Operation Barbarossa
Background
Operation Barbarossa was the codename for the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union, which started on Sunday, 22 June 1941, during World War II. The operation put into action Nazi Germany's ideological goal of conquering the western Soviet Union so as to repopulate it with Germans. The German Generalplan Ost aimed to use some of the conquered people as slave labour for the Axis war effort, to annihilate the rest, to acquire living space for Germans, and to ensure a German dominance in Europe.
Planning and Preparation
The planning for Operation Barbarossa started on 18 December 1940, when Hitler signed Directive No. 21 to the armed forces detailing the operation. The plan outlined a three-pronged attack, with Army Group North, Army Group Centre, and Army Group South advancing along different routes towards Leningrad, Moscow, and the Ukraine respectively. The operation was set to begin in May 1941, but was delayed due to logistical issues and the need to divert resources to the Balkans Campaign.
Execution
The operation commenced on 22 June 1941 with a massive surprise attack along a front that extended from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south. The initial assault was immensely successful, with the Wehrmacht making large territorial gains and inflicting heavy casualties on the Red Army. However, the operation's progress slowed due to extended supply lines, fierce Soviet resistance, and the onset of the Russian winter.
Outcome
Despite early successes, Operation Barbarossa failed to achieve its primary objective: the complete defeat of the Soviet Union in a quick, decisive campaign. The operation was halted just outside Moscow in December 1941. The failure of Operation Barbarossa resulted in a prolonged war of attrition on the Eastern Front, diverting significant military resources from other theaters of war. This marked a significant turning point in World War II, as the prolonged conflict on the Eastern Front eventually led to the downfall of Nazi Germany.
Aftermath
The failure of Operation Barbarossa had profound implications for the course of World War II. It marked the beginning of a protracted war of attrition for which Germany was ill-prepared. The drain on resources and manpower on the Eastern Front significantly weakened Germany's ability to resist the Allied forces on other fronts. Furthermore, the brutal occupation policies implemented by the Nazis in the conquered territories led to widespread resistance, further complicating German military efforts.