A massive German army of 3.3 million men supported by over 3000
tanks and almost as many aircraft invaded the Soviet Union on 22 June
1941. The huge invasion force was to capture Moscow, the Ukraine
and Leningrad in short order
The largest military operation of all time, codenamed Barbarossa (Red Beard) was under way.
It would see the German achieve its most spectacular victories. It did not lead to ultimate victory, however, and the Red Army would storm Belin four years later.
Hitler had placed the greatest emphasis in his plans for the capture of Leningrad- the USSR second city and primary naval base - and the clearing of the Baltic States. Yet he had allocated the least number of troops, some 26 divisions to Army Group North under Marshal. As a consequence, advance was slow and it was not until his exhausted troops managed to cut off Leningrad from the rest of the USSR. And instead of a swift capture of the great city, a long and ultimately fatal siege ensued.
UKRAINIAN VICTORIES, ROSTOV SETBACK
Were entrusted with the vital task of taking the Ukraine. With its abundant grain fields and the industrial might of the Donbass region, it was a prize that was much needed. Unfortunately for Rundstedt, however, the southwestern Front, the strongest of the Soviet army groups, offered fierce resistance, led ably by its commander General Mikhail Kirponos. As a result, Army Group South was able to advance only slowly and deliberately. Nevertheless, the panzer forces of Army Group center intervened, converging on 10 September with those of Rundstedt's panzers east of Kiev. Three massive Soviet armies were now trapped in and around Kiev. Kirponos died trying to escape the German trap and a staggering of his men were captured. On 30 September, the 1st Panzer Group attacked and had, by 6 October, trapped much of the Soviet Southern Front in a large pocket in southeast Ukraine. Two armies were destroyed, yielding prisoners. The German advance continued towards rostov on the Don river, which was captured on 20 November, However, the Soviet High Command launched a vigorous counterattack with three armies against the by nopw over extended German lines. By 29 November, this strategically located city was back in Soviet hands and the Germans had narrowly escaped an early version of Stalingrad.
It would see the German achieve its most spectacular victories. It did not lead to ultimate victory, however, and the Red Army would storm Belin four years later.
Hitler had placed the greatest emphasis in his plans for the capture of Leningrad- the USSR second city and primary naval base - and the clearing of the Baltic States. Yet he had allocated the least number of troops, some 26 divisions to Army Group North under Marshal. As a consequence, advance was slow and it was not until his exhausted troops managed to cut off Leningrad from the rest of the USSR. And instead of a swift capture of the great city, a long and ultimately fatal siege ensued.
Were entrusted with the vital task of taking the Ukraine. With its abundant grain fields and the industrial might of the Donbass region, it was a prize that was much needed. Unfortunately for Rundstedt, however, the southwestern Front, the strongest of the Soviet army groups, offered fierce resistance, led ably by its commander General Mikhail Kirponos. As a result, Army Group South was able to advance only slowly and deliberately. Nevertheless, the panzer forces of Army Group center intervened, converging on 10 September with those of Rundstedt's panzers east of Kiev. Three massive Soviet armies were now trapped in and around Kiev. Kirponos died trying to escape the German trap and a staggering of his men were captured. On 30 September, the 1st Panzer Group attacked and had, by 6 October, trapped much of the Soviet Southern Front in a large pocket in southeast Ukraine. Two armies were destroyed, yielding prisoners. The German advance continued towards rostov on the Don river, which was captured on 20 November, However, the Soviet High Command launched a vigorous counterattack with three armies against the by nopw over extended German lines. By 29 November, this strategically located city was back in Soviet hands and the Germans had narrowly escaped an early version of Stalingrad.
THE BATTLE FOR MOSCOW
On 9 October, Hoth and Hoeppner linked up with Guardian's panzer forces, trapping the Third, Thirteenth and Fiftieth Soviet armies north and south of Bryansk. Leaving only a minimum of troops to seal up the pockets. The army Group's panzer groups aimed for Mozhaiska and Tula. These pockets were eliminated by 14 and 20 October respectively, leaving eight armies destroyed. The yield was as massive at Kiev - some prisoners, more than 1000 tanks and 5000 guns. Despite torrential rains that turned the roads into quagmires, the Germans had covered two-thirds of the distance to Moscow by the middle of the month. Finally, Soviet morale snapped. Law and order collapsed in the capital, a million of its citizens fleeing for their lives in the 'Great Flight'. Only a policy of shooting to kill by the Soviet Secret Police stemmed the panic and prevented further looting and chaos. In early November, the weather turned colder, enabling the Germans to advance again across frozen and hard roads. But it was soon too cold with temperatures and a new commander had appeared on the Soviet side, General Georgi Zhukov, who had already saved Leningrad and was now planning a counterattack against the exhausted Germans. The German plan was for a frontal assault with three panzer groups encircled the Soviet defenders around Moscow. The attack took the Germans completely by surprise, and over the next two months the Red Army Groups Center from a complete collapse.
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