Planning:
- Adolf Hitler, the leader of Nazi Germany, had long planned to invade the Soviet Union as part of his vision of creating a German-dominated empire in Europe and acquiring "living space" (Lebensraum) for the German people.
- German military planners meticulously prepared for the invasion. They anticipated a quick and decisive victory, expecting to defeat the Soviet Union within a few weeks or months.
Initial Success:
- The invasion began early in the morning of June 22, 1941, with German forces launching massive air and ground attacks along the vast Eastern Front.
- The initially unprepared Soviet military suffered heavy losses and was forced to retreat on several fronts. The Germans advanced rapidly, occupying vast territories of western Soviet Union including Ukraine, Belarus, and the Baltic states.
Resistance and Counterattacks:
- As the war continued, the Soviet military reorganized and began to offer stiffer resistance against the German offensive. Soviet soldiers and civilians alike showed immense courage and tenacity in defending their homeland.
- The infamous scorched-earth policy employed by the Soviets left devastated regions in their wake as they retreated to avoid leaving vital resources to the advancing German forces.
Stalingrad:
- One of the pivotal moments of the operation was the Battle of Stalingrad, which began in mid-July 1942.
- After initial successful advances, German forces found themselves besieged as the Soviets managed to encircle 6th Army at the strategic city of Stalingrad.
- Despite German attempts to break the encirclement, 6th Army was forced to surrender in early February 1943, in one of the most catastrophic defeats for the Germans in the entire war.
End of Operation Barbarossa:
- As Soviet counteroffensives gained momentum and turned the tide against the Germans, Operation Barbarossa effectively came to an end by early-to-mid 1943.
- Although the initial plan for a swift victory failed, Operation Barbarossa nevertheless marked a key chapter in World War II. It involved significant shifts in strategic initiatives between Germany and the Soviet Union, impacting the larger outcomes of the war.