Lecture Notes: Operation Barbarossa - The German Invasion of the Soviet Union, 1941

Context and Objectives

• Timeframe: Summer 1941
• Situation in Europe: Germany controlled Central and Western Europe; Great Britain remained defiant. The Soviet Union was the only major threat to Germany.
• Hitler's Strategy: Planned to cripple Soviet military capabilities and seize natural resources to secure Germany's strategic position by capturing the European part of the Soviet Union before winter 1941.
• Main Attack: Focused towards Moscow, with auxiliary attacks in the north and south.

Southern Sector Operations

• Soviet Deployment: Strongest units (1,200,000 men) between Pripyat marshes and the Black Sea.
• Axis Forces: Army Group South of similar strength.
• Objective: Secure Western Ukraine.
• Invasion Date: June 22, 1941
• Initial Soviet Counterattack: Dubno and Brody, resulting in heavy Soviet tank losses.
• German Strategy: Create encirclement threat; Soviet withdrawal; Axis forces from Romania join.
• Outcome: Soviet forces in Western Ukraine encircled near Uman, leading to a retreat to the eastern bank of the River Dnieper.

Northern Sector Operations

• German Forces: 1.5 million soldiers from Army Groups North and Center.
• Soviet Forces: 1 million soldiers.
• Objectives: Encircle Soviet forces at the border, advance towards Smolensk and Moscow, and threaten Leningrad.
• Initial Success: Encirclement near Bialystock and Minsk.
• Baltics: Soviet counterattacks defeated at Raseiniai.
• Soviet Defensive Line: Attempted at Daugava River, pushed back by Germans.
• Result: Encirclements and breakthrough near Smolensk.

Central Sector Operations

• Soviet Strategy: Use mobilized troops to block German advance, attempt to free encircled troops.
• German Strategy: Secure flanks of Army Group Center, aiding in the north and south.
• Outcome: Soviet encirclements near Vyazma and Bryansk, severely weakening Soviet strength at the front.

Finnish Involvement and Northern Campaign

• Finland: Entered war on June 25, recaptured lands lost in Winter War, established defensive positions.
• Objective: Capture Murmansk, cut Murmansk railway.
• Outcome: German-Finnish efforts bogged down.

Shift to Center and South

• German Reinforcements: Moved from center to south.
• Soviet Assumptions: Expected continued German advance towards Moscow.
• Outcome: German encirclement in Central Ukraine, trapping 750,000 Soviet troops.
• Further Advances: Germans reach Eastern Ukraine, Crimea; Soviets abandon Odessa, hold Sevastopol.

The Push Towards Moscow

• Soviet Defensive: 1,250,000 troops deployed, pushed Army Group Center back.
• German Return: Armour returns to center, new attack launched by September.
• Soviet Encirclements: Near Vyazma and Bryansk, halving Soviet front strength.

Winter and Soviet Counterattack

• German Exhaustion: Long advance and cold weather hindered further advance on Moscow.
• Soviet Counterattack: Used winter combat proficiency to halt German advance, attacking flanks.
• Outcome: German retreats, abandoning forward positions and some equipment.

Conclusion of 1941 Campaign

• German Goals Unmet: Initial objectives far from reached.
• Soviet Costs: Red Army severely decimated, rebuilding required.
• German Planning: Prepare for decisive action in 1942 with further reinforcement of Eastern Front.

Key Takeaways

• The 1941 campaign demonstrated initial German tactical success but strategic overreach.
• Soviet resilience and environmental factors halted German advances.
• The ensuing year, 1942, identified as potentially decisive for both sides.