The Eastern Front
- 1. The Eastern Front 1941-1945 War in the Soviet Bloc
- 2. Background Aug 23, 1939- Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact was signed. A Military Alliance was signed, lasting for ten years. Two Agreements: 1.) Economic Cooperation- Hitler agreed to give Stalin 200 million marks in exchange for raw materials- petroleum, grain, cotton, iron. 2.) Secret Protocol- Nazi Germany and Communist Russia agreed not to fight each other. They also decided to annex territories between their borders.
- 4. Invasion of Poland Sept 1, 1939- Germany invades Poland, beginning World War II. Sept 17, 1939- Soviet Union invades Poland from the East, as planned in the secret protocol. Oct 6, 1939- German and Soviet forces occupies the entirety of Poland. The Polish government never surrendered.
- 5. German Blitzkrieg German Bf 110 Bomber German Stuka Dive-Bomber German Air Force (Luftwaffe) German Armored Division Panzer IV Panzer III
- 6. Strength Comparison Germany : 56 divisions 4 brigades 10,000 guns 2,700 tanks 1,300 aircraft Total: 1,800,000 Casualties 16,343 dead 27,280 wounded 320 missing Poland: 39 divisions 16 brigades 4,300 guns 880 tanks 400 aircraft Total: 950,000 Casualties 66,000 dead 133,700 wounded 694,000 captured
- 7. Three Reasons for Polish Defeat 1.) Polish forces mobilized too late. The Polish leadership hesitated in making a military decision. Many tanks were unable to fire their first shots. The majority of the Polish Air Force was destroyed before they took off. 2.) Polish defenses were spread too thin along the 800 mile front. The German attack came from the North, South and West. 3.) Britain and France failed to come to the aid of Poland.
- 9. June 22, 1941 The Largest Full Scale Land Invasion… Ever.
- 11. Operation Barbarossa Hitler wanted to conquer the Soviet Union for Lebensraum, or living space for the Aryan People. He viewed the Russians (Slavs) as inferior untermenschen (subhuman). June 1941 Hitler ignores the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact and invades the Soviet Union. The Wehrmacht attacked with 188 divisions, 3,300 tanks, 2,700 aircrafts, 7,000 artillery, 600,000 vehicles, 650,000 horses, and 100,000 wagons. (3.3 Million Men)
- 12. Battle Plan This massive force was divided into three army groups: North, Center, South. Army Group North- Attack from the North, targeting the city of Leningrad. Army Group Center- Penetrate central Soviet territory and encircle Moscow. Army Group South- Capture the oil fields located in the Crimean Peninsula. Employ the Double Encirclement Strategy.
- 14. Soviet Reaction Stalin had ample evidence of a German Invasion. Late mobilization results in heavy casualties on the Soviet side. Stalin decreed executive order no. 227, which asked for all political officers to shoot deserters of battle; “Not a Step Back” was the slogan. The Soviets managed to relocate their industrial heartland to Eastern Russia.
- 15. Germany’s Initial Success To the North, Army Group A reached Leningrad, and began a 900 day siege on the city. By Oct 1941, Army Group Center was 40 miles away from Moscow. Army Group South was 60 miles away from the oil fields, until Hitler changed his mind and ordered the attack on Stalingrad.
- 16. Military Showcase German Panzer IV Soviet T-34 Germany Panzer V Soviet Yak Fighters
- 17. Battle of Moscow Oct 1941 – Jan 1942 Hitler’s assumption: When Moscow falls, the Soviet Union falls. German forces had reached the outskirts of Moscow by Oct 1941. Dec 1941, Soviet began counter offensives. Soviet continued to pour fresh reserves into the battlefield. At one point, the Red Army fielded over 250 divisions on the Eastern Front. German forces were pushed back by Soviet resistance.
- 18. At the outskirts of Moscow
- 19. Battle of Stalingrad Aug 21, 1942 – Feb 2, 1943 Rattinkrieg (Rat War) Urban Warfare fought within the city of Stalingrad. The German war machine bogged down in the city. 90% of Stalingrad’s surface was destroyed. German supply line was eventual cut off. Soviets deployed the double encirclement strategy and destroyed the German army. Soviets suffered 1.1 million casualties in this battle alone, more than the total casualties suffered by the United States in the entire war. A psychological turning point, as morale in the German army was diminishing.
- 20. Battle of Kursk July 3- Aug 23, 1943 Largest Tank Battle to date. Germans had 2,700 tanks, 800,000 infantry and 2,000 aircrafts. Soviets had 3,300 tanks, 1.5 million men, and 2,400 aircrafts. Soviet split German army into two and inflicted massive casualties. Result: Marks the last intiative launched by Germany. Soviet victory even though the Russians suffered more casualties.
- 22. Factors in German Defeat Corporal Hitler- Hitler made poor decisions during the invasion. General Mud and General Winter German supply line stretched thin. The Soviet Union possessed unlimited manpower. German military leaders were overconfident. Allied intelligence was superior. Allied bombing campaign was successful in reducing Germany’s production efficiency.
- 23. The Eastern Front 1943-1945 Soviet forces gradually pushed the German Army back to Berlin. Throughout the war, Hitler dedicated 80% of Germany’s military power on the Eastern Front. Soviet Union suffered the most casualties out of the Allied powers, totally to about 6 million people.