Hitler's Invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941

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Hitler's Invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941

I think that Hitler had always planned to attack Russia, even as he

agreed to the signing of a non aggression pact with Russia, his plans

to invade were beginning to come together as the pact split up Poland,

enabling Germany to have a border with Russia. The pact was signed by

Ribentrop from Germany and Molotov from Russia This was vital as

German tactics relied on fast, effective and surprise attacks known as

blitzkrieg; with Poland standing between Germany and Russia, in the

time that it would take the German army to advance Poland and reached

Russia, the Russian army would be aware and ready for battle; the

element of surprise would be gone and Germany would be at a

disadvantage. Also using blitzkrieg tactics would enable them to

destroy the Russian air force while it was on the ground

Hitler had stated in his book 'Mein Kampf' that he very much-disliked

communism, he thought of the Russian people as inferior, this however

would be one of the contributing reasons for the downfall of Germany,

Hitler would underestimate the Russian people thinking they were

inferior.

He also stated that he would give the German people 'Lebensraum'

(living space) and that living space would be in the east, this almost

definitely meant Russia.

By June 1941 the German army had defeated an occupied France and

pushed the British army back to it's homeland, the German army's

morale was brilliant, they saw the German army as almost invincible.

Also, the army was well equipped, with good quality equipment that was

not available to other armies, such as their 88mm anti-tank and

anti-aircraft gun. They had superior training and leadership and a

very powerful and efficient air force.

Russia holds terrible weather conditions; in the summer temperatures

are uncomfortably high, through autumn the temperatures begin to

decrease, and rains and snow begins to fall. When winter hits the land

is frozen solid to the extremely low temperatures, in the spring the

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