Soviet Union by June 1941

Question 1

When was the German invasion

Answer 1

22nd June 1941

Question 2

Defence spending

Answer 2

Had increased from 16.5% in 1937 to 32.6% in 1940

Question 3

When was the Nazi-SOviet pact

Answer 3

1939

Question 4

Why was the USSR not ready in 1941 for Germany

Answer 4

• purges of 1936-38 had removed senior officials
• Army inadequately trained
• Men such as Tukhachevsky who were modernisers had all been removed. lack of military initiative evident in the Winter War with Finland 1939-40.
• Dual command of military units bringing back political commissars
• aircraft, tanks and guns were old fashioned
• Insufficient investment in agriculture- not producing enough to feed the population
• Nazi-SOviet pact meant they were psychologically unprepared

Question 5

How was the military strong

Answer 5

By 1941 USSR was producing 230 tanks, 700 military aircraft and more than 100,000 rifles per month