Transcript 15: WW II : 1941: The Axis Advances

Lesson 15
WW II – The Axis Advances
Lesson Objectives
• Describe and analyze the German decision process to
attack the Soviet Union in June 1941.
• Describe and analyze the operational and logistic
implications of Operation Barbarossa.
• Understand and be able to discuss the impact of total war
within the Soviet Union.
• Understand how the initial successes of the German
invasion of the USSR turned into such a total disaster.
• Be able to describe the magnitude of the Soviet-German
War and its impact on the outcome of World War II.
Review
Battle of Britain
Operation Sealion
September 17, 1940
Operation Sealion postponed indefinitely
Unable to gain air superiority
Approach of winter
Germany Turns East
The Battle for Russia
Hitler Turns East
Background
Germany, USSR signed nonaggression pact (August 23, 1939)
After German defeat of Poland, Germany and USSR divided Poland
USSR invaded Finland November 30, 1939 (“The Winter War”)
• 250,000 Finnish troops vs. 1,000,000 Soviets
• British, French considered support via Norway and Sweden
• By March 1940: 26,000 Finnish dead vs. 126,000 Soviets
• Soviet military weakness from 1930’s purges noted by
Hitler
In July 1940 Hitler told his generals to prepare for war with USSR within a year
Operation Barbarossa
German Invasion of the Soviet Union
Hitler’s Rationale
Hitler regarded the Soviet Union and Bolshevism as the
greatest threat to Germany
He felt that the weakness of the Red Army created
the best possible opportunity to eliminate this threat
• Rejected (or ignored) the possibility of two-front war
Hitler’s Rationale
( 0:14 – 1:30 )
"The Circle of Modern War" and logo
© Thomas D. Pilsch 2007-2013
Conquered Nation Support
Overview
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Retreat From Moscow
"I have no army any more! For many days I have been
marching in the midst of a mob of disbanded, disorganized
men, who wander all over the countryside in search of food."
Napoleon Bonaparte, 1812
In 1812
Illarion Pryanishnikov
•
Why Do We Study War?
History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes.
Attributed to Samuel Clements (1835-1910)
The Impact of Logistics on War
Go To
Logistics Case Study
The Russian Campaign of 1812
Russian Campaign
1812
Why did Napoleon attack Russia?
Strategic Objectives
"I have come to finish off, once and for all, the Colossus of
Northern Barbarism. The sword is drawn. They must be thrust
back into their snow and ice, so that for a quarter of a century at
least they will not be able to interfere with civilied [sic] Europe."
Napoleon I
June 1812
With Napoleon in Russia: The Memoirs of General de Caulaincourt, Duke of Vicenza (From the
original memoirs as edited by Jean Hanoteau. Abridged, edited, and with an introduction by George
Libaire) (1935 William Morrow & Co. New York).
Quoted in:
Richard Orsinger
“France During the French Revolution and Under Napoleon Bonaparte”
http://www.txdirect.net/users/rrichard/napoleo1.htm
Napoleon Enters Russia
On 12th June, 1812, the forces of western Europe crossed the frontiers of
Russia and war began. In other words, an event took place that was
contrary to all human reason and human nature.
Narration
War and Peace (movie, 1967)
Napoleon Enters Russia
On 12th June, 1812, the forces of western Europe crossed the frontiers of
Russia and war began. In other words, an event took place that was
contrary to all human reason and human nature.
Narration
Excerpt
War and Peace (movie, 1967)


Konigsberg to Moscow ~ 680 miles (~ 1,100 Km)
The
RussianGraphic
Campaign
Minard’s
Charles Joseph Minard
"It may well be the best statistical graphic ever drawn.“
Edward Tufte, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, 1983
Operation Barbarossa
June 22, 1941
Barbarossa - Background
( 1:30 – 10:01)
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© Thomas D. Pilsch 2007-2013
Germany Planning Factors
Initial Germany Plan
German Plan
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Orders of Battle
Germany
USSR
3.8 million personnel
2.7–2.9 million personnel
4,300 tanks
15,000–25,000 tanks
4,389 aircraft
35,000–40,000 aircraft
7,200 artillery pieces
(11,357 combat 22 June 1941)
Operation Barbarossa
Note conquered nation participation
Operation Barbarossa
Operation
Siege of Barbarossa
Leningrad
September 1941 - January 1944
872 days
Soviet Dead: Red Army: 330,000+
Civilian: 1,000,000+
Siege
BattleofofLeningrad
Moscow
October 1941 - January 1942
Germans: 1,000,000 men, 1,700 tanks
Soviets: 1,250,000 men, 1,000 tanks
Battle
ofof
Stalingrad
Battle
Moscow
August 1942 - February 1943
Hitler’s Strategic Dilemma
( 16:15 – 24:00 )
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Battle of Stalingrad
Situation, November 1942
Battle of Stalingrad
November 1942 - February 1943
Battle of Stalingrad - Overview
( 0:45 – 4:05 )
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Battle of Stalingrad
August 1942 - February 1943
Fatal Distraction?
German Grand Strategy
German Grand Strategy
The Grand Strategy for Oil
( 19:34 – 24:15 )
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Battle of Kursk
July - August 1943
Eastern Front
December 1944
German-Soviet War
Until June 1944
• Soviet Union bore main thrust of German army
• Stalin pressed for Second Front
Soviet Losses
Soviet Losses
Significance
The Soviet war effort was so overwhelming that
impartial historians of the future are unlikely to rate
the British and American contribution to the European
theatre as much more than a sound supporting role.
Norman Davies
Europe at War, 1939-1945
Quoted by Benjamin Schwarz
“Stalin's Gift”
The Atlantic, May 2007
Summary
Operation Barbarossa
German Invasion of the Soviet Union
The classic example of the cost of
not learning the lessons of history
Japan Moves to War
Next:
Lesson 16
WW II: America Enters the War
Lesson Objectives
• Understand the Japanese and American strategies for
the war in the Pacific and Asia.
• Analyze the impact of the military revolution during
the interwar years on the war in the Pacific theater.
• Become familiar with the timeline of events in the
Pacific war.
• Understand the significance of the Battle of Midway
and the role of signals intelligence in the outcome.
End