USSR and WW2 Complete Flashcards
What was Operation Barbarossa?
Hitler’s decision to invade the USSR. He had been preparing his strategy since Oct 1940. Hitler knew that the USSR was weak and unprepared for war while the Germans were experienced, battle-hardened and well equipped. They believed it would be a rapid and decisive victory.
When was Operation Barbarossa originally scheduled for?
1st June 1941
Why was OB delayed for 3 weeks?
Hitler’s Italian allies had caused a crisis in Yugoslavia- Hitler was compelled to invade Yugoslavia in a blitzkrieg campaign
What was the re-adjusted date for OB?
22nd June
What was the implications of the delay of OB?
It cut short the time window for completion before the winter conditions intervened
What were the aims of OB?
It was not just a military victory, but an attempt to seize control over the entire Soviet economy, as well as eradicate communism
What did Hitler believe about the Soviet citizen’s attitude to OB?
They believed that many citizens would welcome the German invaders as ‘liberators’
How did the weakness of the Nazi Soviet pact reflect in Stalin’s actions?
In June 1941, he shrank away from a radio broadcast to the people and instead left the task to Molotov. Stalin had appeared to have lost his nerve suggesting that he expected the people, party would blame him and turn against him.
When did Stalin eventually make his radio broadcast?
3rd July 1941
What was the tone of Stalin’s radio broadcast like?
He contrasted his attitude to implement the terror and instead appealed to patriotism and religion, and to unity among the nationalities
How was Stalin proven to be an ineffective leader early on in the war?
He had a panic attack when told the USSR had been invaded by Germany and failed to give any leadership in the first few weeks
He prepared to move the government away from Moscow but decided at the last moment to stay
He relied for too long on inferior commanders, who had been promoted for political reasons after purges
In September 1941, he helped cause a massive defeat to his army in Kiev by refusing to allow them to retreat until it was too late
He showed no urgency in defending Leningrad
What was Stavka?
A top level military command of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War, formed under Stalin, a subordinate to the GKO
What saved Stalin’s failing war effort?
Vast size of Russia
Severity of Russia’s winter
Patriotism of Soviet people
Who was Richard Sorge?
‘A master spy’ who provided Stalin with information on the intentions of Japan- this knowledge enabled Stalin to transfer high quality troops from Siberia in time to strengthen Moscow
When and why did the USA join the Grand Alliance?
December 1941- when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour
Stage 1 of GPW for Russia?
June 1941-Summer 1942 Russia struggle to survive against successive German offensives- suffered massive losses of people and territories
Stage 2 of GPW?
1942-Summer 1943- Russia stabilises its war effort, built a power house war economy and halted German advances
Stage 3 of GPW?
1943-Summer 1945- Soviet armies moved on to the offensive, recaptured vast areas that had been occupied an achieved total victory
How many Soviet soldiers during Stage 1 were captured at Minsk, Smolensk and Kiev by the Germans?
665,000
After how many weeks did the Soviet Generals believed the war was over and the German had won?
2 weeks
They believed Moscow would be captured by the end of August
When was Leningrad encircled- S1?
September 1941
How many troops surrendered at the fall of Kiev 1941?
500,000
Why did Stalin offer at peace compromise in Oct 1941?
Huge territories had been lost
Germans were driving towards Moscow
Japan was likely to invade from the East
Who negotiated the 1941 peace compromise?
Molotov and Beria
Why did Hitler not agree to the peace compromise 1941?
He believed he would win the war anyways
What was the May 1942 German offensive?
Designed to knock Russia out of the war - directed towards the Caucasus oilfields - known as Case Blue- German had major success in eastern Ukraine
What was the Soviet lowest moment during Case Blue?
The fall of Rostov on the Don
What sidetracked Case Blue?
Hitler’s desire to capture Stalingrad
Defence for Stalingrad 1942?
Late summer it seemed that Stalingrad would definitely fall to the Germans- they occupied 9/10 of the land- Stalin refused civilian evacuation ‘they will fight more for a live city’ - By Oct Germany were on the defence and Hitler forbade his troops to retreat
What was Operational Citadel?
A German offensive near Kursk
What halted operation citadel?
Massive Soviet firepower at the battle of Prokhorovka, in Kursk, decisively won by the Red Army and the massed force of T-34 tanks
What was the significance of the Battle of Prokhorovka?
It was a springboard for USSR to regain Russian land occupied by the Germans
T-34 Tanks?
Less sophisticated design and engineering
Immensely durable
Easy to maintain and repair
Examples of Soviet victories between 1943-1944?
Reconquered Ukraine, lifted the siege of Leningrad, invading Poland, Lithuania, Romania and Hungary
When did the Big 3 meet?
Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill met at Tehran to discuss the inevitable Allied victory
Germans defenders until the end?
After the 1944 bomb plot that almost killed Hitler Germany continued to fight and millions more lives were lost
When did the Red Army reach Berlin?
April 1945
1945 USSR civilian deaths=?
12 million
How many USSR civilians died from hunger and cold
600,000
Massive destruction of what buildings?
Hospitals, factories and urban housing
Where was it argued that the Germans were welcomed in the USSR?
Ukraine and Baltic states- possibly due to their aim to remove the Communist regime
German atrocities?
Thousands of Soviet soldiers taken as prisoners of war and few returned home
Soviet workers conscripted to work in German war factories
Soviet commissars executed immediately
What was Babi Yar?
Hitler saw war in east as a racial war- ordered deportations and massacres of Jews- 34,000 taken to Babi Yar and shot and put into mass graves
Why did the Soviet secret police execute and arrest thousands of their own?
This would happen to people labelled as ‘deserters’ ‘slackers’ ‘defeatists’
Examples of powerful unifying factors that helped bring about Soviet victory?
Hatred and fear of the Germans
Deep patriotism in defending the Mother land
Underlying faith in defending the revolution and Stalin
Stalin’s solution to rebuild the economy?
Equipment, workers and factories were packed up and put on 20,000 trains and shifted hundreds of miles east- beyond the reach of German bombs
What did the United States send to USSR to aid their war effort?
Huge quantities of armaments, industrial goods and foodstuffs
Two main routes for foreign aid to USSR?
Artic Convoy
Persian Corridor- safer more roundabout route
Through lend-lease what was vitally supplied to USSR?
300,000 American trucks that were essential for transportation
When was Lend lease particularly important?
Early in the war- 1942- when the USSR was suffering from heavy defeats
