HIST 3121-03
Final Paper
In June 1941 Nazi attack on Soviet Union started, and to due economic turmoil and Stalin’s reign of terror, Soviet Union forces were weak and were unable to oppose a surprised German invasion, therefore Germany was had early success which hurt Soviet forces even more. However Soviet Union was able to keep fighting, and result successful after 1943. Factors that have contributed to the success of the Soviet Union was an astonishing recovery of the Soviet Army, opening of the second front, and Germany’s biggest mistake Battle of Stalingrad which was a major tide turner in Russia, and finally one of the worst winter Russia has experienced in history.
In June 1941 when Nazi forces where invading Soviet Union, …show more content…
Stalingrad was the industrial center of the Volga River therefore in 1943, Germanys tried to break the back of the Soviet industry, which resulted in a Battle of Stalingrad one of the most destructive battle in history (WWII). Soviet forces were outnumbered but still fought back with everything they had, Paul Bottcher, one of the member of the 24th Panzer Division described Russians:” The Russians that defended the city were brave, dogged and tough. We had heave losses in men and equipment. The Russians had half-finished tanks, which they dug into the ground to fire at us. They fought us to the last man.” Russia was fighting with everything they had and with winter approaching, the Sixth Army’s parent formation was overstretched, and the troop shortage was due to Hitler’s policy of capturing Caucasus oil field and Stalingrad (McTaggar, P). Battle of Stalingrad is considered to be a battle of two man’s pride, on one side Stalin insisted that the city that bore his name should not fall, while on the other side Hitler was mesmerized with the idea of taking Stalin’s city that he kept hammering away despite heavy casualties (Lyons pg. 177). Both sides have suffered heavy losses, but Soviet Union was in a better position to replace due to their great manpower reserves, Soviet leaders have enlisted a vast number of man after the invasion therefore by 1942 they had numerous