fields Army Group South- Capture the oil fields

located in the Crimean Peninsula. located in the Crimean Peninsula. Employ the Double Encirclement Employ the Double Encirclement

Strategy. Strategy.

Soviet ReactionSoviet Reaction

Stalin had ample evidence of a German Stalin had ample evidence of a German Invasion.Invasion.

Late mobilization results in heavy casualties Late mobilization results in heavy casualties on the Soviet side.on the Soviet side.

Stalin decreed executive order no. 227, which Stalin decreed executive order no. 227, which asked for all political officers to shoot asked for all political officers to shoot deserters of battle; “Not a Step Back” was the deserters of battle; “Not a Step Back” was the slogan.slogan.

The Soviets managed to relocate their The Soviets managed to relocate their industrial heartland to Eastern Russia.industrial heartland to Eastern Russia.

Germany’s Initial Germany’s Initial SuccessSuccess

To the North, Army Group A reached To the North, Army Group A reached Leningrad, and began a 900 day Leningrad, and began a 900 day siege on the city.siege on the city.

By Oct 1941, Army Group Center By Oct 1941, Army Group Center was 40 miles away from Moscow. was 40 miles away from Moscow.

Army Group South was 60 miles Army Group South was 60 miles away from the oil fields, until Hitler away from the oil fields, until Hitler changed his mind and ordered the changed his mind and ordered the attack on Stalingrad.attack on Stalingrad.

Military ShowcaseMilitary Showcase

German Panzer IV Soviet T-34

Germany Panzer VSoviet Yak

Fighters

Battle of LeningradBattle of LeningradDate?Date?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIqINNdqvCU15:28

Battle of MoscowBattle of MoscowOct 1941 – Jan 1942Oct 1941 – Jan 1942

Hitler’s assumption: When Moscow falls, the Hitler’s assumption: When Moscow falls, the Soviet Union falls. Soviet Union falls.

German forces had reached the outskirts of German forces had reached the outskirts of Moscow by Oct 1941.Moscow by Oct 1941.

Dec 1941, Soviet began counter offensives. Dec 1941, Soviet began counter offensives. Soviet continued to pour fresh reserves into Soviet continued to pour fresh reserves into the battlefield. At one point, the Red Army the battlefield. At one point, the Red Army fielded over 250 divisions on the Eastern fielded over 250 divisions on the Eastern Front.Front.

German forces were pushed back by Soviet German forces were pushed back by Soviet resistance. resistance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIqINNdqvCU16:54 then 19:50

At the outskirts of At the outskirts of MoscowMoscow

Battle of StalingradBattle of StalingradAug 21, 1942 – Feb 2, 1943Aug 21, 1942 – Feb 2, 1943

Rattinkrieg (Rat War) Urban Warfare fought Rattinkrieg (Rat War) Urban Warfare fought within the city of Stalingrad. within the city of Stalingrad.

The German war machine bogged down in the city.The German war machine bogged down in the city. 90% of Stalingrad’s surface was destroyed. 90% of Stalingrad’s surface was destroyed. German supply line was eventual cut off. German supply line was eventual cut off. Soviets deployed the double encirclement strategy Soviets deployed the double encirclement strategy

and destroyed the German army. and destroyed the German army. Soviets suffered 1.1 million casualties in this battle Soviets suffered 1.1 million casualties in this battle

alone, more than the total casualties suffered by alone, more than the total casualties suffered by the United States in the entire war.the United States in the entire war.

A psychological turning point, as morale in the A psychological turning point, as morale in the German army was diminishing. German army was diminishing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIqINNdqvCU28:48

Battle of KurskBattle of KurskJuly 3- Aug 23, 1943July 3- Aug 23, 1943

Largest Tank Battle to date.Largest Tank Battle to date. Germans had 2,700 tanks, 800,000 Germans had 2,700 tanks, 800,000

infantry and 2,000 aircrafts.infantry and 2,000 aircrafts. Soviets had 3,300 tanks, 1.5 million men, Soviets had 3,300 tanks, 1.5 million men,

and 2,400 aircrafts.and 2,400 aircrafts. Soviet split German army into two and Soviet split German army into two and

inflicted massive casualties. inflicted massive casualties. Result: Marks the last intiative launched Result: Marks the last intiative launched

by Germany. Soviet victory even though by Germany. Soviet victory even though the Russians suffered more casualties. the Russians suffered more casualties.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIqINNdqvCU42:04 or 43:50

Factors in German Factors in German DefeatDefeat

Corporal Hitler- Hitler made poor decisions Corporal Hitler- Hitler made poor decisions during the invasion.during the invasion.

General Mud and General WinterGeneral Mud and General Winter German supply line stretched thin.German supply line stretched thin. The Soviet Union possessed unlimited The Soviet Union possessed unlimited

manpower. manpower. German military leaders were overconfident.German military leaders were overconfident. Allied intelligence was superior.Allied intelligence was superior. Allied bombing campaign was successful in Allied bombing campaign was successful in

reducing Germany’s production efficiency.reducing Germany’s production efficiency.

The Eastern Front 1943-The Eastern Front 1943-19451945

Soviet forces gradually pushed the Soviet forces gradually pushed the German Army back to Berlin. German Army back to Berlin.

Throughout the war, Hitler Throughout the war, Hitler dedicated 80% of Germany’s military dedicated 80% of Germany’s military power on the Eastern Front.power on the Eastern Front.

Soviet Union suffered the most Soviet Union suffered the most casualties out of the Allied powers, casualties out of the Allied powers, totally to about 6 million people.totally to about 6 million people.