2 Great Patriotic War 1941 1945. Liberation of Moldova, Romania, Slovakia

This year we are celebrating a mournful and solemn date - the seventieth anniversary of the start of the Great Patriotic War. AT next year we will celebrate the bicentenary of the First Patriotic War.

Deacon Vladimir Vasilyk

Peter Multatuli *, saying that there is a deep connection between the Second (1914) and the Third Patriotic Wars, but it can also be traced between the “Eternal Memory of the Twelfth Year and the Great Patriotic War. And the point here is not only that, in his appeal of June 22, 1941, Metropolitan Sergius noted: "The times of Napoleon are repeating." And not only because in his speech on July 3, 1941, Stalin called to go to victory "under the banner of Kutuzov", and later in 1942-43 he created the Order of Kutuzov.

The commonality of these wars lies in the fact that both in 1812 and in 1941, Russia almost alone fought all over Europe, including ... the French.

I will give only one eloquent fact. In October 1941, a fierce battle went on for four days on the Borodino field between reinforced tank brigades the Soviet 32nd Rifle Division of Colonel V.I. Polosukhin, and units of the 4th German Army.

For lifting fighting spirit Soviet units the banners of the Russian regiments that participated in the Battle of Borodino in 1812 were distributed. And soviet soldiers did not disgrace the glory of these banners: for four whole days they repulsed the attacks of superior enemy forces, and then retreated to in perfect order, leaving the Borodino field filled with the corpses of the Germans and their allies and burning German tanks.

G. Blumentritt, Chief of Staff of the 4th German Army, recalled:

“The four battalions of French volunteers operating as part of the 4th Army turned out to be less persistent. At Borodin, Field Marshal von Kluge addressed them with a speech, recalling how, in the time of Napoleon, the French and Germans fought here side by side against a common enemy. The next day, the French boldly went into battle, but, unfortunately, they could not withstand either the powerful attack of the enemy or hard frost and blizzards. They had never had to endure such trials before. French legion was crushed, big losses from enemy fire and frost. A few days later he was taken to the rear and sent to the West ... **.

We are accustomed to the image of the French as our allies. We remember General de Gaulle, French partisans, the Normandie-Niemen squadron, but we forget that before the beginning of 1944 there were no more than 25,000 French partisans, and more than 200,000 French who served in the Wehrmacht, while most of them served on the Eastern Front***.

As in 1812,

“Not all of Europe was here,
And whose star led her?

Who just did not fight on Soviet-German front- Austrians, Walloons, Flemings, French, Italians, Romanians, Croats, Hungarians, Finns, Norwegians, Poles, Spaniards! Indeed, the invasion of "twelve languages". As Lermontov wrote: "Everyone flashed before us, everyone was here."

Between the First and Third Patriotic Wars there are whole line parallels. At first, Russia tries to counteract the all-European dictatorship of Napoleon, enters into various coalitions, fights with France, losing tens of thousands of soldiers and suffering defeats. After Hitler came to power most of contacts with Germany were curtailed, the time of confrontation came, which culminated in the war in Spain, where our officers fought against the Germans and Italians.

First days of the war. 1941

Soviet Union he tried to create a broad anti-fascist coalition and it was not his fault that because of the unconstructive (if not more so) position of the Western powers, it did not take place. As a result of the unsuccessful Polish campaign in 1807, Alexander Ι was forced to conclude the Peace of Tilsit - quite honorable in its terms, especially given the defeat near Friedland and in comparison with the treaties that other defeated states signed with Napoleon, but shameful from the point of view of the Russian nobility.

Finding itself in virtual diplomatic isolation in the face of the threat of war with Germany, the leadership of the USSR was forced to sign a non-aggression pact with it, which was no worse, let's say " Munich agreement”, on the contrary, is much more worthy, since those who signed it Western countries betrayed their ally (Czechoslovakia) and received an early war and defeat on their own heads. Meanwhile, thanks to him, the USSR received significant territories that had been torn from it as a result of the revolution and civil war and a two-year respite to prepare for a future great war.

Nevertheless, many people in the USSR and beyond considered this treaty as shameful and forced. In the events of both 1812 and the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the role of England was very large, which did a lot to involve Russia in the war, since in the first case it was about crushing the continental blockade, and in the second - saving Great Britain from the final collapse.

Even the time of the beginning of both Patriotic Wars almost coincides. Bonaparte crossed the Neman on June 12 (June 25), 1812: the Nazis and their allies launched a terrible blow on the USSR at 3.40 on June 22, 1941. In both cases, the enemy had quantitative and qualitative, strategic and tactical superiority at the beginning: Napoleon's half-million army against two hundred thousand Russian soldiers and officers of two divided Russian armies. Five and a half million soldiers and officers of the Germans and their allies in western districts The USSR was opposed by only two million nine hundred thousand Soviet soldiers and officers, it was not possible to create a solid defense in the direction of the main attacks of the enemy due to the dispersal of Soviet troops.

When considering the causes of the defeats of the summer-autumn of 1941, many modern researchers note the absolute superiority of the German troops in the field of command and control, communications, and combat training of personnel. Here are just a few facts: until the end of 1942, driver-mechanics Soviet tanks received driving practice from 5 to 10 hours, and many had only 2 hours. Meanwhile, it took at least 25 hours to drive a tank normally.

The state of affairs in aviation was even worse: in the Western Special Military District, out of 1909 aircraft, there were only 1086 combat-ready aircraft with 1343 crews. But of them, in difficult weather conditions, only ... 4 could fly aircraft. In May 1941, all aviation received "unsatisfactory combat training." Like most military districts in the West of the country ****.

Meanwhile, already in 1939, the Luftwaffe had about 8,000 pilots who had the right to pilot aircraft of any type. At least a quarter of them mastered the technique of blind piloting. It is clear that in this situation, any talk about a preventive war that the USSR allegedly prepared against Germany is ridiculous. By the way, Napoleon, like Hitler, also accused Russia of intending to ... attack him.

Both that and the other Patriotic War were marked by a forced initial retreat. However, in the case of the Great Patriotic War, it was of a much more involuntary and total nature. And if in 1812 it was possible to preserve the core of the army, then in 1941 it was necessary to urgently create a new regular army, to replace the old one, defeated in the summer-autumn battles of 1941. In both cases, the battle near Moscow was the beginning of a deep turning point in the war. Both the First and Third Patriotic Wars ended overseas trips, the liberation of Europe and its reorganization together with the allies: Yalta and Potsdam in their meaning differ little from the Congress of Vienna.

Both that, and other war were national. Recruits in 1812 danced for joy at being taken to war. During the Great Patriotic War, at least 19 million applications were submitted with a request to be sent to the front, a significant number - from the camps.

However, the main thing is something else - in the spiritual sense of these wars. The war of 1812 was an admonition to Russian society, carried away by the imitation of Europe and France. The French showed their "culture and civilization" with their own eyes: the dances of Napoleonic soldiers on antimins, horses in the Kremlin cathedrals, reprisals against the wounded and prisoners.

As a result of the revolution and the Civil War, Russia fell victim to one of the poisonous products of European apostasy thought - atheistic cosmopolitan communism. The compatriots of Marx and Engels showed with their own eyes what we should expect from the "German proletariat" and "cultural Germany". The spiritual result of both wars was in many respects the enlightenment of Russian (Soviet) society, the return of part of it to Orthodox Faith to the values of patriotism.

Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky)

In both wars. It is impossible to re-read the appeal of Metropolitan Sergius (Stragorodsky) without excitement:

“Fascist robbers attacked our Motherland. Trampling all sorts of treaties and promises, they suddenly fell upon us, and now the blood of civilians is already irrigating native land. The times of Batu are repeated, German knights, Charles of Sweden, Napoleon. The pitiful descendants of the enemies of Orthodox Christianity want once again to try to bring our people to their knees before untruth, to force them to sacrifice the goodness and integrity of their homeland, the blood covenants of love for their fatherland by naked violence ... Our ancestors did not lose heart even in a worse situation, because they did not remember personal dangers and benefits, but about their sacred duty to the Motherland and faith, and came out victorious. Let's not shame them glorious name and we are Orthodox, kindred to them in flesh and faith. The fatherland is defended by weapons and common folk feat... Let us remember the holy leaders of the Russian people, for example, Alexander Nevsky, Dimitry Donskoy, who sacrificed their lives for the people and homeland .... The Church of Christ blesses all Orthodox for the defense of the sacred borders of our homeland. Our Orthodox Church has always shared the fate of the people. Together with him, she bore the trials and consoled herself with his successes. She will not leave her people even now. She blesses with a heavenly blessing and the upcoming nationwide feat ... ".

AT recent times Unfortunately, it is customary for many to represent June 22 as the day of our shame. This is not true. This is the day of our sorrow and glory. From the very beginning of the war, the Russian Soviet people gave great examples of courage, loyalty and honor. For a whole month, the defenders held out in inhuman conditions Brest Fortress. From hundreds border outposts none was left without a fight by the border guards, most of them died at their combat posts. The mere name of Nikolai Gastello, who on June 25, 1941 sent his burning plane to a German tank column, should close the mouths of detractors of the Russian people, their honor and glory.

His Holiness Patriarch Kirill rightly notes:

“The human losses in the war with Nazi Germany are the dimensions whole country, this is a colossal shock for the people, the fundamentals folk life. With those great losses that our people suffered in the war against the Nazis, they atoned for apostasy during the time of the Bolsheviks.

However, if you look even deeper, then this redemption extends to the pre-revolutionary period - the same one that first prepared the shameful and terrible February, and then its logical continuation - the October Revolution.

And if we take it even wider and deeper, then wasn't the triumph of communism in Russia just a part of the general apostasy process that engulfed the European world? In the twentieth century not only Europe, but also many other countries have experienced a whole series of revolutions and bloody dictatorial regimes. Nazism itself was not so much a response to communism as the implementation of centuries-old intentions German people, that is why he reigned so easily, and that is why German soldiers fought for him to the last drop of blood.

The revolution was not carried out according to Russian patterns, and socialism was planned in Russia, which, however, through the suffering feat of the cross of the Russian Soviet people turned into something that no longer lived up to the expectations of the forces that called it into existence. And, accordingly, does not this redemption also extend to the entire civilized European world, moreover, in 1941, as in 1812, we had to fight, in fact, with the whole of Europe, either enslaved or drugged by Hitler? On this day, Pushkin's lines from the poem are read in a special way.

"Slanderers of Russia":
And you hate us...
For what, answer, for whether
What's on the ruins of burning Moscow
We did not recognize impudent will
The one before whom you trembled?
For being thrown into the abyss
We are an idol gravitating over the kingdoms,
And redeemed with our blood
European liberty, honor and peace?

Everything, unfortunately, is repeated. Both the Europe of the 19th century and the present responded with hatred and ingratitude to the Russian warrior-liberator. It remains to grieve about this and still hope for the admonition and repentance of a proud European person.

Today is a day of remembrance and mourning, a day of prayer for the 27 million who died in the war. It is vain and unnecessary to talk about opposing the victims of war and repression, especially the multiple exaggeration of the latter. All these sacrifices were made by the Russian people to save both Russia and the world from the apostasy plague of the 20th century. - atheism and apostasy. Let us pray for those who laid down their lives for us to live. Let us remember the many innocent victims - women, children, the elderly - who fell victim to the atheist and murderous fascism. And let us draw a spiritual lesson from those terrible events.

If we do not repent of our evil deeds, do not resort to Christ with a contrite heart, do not purify our feelings and thoughts, then we can be comprehended by much more terrible war than our fathers and grandfathers - the Third World War, which, according to the words of St. Lawrence of Chernigov, will no longer be for repentance, but for extermination. Later than we think, let us hasten to do good.

Footnotes:

* Peter Multatuli Great German 08/03/2009http://ruskline.ru/monitoring_smi/2009/08/03/velikaya_germanskaya/
**Blumentrit G. Fatal Decisions. M, 1958. S. 45
*** General de Gaulle, from the point of view of the majority of the French in 1941, was either a romantic - Don Quixote, or even a criminal fighting against the "legitimate" pro-German government of Marshal Petain.
****Karatuev M.I., Frolov M.I. 1939-1945 View from Germany and Russia. SPb 2006. S. 122-125

GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR 1941-1945 - liberation war peoples of the USSR against Nazi Germany and its allies, the most important and decisive part World War II 1939-1945.

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In the same way in the world in the spring of 1941, ha-rak-te-ri-zo-va-elk is difficult between-go-su-dar-st-ven-nyh from-but -she-niy, ta-iv-shih danger of races-shi-re-niya of the scale of headquarters on-chav-shey-sya in September 1939 of the Second World War. Aggressive bloc of Germany, Italy and Japan (see) ras-shi-ril-sya, Ru-we-niya joined him , Bol-ga-ria, Slo-va-kiya. Even before the on-cha-la of the Second World War of the USSR, before-la-gal, create a sys-te-mu collective of security in Europe , however, the Western countries don’t support him. In the creation of the conditions of the USSR, you-well-well-den was in 1939 to close, someone called him in those almost 2 more years One-but-time-men-but with do-go-vo-rum there was a sub-pi-san "sec-ret-ny do-pol-no-tel-ny pro-to-kol", someone raz-gra-ni-chil "spheres of both-yud-nyh in-te-re-owls" of the USSR and Germany and fak-ti-ches-ki on-lo-lived on the last obligation-for-tel-st-in not to dis-pro-country your military and political activity on the state-su-dar-st-va and ter-ri-to-rii , some of the USSR considered its “sphere of in-te-re-owls”.

On the radio July 2, 1941. In this speech, I.V. Stalin also used the terms "Patriotic Liberation War", "People's Patriotic War", "Patriotic War against German fascism".

Another official approval of this name was the introduction on May 2, 1942 of the Order of the Patriotic War.

1941

On September 8, 1941, the blockade of Leningrad began. For 872 days the city heroically resisted the German invaders. Not only resisted, but also worked. It should be noted that during the blockade, Leningrad provided the troops with weapons and ammunition. Leningrad front, and also supplied military products to neighboring fronts.

On September 30, 1941, the Battle for Moscow began. First major battle The Great Patriotic War in which the German troops suffered a serious defeat. The battle began as the German offensive Operation Typhoon.

On December 5, the counteroffensive of the Red Army near Moscow began. The troops of the Western and Kalinin fronts pushed the enemy back in places more than 100 kilometers from Moscow.

Despite the victorious offensive of the Red Army near Moscow, this was only the beginning. Start great battle with fascism, which will last for another 3 long years.

1942

Most hard year Great Patriotic War. This year the Red Army suffered very heavy defeats.

The offensive near Rzhev turned into huge losses. Over 250,000 were lost in the Kharkov Pocket. The attempts to break the blockade of Leningrad ended in failure. The 2nd Shock Army died in the Novgorod swamps.

The main dates of the second year of the Great Patriotic War

From January 8 to March 3, the Rzhev-Vyazemskaya operation took place. The final stage of the Battle for Moscow.

From January 9 to February 6, 1942 - Toropetsko-Kholmskaya offensive operation. The troops of the Red Army advanced almost 300 kilometers, freeing many settlements.

On January 7, the Demyansk offensive operation began, as a result of which the so-called Demyansk cauldron was formed. Wehrmacht troops were surrounded total strength more than 100,000 people. Including elite division SS "Dead Head".

After some time, the encirclement was broken, however, all the miscalculations of the Demyansk operation were taken into account during the liquidation of the encircled group near Stalingrad. In particular, this concerned the interruption of air supplies and the strengthening of the defense of the outer ring of encirclement.

March 17 as a result of unsuccessful Luban offensive operation near Novgorod, the 2nd shock army was surrounded.

On November 18, after heavy defensive battles, the troops of the Red Army went on the offensive and surrounded German group near Stalingrad.

1943 - the year of the turning point in the course of the hostilities of the Great Patriotic War

In 1943, the Red Army managed to wrest the initiative from the hands of the Wehrmacht and begin a victorious march to the borders of the USSR. In some places, our units have advanced more than 1000-1200 kilometers in a year. The experience gained by the Red Army during the Great Patriotic War made itself felt.

On January 12, Operation Iskra began, as a result of which the blockade of Leningrad was broken. A narrow corridor up to 11 kilometers wide connected the city with the mainland.

On July 5, 1943, the Battle of Kursk Bulge. A turning point battle during the Great Patriotic War, after which the strategic initiative completely passed to the side of the Soviet Union and the Red Army.

Already during the Great Patriotic War, contemporaries appreciated the significance of this battle. Wehrmacht General Guderian said after the Battle of Kursk: "... there were no more quiet days on the Eastern Front ...".

August - December 1943. The battle for the Dnieper - the left-bank Ukraine was completely liberated, Kyiv was taken.

1944 - the year of the liberation of our country from the fascist invaders

In 1944, the Red Army almost completely cleared the territory of the USSR from Nazi German invaders. As a result of a number strategic operations Soviet troops came close to the borders of Germany. More than 70 German divisions were destroyed.

This year, the Red Army troops entered the territory of Poland, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Norway, Romania, Yugoslavia and Hungary. Finland left the war with the USSR.

January - April 1944. Liberation of right-bank Ukraine. Access to the state border of the Soviet Union.

On June 23, one of largest operations Great Patriotic War - offensive operation "Bagration". Completely liberated Belarus, part of Poland and almost the entire Baltic. Army Group Center was defeated.

On July 17, 1944, for the first time in the years of the war, a column of almost 60,000 captured Germans captured in Belarus was led through Moscow streets.

1945 - the year of victory in the Great Patriotic War

The years of the Great Patriotic War, spent by the Soviet troops in the trenches, made themselves felt. The year 1945 began with the Vistula-Oder offensive operation, which would later be called the most rapid offensive in the history of mankind.

In just 2 weeks, the Red Army troops traveled 400 kilometers, liberating Poland and defeating more than 50 German divisions.

On April 30, 1945, Adolf Hitler, Reich Chancellor, Fuhrer and supreme commander Germany.

On May 9, 1945, at 0:43 Moscow time, the unconditional surrender of Germany was signed.

With Soviet side the surrender was accepted by Marshal of the Soviet Union, Commander of the 1st Belorussian Front Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov.

4 years, 1418 days of the most difficult and bloody war in the history of Russia.

At 10 p.m. May 9, in commemoration complete victory over Germany, Moscow saluted with 30 artillery volleys from a thousand guns.

On June 24, 1945, the Victory Parade took place in Moscow. This solemn event the final point was put in the Great Patriotic War.

It should be noted that on May 9 the Great Patriotic War ended, but the 2nd World War did not end. In accordance with the allied agreements, on August 8, the USSR entered the war with Japan. In just two weeks, the Red Army troops in Manchuria defeated the largest and most powerful army Japan - the Kwantung Army.

Almost completely deprived of their ground forces and the ability to wage war on the Asian continent, on September 2, Japan capitulated. September 2, 1945 is the official date for the end of World War II.

Interesting fact. Formally, the Soviet Union was at war with Germany until January 25, 1955. The fact is that after Germany capitulated, the peace treaty was not signed. Legally, the Great Patriotic War ended when the Presidium Supreme Council The USSR adopted the decree. This happened on January 25, 1955.

By the way, the United States ended the state of war with Germany on October 19, 1951, and France and Great Britain on July 9, 1951.

Photographers: Georgy Zelma, Yakov Ryumkin, Evgeny Khaldei, Anatoly Morozov.

Humanity is constantly experiencing armed conflicts. varying degrees difficulties. The 20th century was no exception. In our article we will talk about the darkest stage in the history of this century: World War II 1939-1945.

Prerequisites

The prerequisites for the named military conflict began to take shape long before the main events: since 1919, when the Versailles Peace Treaty was concluded, which consolidated the results of the First World War.

We list the key reasons that led to a new war:

Germany's inability to meet certain conditions Treaty of Versailles in full (payments to affected countries) and unwillingness to put up with military restrictions;
Change of power in Germany: the nationalists, led by Adolf Hitler, skillfully exploited the discontent of the German population and the fears of world leaders of communist Russia. Them domestic politics was aimed at establishing a dictatorship and promoting the superiority of the Aryan race;
External aggression of Germany, Italy, Japan, against which the major powers did not take active steps, fearing open confrontation.

Rice. 1. Adolf Hitler.

Initial period

Slovakia provided military support to the Germans.

Hitler did not accept the proposal to resolve the conflict peacefully. 03.09 Great Britain and France announced the beginning of the war with Germany.

Main events

Starting from the second period (06.1941-11.1942), the course of hostilities is reflected in the chronological table:

*the date*	*Event*
	Germany attacked the USSR. The beginning of the Great Patriotic War
	The Germans captured Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Moldova, Belarus, part of Ukraine (Kyiv failed), Smolensk. Anglo-French troops liberate Lebanon, Syria, Ethiopia
August-September 1941	Anglo-Soviet troops occupy Iran
October 1941	Captured Crimea (without Sevastopol), Kharkov, Donbass, Taganrog
December 1941	The Germans are losing the battle for Moscow. Japan attacks the US military base Pearl Harbor, takes over Hong Kong
January-May 1942	Japan takes over South East Asia. German-Italian troops are pushing the British in Libya. Anglo-African troops capture Madagascar. The defeat of the Soviet troops near Kharkov
	The American fleet defeated the Japanese in the battle for the Midway Islands
	Lost Sevastopol. started Battle of Stalingrad(until February 1943). Captured Rostov
August-October 1942	The British liberate Egypt, part of Libya. The Germans captured Krasnodar, but lost to the Soviet troops in the foothills of the Caucasus, near Novorossiysk. Variable success in the battles for Rzhev
November 1942	The British occupied the western part of Tunisia, the Germans - the east. The beginning of the third stage of the war (11.1942-06.1944)
November-December 1942	The second battle near Rzhev was lost by the Soviet troops
	Americans win against the Japanese in the Battle of Guadalcanal
February 1943	Soviet victory at Stalingrad
February-May 1943	The British defeated the German-Italian troops in Tunisia
July-August 1943	German defeat in Battle of Kursk. Victory allied forces in Sicily. English and american aviation bombing Germany
November 1943	Allied forces occupy the Japanese island of Tarawa
August-December 1943	A series of victories of the Soviet troops in the battles on the banks of the Dnieper. Left-bank Ukraine liberated
	Anglo-American army captured southern Italy, liberated Rome
	The Germans retreated from the Right-Bank Ukraine
April-May 1944	Crimea liberated
	Landing of the allied troops in Normandy. The beginning of the fourth stage of the war (06.1944-05.1945). The Americans occupied the Marianas
June-August 1944	Belorussia, south of France, Paris recaptured
August-September 1944	Soviet troops recaptured Finland, Romania, Bulgaria
October 1944	The Japanese lost to the Americans naval battle off Leyte Island
September-November 1944	The Baltic states, part of Belgium, were liberated. Bombing of Germany resumed
	The north-east of France was liberated, the western border of Germany was broken through. Soviet troops liberated Hungary
February-March 1945	Captured West Germany, the crossing of the Rhine began. Soviet army liberates East Prussia, northern Poland
April 1945	The USSR launches an attack on Berlin. Anglo-Canadian-American troops defeated the Germans in the Ruhr region and met with the Soviet army on the Elbe. Italy's last defense broken
	Allied troops captured the north and south of Germany, liberated Denmark, Austria; Americans crossed the Alps and joined the Allies in northern Italy
	Germany surrendered
	The Yugoslav Liberation Forces defeated the remnants of the German army in northern Slovenia
May-September 1945	Fifth final stage wars
	Indonesia, Indochina recaptured from Japan
August-September 1945	Soviet-Japanese War: Defeated Kwantung Army Japan. USA resets atomic bombs on the Japanese cities(August 6, 9)
	Japan surrendered. End of the war

Rice. 3. Surrender of Japan in 1945.

results

Let's sum up the main results of the Second World War:

The war affected 62 countries to varying degrees. About 70 million people died. Tens of thousands of settlements have been destroyed, 1,700 of them in Russia alone;
Germany and its allies were defeated: the occupation of countries and the spread of the Nazi regime ceased;
Changed world leaders; they were the USSR and the USA. England and France have lost their former greatness;
The borders of states have changed, new independent countries have appeared;
War criminals have been convicted in Germany and Japan;
The United Nations Organization was created (10/24/1945);
rose military power major winning countries.

Historians consider the serious armed resistance of the USSR against Germany (the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945) as an important contribution to the victory over fascism, American supplies military equipment(lend-lease), obtaining aviation of the Western allies (England, France) air superiority.

What have we learned?

From the article we learned briefly about the Second World War. This information will help you easily answer questions about when the Second World War(1939), who was the main participant in the hostilities, in what year did it end (1945) and with what result.

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The Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) - the war between the USSR, Germany and its allies within the framework of World War II on the territory of the USSR and Germany. Germany attacked the USSR on June 22, 1941, with the expectation of a short military campaign, but the war dragged on for several years and ended in the complete defeat of Germany.

Causes of the Great Patriotic War

After the defeat in the First World War, Germany was left in a difficult situation - political situation was unstable, the economy was in deep crisis. Around this time, Hitler came to power, who, thanks to his economic reforms, was able to quickly bring Germany out of the crisis and thereby gain the trust of the authorities and the people.

Standing at the head of the country, Hitler began to pursue his policy, which was based on the idea of the superiority of the Germans over other races and peoples. Hitler not only wanted to take revenge for losing the First World War, but also to subjugate the whole world to his will. The result of his claims was the German attack on the Czech Republic and Poland, and then (already in the framework of the outbreak of World War II) on other European countries.

Until 1941, there was a non-aggression pact between Germany and the USSR, but Hitler violated it by attacking the USSR. In order to conquer the Soviet Union, the German command developed a swift attack, which was supposed to bring victory within two months. Having seized the territories and wealth of the USSR, Hitler could have entered into an open confrontation with the United States for the right to world political domination.

The attack was swift, but did not bring desired results- The Russian army offered stronger resistance than the Germans expected, and the war dragged on for many years.

The main periods of the Great Patriotic War

First period (June 22, 1941 – November 18, 1942). Within a year after the German attack on the USSR, the German army conquered significant territories, which included Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine. After that, the troops moved inland to capture Moscow and Leningrad, however, despite the failures of the Russian soldiers at the beginning of the war, the Germans failed to take the capital.

Leningrad was taken under blockade, but the Germans were not allowed into the city. The battles for Moscow, Leningrad and Novgorod continued until 1942.

The period of a radical change (1942-1943). Middle period The war got its name due to the fact that it was at this time that the Soviet troops were able to take the advantage in the war into their own hands and launch a counteroffensive. The German and Allied armies gradually began to retreat back to the western border, many foreign legions were broken and destroyed.

Due to the fact that the entire industry of the USSR at that time worked for military needs, Soviet army managed to significantly increase their weapons and put up decent resistance. The army of the USSR from the defender turned into an attacker.

The final period of the war (1943-1945). During this period, the USSR began to recapture the lands occupied by the Germans and move towards Germany. Leningrad was liberated, Soviet troops entered Czechoslovakia, Poland, and then into Germany.

On May 8, Berlin was taken, and German troops announced unconditional surrender. Hitler, having learned about the lost war, committed suicide. War is over.

The main battles of the Great Patriotic War

Defense of the Arctic (June 29, 1941 - November 1, 1944).
Siege of Leningrad (September 8, 1941 – January 27, 1944).
Battle for Moscow (September 30, 1941 – April 20, 1942).
Battle of Rzhev (January 8, 1942 - March 31, 1943).
Battle of Kursk (July 5 - August 23, 1943).
Battle of Stalingrad (July 17, 1942 – February 2, 1943).
Battle for the Caucasus (July 25, 1942 – October 9, 1943).
Belarusian operation (June 23 - August 29, 1944).
Battle for Right-Bank Ukraine (December 24, 1943 – April 17, 1944).
Budapest operation (October 29, 1944 - February 13, 1945).
Baltic operation (September 14 - November 24, 1944).
Vistula-Oder operation (January 12 - February 3, 1945).
East Prussian operation (January 13 - April 25, 1945).
Berlin operation (April 16 - May 8, 1945).

The results and significance of the Great Patriotic War

Although the main goal of the Great Patriotic War was defensive, as a result, the Soviet troops went on the offensive and not only liberated their territories, but also destroyed German army, took Berlin and stopped Hitler's victorious march across Europe.

Unfortunately, despite the victory, this war turned out to be devastating for the USSR - the country's economy after the war was in a deep crisis, since the industry worked exclusively for the military industry, many people were killed, and the rest were starving.

Nevertheless, for the USSR, victory in this war meant that now the Union was becoming a world superpower, which had the right to dictate its terms in the political arena.