The Great Patriotic War Flashcards
How many axis army groups were there during WW2
Three
How long was the axis front line
1000 miles
How many axis troops were involved in the initial attack
3 million
By day 17 of Op Barbarossa how many Soviet soldiers had been captured
300,000
What fraction of the USSR airforce had been lost in the first day of WW2
1/4
What was order No. 227 during WW2
It prevented Soviet troops from retreating or surrendering
What was the major turning point in WW2 where Germany fell into retreat
Describe it
Axis troops surrendered at Stalingrad 2nd Feb 1943
Battle of Stalingrad was six months long, initial axis bombing if city led to 40,000 civilian deaths, axis failed to gain control of Volga river (a supply route)
How many soviet citizens died during nazi occupation
11 million
What were the einsatzgruppen and who did they target
Military police and SS personnel
Members of the communist party, Jews, disabled persons
Mobile gas chambers and firing squads
What part did the Soviet Partisans play in the war
250,000 active at the peak of war
Disrupted train, supply and communication lines
Killed 300,000 and destroyed rail lines 3000 times
How did the size of the USSR, weather and length of the Axis front line affect the war
Axis troops had no winter clothing and tank diesel froze
Long lines of supply susceptible to partisan attack
2000 mile long front line
How did the persecution of religion have an effect on the war
Russian Orthodox Church had to swear loyalty to the USSR
Church had to support war and couldn’t criticise the regime
Religious concessions were a propaganda exercise to increase patriotism
How was food production affected by the war and what was done to solve the problems
Shortages due to Axis occupation of fertile land
6 million to 25 million Soviet deaths due to starvation
Addressed by April 1942: 6 million plots allocated for food, rising to 16.5 million by 1944
Why and how were supplies evacuated during the war
16 million skilled workers and nearly 3000 factories relocated
50% factory workers were women
1/8th of industrial assets relocated in 1941
Evacuation and relocation fraught with difficulties
Why was Stalin a good war leader
State defence committee (GKO) had full control over war time division making
STAVKA (unified system of command) coordinated military, economic and political strategy
Stalin appointed supreme commander
Suspicious of allies, wouldn’t allow defensive measures, ignored build up of axis forces
Unforgiving of those regarded as failures
