Operation Barbarossa
•Initial Attack on Russia (Breaking Non-Aggression Pact)
–June 22, 1941 – Led by Von Paulos
•Stalin was warned, did nothing – caught off guard
•First attacks masterful. Soviets pushed back
•Captured Leningrad/Keiv, 50 miles from Moscow
–Russians retreat to Moscow, scorched earth policy
•Russian Winter hits. Coldest in 50 years
–German Machines all freeze. Germans not ready for winter
•Thousands died to cold
•Attack on Moscow failed (50miles)
–Siberian soldiers and weather primary reason
–June 22, 1941 – Led by Von Paulos
•Stalin was warned, did nothing – caught off guard
•First attacks masterful. Soviets pushed back
•Captured Leningrad/Keiv, 50 miles from Moscow
–Russians retreat to Moscow, scorched earth policy
•Russian Winter hits. Coldest in 50 years
–German Machines all freeze. Germans not ready for winter
•Thousands died to cold
•Attack on Moscow failed (50miles)
–Siberian soldiers and weather primary reason
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Summary- Stalin was caught off guard when the Germans choose to attack Russia. This attack was behind the set date which set them back to winter. Russia retreated to Moscow. The Germans were not prepared for such a winter.