The Turning Point in World War Two Plan of the Investigation
Why did Operation Barbarossa fail to meet its objectives in 1941? This topic is important as codename Barbarossa was the largest campaign in terms of manpower ever launched , and its failure started the turn of the tides that would ultimately cause Hitler and Nazi Germany 's destruction. A brief overview on the causes and objectives of the operation will be given, referencing Hitler 's Mein Kampf, and then the reasons for failure will be examined: underestimating Soviet forces, fighting a two-front war, setbacks due to Soviet partisan brigades, Hitler 's indecisiveness, and the Russian weather and terrain. The evidence will be collected from a variety of secondary sources then listed and analysed in detail to reach an effective and successful answer to the question. Summary of Evidence 1. Underestimating the Soviets In Mein Kampf, Hitler states: "[T]o assure work and bread to the increasing number of people..., [Germany must] acquire new soil in order annually to send off the superfluous millions, and thus conserve the nation further on the basis of a self-sustainment. For Germany... the only possibility of carrying out a sound territorial policy was to be found in the acquisition of new soil in Europe proper. ...If one wanted land and soil in Europe, then by and large this could only have been done at Russia 's expense. " The conquest of Russia would place the European continent almost completely under Hitler 's control, and allow Germany to mobilize all its forces for the eventual attack against the Anglo-American powers. Hitler also wished to destroy Marxism communism and the Slavic peoples, who he saw as "subhuman". 2. A Two-Front War Germany was at war with England at the time, and Operation Barbarossa would mean Germany would be fighting a two-front war. The Russians were still a non-enemy country with which Germany still had advantageous economic and trade relations with. Resources would have to be split between the two fronts. Hitler 's ideology gave him a confidence that victory against the Soviets would come fast and easily. 3. Russian Partisan Brigades Russian soldiers who had been defeated but evaded capture led bands of partisan armies, which had been formed in the Russian forests and marshes. Throughout 1941, partisan work grew increasingly intense, until it became a mass-movement "people 's war". A Central Partisan Staff was created, which co-ordinated activities with the Red army and supplied people with training and weapons. 4. Hitler 's Changes in Plans Hitler made many changes in objectives. His primary target started out being Moscow, as he believed Stalin would sacrifice all he could in defence of the capital, and this way the Germans could destroy the Red Army efficiently. However, Hitler changed his priorities to Leningrad and the Ukraine, so Army Group Centre, one of the three German Army Groups in Barbarossa, was forced to hand over its Panzer tanks to Army Group North and South. Two months later, Hitler once again changed plans and Moscow was once again to be the priority. Redeployment of the tanks from …show more content…
He worked in many universities in England before becoming the head of the Center for Defence studies in the University of Edinburgh. His wife, Professor Ljubica Erickson, helped him in his research and writing of Russian military affairs. The book holds great value as John Erickson had many relations with Soviet Generals, and had direct access to Russian archives, allowing him detailed pieces of evidence to use in his own writings. However, the book is limited to the Russians and their peoples during the war, and displays a bias towards the Russians, as the German side is not told in detail, and the supporting evidence is mostly on Soviet …show more content…
Russia 's extensive use of partisan forces is another reason, as the partisans were the unseen army that heavily slowed the German advance with sabotage tactics. Hitler 's meddling and indecisiveness towards a main target caused a backlash that would slow the German advance until wintertime, where the troops froze in freezing temperatures. Finally, the Russian weather and terrain concludes the arguments as to why Barbarossa was unable to meet its objectives, but instead began Hitler and the Nazi party 's
Why did Operation Barbarossa fail to meet its objectives in 1941? This topic is important as codename Barbarossa was the largest campaign in terms of manpower ever launched , and its failure started the turn of the tides that would ultimately cause Hitler and Nazi Germany 's destruction. A brief overview on the causes and objectives of the operation will be given, referencing Hitler 's Mein Kampf, and then the reasons for failure will be examined: underestimating Soviet forces, fighting a two-front war, setbacks due to Soviet partisan brigades, Hitler 's indecisiveness, and the Russian weather and terrain. The evidence will be collected from a variety of secondary sources then listed and analysed in detail to reach an effective and successful answer to the question. Summary of Evidence 1. Underestimating the Soviets In Mein Kampf, Hitler states: "[T]o assure work and bread to the increasing number of people..., [Germany must] acquire new soil in order annually to send off the superfluous millions, and thus conserve the nation further on the basis of a self-sustainment. For Germany... the only possibility of carrying out a sound territorial policy was to be found in the acquisition of new soil in Europe proper. ...If one wanted land and soil in Europe, then by and large this could only have been done at Russia 's expense. " The conquest of Russia would place the European continent almost completely under Hitler 's control, and allow Germany to mobilize all its forces for the eventual attack against the Anglo-American powers. Hitler also wished to destroy Marxism communism and the Slavic peoples, who he saw as "subhuman". 2. A Two-Front War Germany was at war with England at the time, and Operation Barbarossa would mean Germany would be fighting a two-front war. The Russians were still a non-enemy country with which Germany still had advantageous economic and trade relations with. Resources would have to be split between the two fronts. Hitler 's ideology gave him a confidence that victory against the Soviets would come fast and easily. 3. Russian Partisan Brigades Russian soldiers who had been defeated but evaded capture led bands of partisan armies, which had been formed in the Russian forests and marshes. Throughout 1941, partisan work grew increasingly intense, until it became a mass-movement "people 's war". A Central Partisan Staff was created, which co-ordinated activities with the Red army and supplied people with training and weapons. 4. Hitler 's Changes in Plans Hitler made many changes in objectives. His primary target started out being Moscow, as he believed Stalin would sacrifice all he could in defence of the capital, and this way the Germans could destroy the Red Army efficiently. However, Hitler changed his priorities to Leningrad and the Ukraine, so Army Group Centre, one of the three German Army Groups in Barbarossa, was forced to hand over its Panzer tanks to Army Group North and South. Two months later, Hitler once again changed plans and Moscow was once again to be the priority. Redeployment of the tanks from …show more content…
He worked in many universities in England before becoming the head of the Center for Defence studies in the University of Edinburgh. His wife, Professor Ljubica Erickson, helped him in his research and writing of Russian military affairs. The book holds great value as John Erickson had many relations with Soviet Generals, and had direct access to Russian archives, allowing him detailed pieces of evidence to use in his own writings. However, the book is limited to the Russians and their peoples during the war, and displays a bias towards the Russians, as the German side is not told in detail, and the supporting evidence is mostly on Soviet …show more content…
Russia 's extensive use of partisan forces is another reason, as the partisans were the unseen army that heavily slowed the German advance with sabotage tactics. Hitler 's meddling and indecisiveness towards a main target caused a backlash that would slow the German advance until wintertime, where the troops froze in freezing temperatures. Finally, the Russian weather and terrain concludes the arguments as to why Barbarossa was unable to meet its objectives, but instead began Hitler and the Nazi party 's