Introduction to Operation Barbarossa
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| Hitler, the architect of Operation Barbarossa, during a military parade |
The operation launched by Nazi Germany on the Russia Federation (formerly the Soviet Union) on the 22nd of June, 1941 was codenamed as Operation Barbarossa. The purpose of the operation was to subdue Russian people, to use them as slave workers in the aftermath of war and to capture vital energy resources in the caucus region to boost up Axis Powers’ war effort. The German military command began to plan this operation in the mid of 1940s and the first version of the scheme was ready by August 1940. The third and the final version was the one designed by Adolf Hitler himself.
This plan focused mainly on the northern regions of the Russian Federation but with equal concentration on both Moscow and Leningrad. The third region which would come under the Nazi attack was Ukraine in the South.
Hitler divided his force into three groups; Northern, Southern, and Central. Northern, Southern and Central groups were assigned to conquer Leningrad, Ukraine, and Moscow, respectively.
Germany mobilized some 4 million troops, 600,000 vehicles, some 750,000 horses and more than 3 thousand tanks for the Operation Barbarossa.
Initial failure of Russians to confront Operation Barbarossa
Joseph Stalin's negligence in spite of the intelligence reports that a Nazi invasion of Russia is eminent left Soviet soldiers ill-prepared for a major war. When German Panzer army struck Red army’s lines at three different axes, the Soviet army was caught by surprise, and millions of them surrendered.
The Fascist army conquered Ukraine and reached the gates of Moscow and Leningrad within weeks. However, the Soviet army recalibrated its plan and proved to be successful in overcoming the mighty invader.
Reasons for Russian success in thwarting Operation Barbarossa
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| Joseph Stalin, Russian dictator during WW2 |
The first and foremost reason was the inability of Germans to gauge enemy strength before launching Operation Barbarossa. Hitler attacked the Soviet Union with a 4 million Army and was of the view that they can overcome Russian resistance in ten to twelve weeks but was the not case on the ground. Initially, the Red Army suffered severely at the hands of German army but with time they recovered their strength by inducing people into joining the war effort from par lunged areas. Ultimately, the Russian army ever increasing numbers became catastrophic for the Nazi army.
The second reason for the failure of the Operation Barbarossa was the unpredictable and ever changing weather. When Germany launched their attack on the Soviet Union, the weather was in German’s favor, but with the change in season, the frozen cold became a suicidal ditch for them. When Hitler ordered the launch of an all-out attack on Leningrad, the weather was already in favor of Russians due to their familiarity with home conditions and their well-designed uniforms for such situations. Moreover, the horses employed by the Hitler’s Army for Operation Barbarossa were not accustomed to the snowy conditions. The horses used by the Stalin’s force were local and could survive in such harsh weathers.
Thirdly, the logistics also became a huge issue in the long run. In the initial stages of Operation Barbarossa, the Germans had enough supplies to keep them up for any battle against Russians, but with time the reduction in fighting spirit and supplies resulted in their downfall. According to the sketch drawn by the Fascist high command, railway lines was well-constructed in Soviet territory which could be easily converted for the purpose of supplying fuel and arms, but the situation on the ground was completely changed.
When Germans saw the railway tracks, they were astonished to see that most of them were broken. The lack of proper logistic system made it difficult for the Germans to supply their troops with enough food, warm clothes and arms and ammunitions to keep the siege going.
Last but not the least, the defying leadership of Joseph Stalin at that critical juncture provided enough powder for the Red army to face Germans head on. Eventually, heroics of the Russian soldiers broke the myth of German invincibility and Operation Barbarossa ended in failure.
About Muhammad Asim
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