Operation Barbarossa failed due to overconfidence, the Russian Winter, and Stalin’s actions. Hitler’s poorly planned operation led to the end of Germany’s expansion. The German-Soviet nonaggression pact, Hitlers desire for Lebensraum, and the unrealistic goals and timeframe were all things that led to Operation Barbarossa. The planning of the operation was full of shortfalls and overestimations, meaning the German army wasn 't properly prepared and were unable to successfully invade. The German war method of Blitzkrieg failed with help of the Russian Winter and poor preparation by Hitler’s officials. Stalin’s ‘Scorched Earth’ policy contributed to the failure by forcing the German army to be solely dependant on shipments from Germany, which
…show more content…
The German’s presumptuousness led to the planning having what Pointer (Singapore Armed Forces Journal) describes as, “no forethought, no proper planning to equip the armed forces with …. Winter clothing, ammunition and therefore they [the German army] faced a whole host of logistical problems” (Pointer, 2005). Hitler was certain that Operation Barbarossa would be victorious within months, before Winter set in. Consequently, it was surmised the German army could be self sufficient, living off of the land, yet the Russian scorched earth policy undermined this. Respected website ‘history.co.uk’ notes that their quick success invading France supported the overconfidence in planning, as did “widely believed reports that the Soviet forces were weak an deficient,” (A+E Networks, 2009), which Hitler himself was recorded remarking, in Albert Speel’s book ‘Inside the Third Reich’, “We only have to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure [of the Soviet Union] will come crashing down.” (A+E Networks, 2009). At the core of preparation for the operation was the lack of full war production. Large factories were working on single shifts, with severe underutilisation of facilities. Consequently, production frequently lagged behind consumption. This was especially detrimental to Operation Barbarossa because of the Blitzkrieg method of warfare, which was so heavily dependant on machinery. …show more content…
Winter in Russia is harsh, and with temperatures dropped below negative 40° Celsius, it’s no surprise that, as mentioned in ‘The Eastern Front’, “Just as ‘General Winter’ had defeated Napoleon and the French army in 1812, it defeated the Germans in the same way 129 years later” (Simons, 2009, pg. 21). If the Hitler had not invaded in Winter, it most likely would have been a successful operation, they were more technologically advanced than the Russians, but the Russians had Winter on their side. During the Winter, German engines wouldn 't start, weapons froze and soldiers got frostbite all because of weak preparation. Due to the poor planning and lack of Winter clothing provisions, “it was estimated that 14,000 amputations resulted from frostbite during the Winter and the impact on the morale of the soldiers can be imagined” (Pointer, 2005). The Germans also didn 't have the materials for the cold that Russia had developed previously, requiring special greases, oils and lubricants with cold resistance technology. Furthermore, Hitler’s army also had shortages of food and other goods, it would have made a combination of soldiers both freezing and starving. A further hindrance that the German army faced was with Stalin’s scorched earth
The German’s presumptuousness led to the planning having what Pointer (Singapore Armed Forces Journal) describes as, “no forethought, no proper planning to equip the armed forces with …. Winter clothing, ammunition and therefore they [the German army] faced a whole host of logistical problems” (Pointer, 2005). Hitler was certain that Operation Barbarossa would be victorious within months, before Winter set in. Consequently, it was surmised the German army could be self sufficient, living off of the land, yet the Russian scorched earth policy undermined this. Respected website ‘history.co.uk’ notes that their quick success invading France supported the overconfidence in planning, as did “widely believed reports that the Soviet forces were weak an deficient,” (A+E Networks, 2009), which Hitler himself was recorded remarking, in Albert Speel’s book ‘Inside the Third Reich’, “We only have to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure [of the Soviet Union] will come crashing down.” (A+E Networks, 2009). At the core of preparation for the operation was the lack of full war production. Large factories were working on single shifts, with severe underutilisation of facilities. Consequently, production frequently lagged behind consumption. This was especially detrimental to Operation Barbarossa because of the Blitzkrieg method of warfare, which was so heavily dependant on machinery. …show more content…
Winter in Russia is harsh, and with temperatures dropped below negative 40° Celsius, it’s no surprise that, as mentioned in ‘The Eastern Front’, “Just as ‘General Winter’ had defeated Napoleon and the French army in 1812, it defeated the Germans in the same way 129 years later” (Simons, 2009, pg. 21). If the Hitler had not invaded in Winter, it most likely would have been a successful operation, they were more technologically advanced than the Russians, but the Russians had Winter on their side. During the Winter, German engines wouldn 't start, weapons froze and soldiers got frostbite all because of weak preparation. Due to the poor planning and lack of Winter clothing provisions, “it was estimated that 14,000 amputations resulted from frostbite during the Winter and the impact on the morale of the soldiers can be imagined” (Pointer, 2005). The Germans also didn 't have the materials for the cold that Russia had developed previously, requiring special greases, oils and lubricants with cold resistance technology. Furthermore, Hitler’s army also had shortages of food and other goods, it would have made a combination of soldiers both freezing and starving. A further hindrance that the German army faced was with Stalin’s scorched earth