Operation Barbarossa

• GR suddenly broke the terms of Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact
• Invaded USSR on 22 June 1941
• Soviets formed military alliance with BR on 12 Jul 1941
  • Soviets unprepared for GR invasion
  • GR Blitzkrieg tactics were unstoppable at first
• However, USSR gained the upper hand
  • USSR shifted factories to central and eastern Russia, beyond GR's reach
    • All resources devoted to military production
  • Tactical errors on GR side
    • Hitler ordered Germans to fight on instead of retreating
    • Did not listen to more experienced generals
      • Dismissed those who did not agree with him
    • Monopolised control of the army
  • Russian winters
    • GR troops had severe shortage of winter supplies
    • Could not beat the Soviet troops who were specially trained for winter
  • Received help from US Lend-Lease aid

References

https://www.britannica.com/event/Operation-Barbarossa