Kissinger CH: 14

Essential Question: What limited Nazi success during Operation Barbarossa?

Operation Barbarossa

August 23, 1939 Hitler and Stalin sign Nazi-Soviet Pact.Stalin’s Consolidation of power

Lithuania TradeMilitary alliances with Baltic StatesRusso-Finish War November 1939-March 1940

Allied Response

May 1940 Hitler invades France.Blitzkrieg causes France to fall faster than

expected in 1940.From summer of 1940-May of 1941 Battle for

Britain

Nazi-Soviet Pact

Hitler turns to the USSRHitler offer to Stalin the opportunity to help

defeat Great Britain. Stalin knew that once Britain was defeated

Hitler would attack the USSR.Stalin attempts to continue to prepare the USSR

for war. Increase in tensions between Germany and the

USSRGerman invasion of Romania Aug. 1940 which

Stalin believed to be in the USSR sphere. Finland in Aug. 1940 allowed German troops to

pass though. Tripartite Pact Sep. 1940 stated that any country

that joined Britain the others would declare war on that country.

Hitler’s Diplomacy

October 1940Ribbentrop’s letter to Stalin claiming rise in tensions

was a misunderstandingOffers a meeting, Stalin accepts and sends Molotov to

Germany

November 10, 1940Molotov meets with Ribbentrop

Ribbentrop’s offers the USSR to join the Tripartite PactSays that at the end of the war they would divide the world

USSR would gain access to the sea Italy would gain North Africa Japan would gain Southeast Asia Germany would reclaim former African colonies

Molotov was not satisfied

Nazi-Soviet Relations

November 25th MemorandumMolotov sent Ribbentrop Stalin’s conditions to

join the Tripartite PactGermany would withdraw from FinlandBulgaria would need to join the USSR in an allianceGermany would not intervene if the USSR

expanded in the Balkans. USSR’s warm water port would be in the Persian

GulfJapan would have to give up mineral rights in

Sakhalin Island

Nazi-Soviet Relations

Stalin assumptions about Hitler Offer of Tripartite meant Hitler would wait.Avoid a two front war.

Japanese-Soviet non-aggression pact 1941Soviet Union will not have to worry about

eastern boarder.Japan could focus on the South Pacific

Nazi-Soviet Relations

The Balkan countries were key to attacking the USSR.

Hitler wanted to build bases in southeastern Europe and wanted to make sure the British would not interfere.

Hitler invaded Yugoslavia and Greece April 1941.

Yugoslavia fell in 11 days. Greece surrendered in 17 days.

Operation BarbarossaHitler’s plan to invade the Soviet Union was

called Operation Barbarossa. Early Sunday morning, June 22, 1941, Hitler

began the blitzkrieg invasion of the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union was not prepared.

Operation BarbarossaThe Germans gained 500 miles inside the

Soviet Union. As the Russians retreated, they burned and

destroyed everything in the enemy’s path. What is this military strategy called? When did the Russians use this strategy

before? Scorched Earth policy – used successfully against

Napoleon

Operation BarbarossaBy September 8, Germans had surrounded

Leningrad and isolated the city. German bombs destroyed warehouses where

food was stored. Desperately hungry, people began eating

cattle and horse feed, cats, dogs, crows, and rats.

1 million people starved to death, but Leningrad did not surrender.

Operation BarbarossaHitler moved on to Moscow, the capital of the

Soviet Union, on October 2. By December, the Nazis advanced on the

outskirts of Moscow. Soviet General Georgi Zhukov

counterattacked.

Operation BarbarossaAs temperatures fell, the Germans in

summer uniforms, retreated. Their fuel and oil froze. Tanks, trucks and weapons became

useless. Hitler ordered the troops, “No Retreat!”The Germans held the line against the

Soviets about 125 miles west of the capital.

It cost 500,000 German lives.