What was the name of Hitler's original plan? Who developed the Barbarossa plan: a brief summary of the main provisions

We were told in the 90s that no one ever intended to attack us and is not going to attack us, that it is We Russians who are a threat to the whole world! Now let's get to the facts and quotes.

Quotes that can't be disputed

“No, and there can be no other alternative than war with the Soviet Union if Soviet Union will not agree to surrender ... "
1981 Richard Pipes, Advisor to President Reagan Professor Harvard University, member of the Zionist, anti-communist organization "Committee of the Existing Danger"

"The coming destruction of the Soviet Union must be the decisive, final battle - the Armageddon described in the Bible."
Reagan. October 1983 Interview with the Jerusalem Post.

"The Soviet Union will be finished within a few years."
1984 R. Pipes:

1984 Evgeny Rostov, one of the main founders of the “Committee of Existing Danger”, emphasized:
"We are not in the post-war, but in the pre-war period."

“I signed the legislative prohibition of the Soviet Union.
The bombing will begin in five minutes."
1984 Reagan.

PLANS FOR THE ATTACK OF N A T O (USA) ON THE COUNCIL OF THE UNION

1. JUNE 1946 plan called "PINCHER" - "TONGS".
Reset 50 nuclear bombs for 20 cities of the USSR.

5. End of 1949 plan “DROPSHOT” - INSTANT IMPACT”.
Drop 300 atomic bombs on 200 cities of the USSR within a month, if the USSR does not surrender, continue bombing with conventional charges in the amount of 250 thousand tons, which should lead to the destruction of 85% of Soviet industry.

Simultaneously with the bombing, at the second stage, ground forces in the amount of 164 NATO divisions, of which 69 are US divisions, occupy the starting positions for the offensive.

At the third stage, 114 NATO divisions from the west go on the offensive.
From the south, in the area between Nikolaev and Odessa (where NATO “peacekeepers” constantly work out the invasion at the “SI-BRIZ” exercises), 50 divisions of sea and air assault land on the Black Sea coast, whose task is to destroy the Soviet armed forces in Central Europe.

By the time of the invasion, it was planned to accumulate maximum amount NATO ships in the Black Sea to prevent Black Sea Fleet to block the Bosporus Strait, and, consequently, the entry of NATO ships into the Black Sea to the shores of the USSR.

To ensure maximum effectiveness of hostilities and minimum losses, the task was to constantly conduct reconnaissance until the moment of the invasion. coastal defense, terrain folds Black Sea coast using any opportunities, including excursions, friendly, sports meetings, etc.

IN THE PROCESS OF THE WAR AGAINST THE USSR, it was planned to use:
Ground 250 divisions - 6 million 250 thousand people.
In addition, aviation, navy, air defense, support units - plus 8 million people.

NATO's plans for the Black Sea region, described in "The United States is preparing to attack Russia", are the same as the "Drop Shot" plan

After the occupation of the USSR, it is DIVIDED INTO OCCUPATION ZONES:

1. Western part of Russia.
2. Caucasus - Ukraine.
3. Ural - Western Siberia- Turkestan.
4. Eastern Siberia - Transbaikalia - Primorye.

OCCUPATION ZONES are divided into 22 SUB-AREAS of responsibility

It was determined that AFTER THE OCCUPATION ON THE TERRITORY OF THE USSR, OCCUPATION TROOPS OF NATO are deployed to carry out OCCUPATION FUNCTIONS in the amount of 38 ground divisions of 1 million people, of which 23 divisions perform their functions in the Central part of the USSR.

DISTRIBUTION OF OCCUPATION TROOPS centered in cities:
Two divisions in Moscow. One division each in: Leningrad, Minsk, Kyiv, Odessa, Murmansk, Gorky, Kuibyshev, Kharkov, Sevastopol, Rostov, Novorossiysk, Batumi, Baku, Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, Tashkent, Omsk, Novosibirsk, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok.
The occupying troops include 5 air armies, 4 of which are dispersed on the territory of Russia.
They are introduced into the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea via an aircraft carrier connection.

To the above, the expression of the ideologist of the colonization of the USSR B. Brzezinski is appropriate: “... RUSSIA WILL BE DISTRIBUTED AND UNDER GUARDIANSHIP”.

1991

NATO is preparing for military actions on the territory of Russia and other Eastern European states.
One of the NATO documents says:
"We must be ready for military intervention in this region."
“It may be necessary to intervene in the affairs Arab world-world Islam." The issue of intervention in the Mediterranean is being considered: "In Algeria, Egypt, the Middle East - in regions where we must be ready for military actions."
"NATO must be ready to intervene anywhere in the world."
Pretext:
“The terrorist activity of this or that state, the accumulation and storage chemical weapons etc."
Emphasizes the need to prepare public opinion, its processing by means mass media, conducting propaganda preparations for the intervention

REASONS WHY NATO COUNTRIES DID NOT ATTACK THE USSR

NATO was opposed by a powerful military bloc of the Warsaw Pact countries,
with its mighty army, vast territory, manpower, which in turn:

1. It did not allow a lightning war, even in the event of a treacherous attack.
2. For 20 days, the USSR was able to occupy all of Western Europe.
3. In 60 days, England would have been destroyed along with its bases, which were of paramount importance for the attack.
4. The United States would not be able to defend its territory from retribution.
5. Scarecrow the unity of our people in all respects.
6. Our enemies remembered the courage and heroism of our people in all wars to defend our Fatherland and in the performance of international duty.
7. The enemy understood that a partisan struggle would be organized in the occupied territory, there would be only a few lackeys and traitors.
CONCLUSION: IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO DEFEAT OUR PEOPLE! And now???
NATO countries knowing what they will receive counter attack nevertheless, they did not abandon the idea of attacking the USSR, constantly improving their plans.
Much has already been achieved from their plans by the so-called "brothers" imposed on us. “new strategic partners”, it remains to buy everything (including land) for their papers or fool around for consumer goods, put their soldier on our neck, leave the required number of slaves, reducing the population according to the principle: a slave must make a profit or die (Who needs a slave who will eat and not work?) Will something change in the actions of the occupier, in his attitude towards us, our children, grandchildren, if we launch it voluntarily, “entering” under NATO?

On August 1, 1940, Erich Marx presented the first version of the war plan against the USSR. This option was based on the idea of a fleeting, lightning war, as a result of which the German troops were planned to reach the line Rostov - Gorky - Arkhangelsk, and later - to the Urals. Crucial assigned to the capture of Moscow. Erich Marx proceeded from the fact that Moscow is “the heart of Soviet military-political and economic power, its capture will lead to an end to Soviet resistance».

According to this plan, two strikes were envisaged - north and south of Polissya. The northern blow was planned as the main one. It was supposed to be applied between Brest-Litovsk and Gumbinen through the Baltic states and Belarus in the direction of Moscow. The southern strike was planned to be carried out from the southeastern part of Poland in the direction of Kyiv. In addition to these strikes, a "private operation to seize the Baku region" was planned. The implementation of the plan was given from 9 to 17 weeks.

Erich Marx's plan was played out at the headquarters of the supreme command under the leadership of General Paulus. This test revealed a serious drawback of the presented option: it ignored the possibility of strong flank counterattacks by Soviet troops from the north and south, capable of disrupting the advance of the main grouping towards Moscow. The headquarters of the supreme command decided to revise the plan.

In connection with Keitel's report about the bad engineering training bridgehead for an attack on the USSR, the Nazi command on August 9, 1940 issued an order called "Aufbau Ost". It outlined measures for the preparation of a theater of military operations against the USSR, the repair and construction of railways and highways, bridges, barracks, hospitals, airfields, warehouses, etc. The transfer of troops was carried out more and more intensively. On September 6, 1940, Jodl issued an order stating: “I order to increase the number of occupation troops in the east during the following weeks. For security reasons, the impression should not be created in Russia that Germany is preparing for an offensive in an easterly direction.

On December 5, 1940, at the next secret military conference, Halder's report was heard on the Otto plan, as the war plan against the USSR was originally called, and on the results of staff exercises. In accordance with the results of the exercises, it was planned to destroy the flank groups of the Red Army before the capture of Moscow by developing an offensive against Kyiv and Leningrad. In this form, the plan was approved. There were no doubts about its implementation. Supported by all those present, Hitler declared: “It is to be expected that the Russian army, at the first blow of the German troops, will suffer an even greater defeat than the army of France in 1940.”3 Hitler demanded that the war plan provide for the complete destruction of all combat-ready forces on Soviet territory.

The participants in the meeting had no doubt that the war against the USSR would be completed quickly; CPOK~ weeks was also indicated. Therefore, it was planned to provide only a fifth of the personnel with winter uniforms, Hitler's General Guderian admits in his memoirs published after the war: “In the High Command of the Armed Forces and in the main command ground forces so confidently expected to finish the campaign by the beginning of winter that in ground forces ah Winter uniforms were provided only for every fifth soldier. German generals later tried to shift the blame for the unpreparedness of the troops of the winter campaign to Hitler. But Guderian does not hide the fact that the generals were also to blame for this. He writes: "I cannot agree with the widespread opinion that only Hitler is to blame for the lack of winter uniforms in the autumn of 1941."4

Hitler expressed not only his own opinion, but also the opinion of the German imperialists and the generals, when he, with his characteristic self-confidence, said in a circle of close associates: “I will not make such a mistake as Napoleon; when I go to Moscow, I will set out early enough to reach it before winter."

The next day after the meeting, December 6, Jodl instructed General Warlimont to draw up a directive for war against the USSR on the basis of the decisions taken at the meetings. Six days later, Warlimont submitted directive No. 21 to yodel, who made several corrections, and on December 17 it was handed over to Hitler for his signature. The next day, the directive was approved under the name Operation Barbarossa.

At a meeting with Hitler in April 1941, the German ambassador in Moscow, Count von Schulenburg, tried to express his doubts about the reality of the plan, the war against the USSR. BUT he only achieved that he fell into disfavor forever.

The fascist German generals worked out and put into effect a plan of war against the USSR, which corresponded to the most predatory desires of the imperialists. The military leaders of Germany unanimously spoke in favor of the implementation of this plan. Only after the defeat of Germany in the war against the USSR, the beaten fascist commanders for self-rehabilitation, they put forward a false version that they objected to an attack on the USSR, but Hitler, despite the opposition he received, nevertheless unleashed a war in the East. Thus, for example, the West German General Btomentritt, a former active Nazi, writes that Rundstedt, Brauchitsch, and Halder tried to dissuade Hitler from going to war with Russia. “But all this did not bring any results. Hitler insisted. With a firm hand, he took the helm and led Germany to the rocks of complete defeat. In reality, not only the "Fuhrer", but the entire German generals believed in the "blitzkrieg", in the possibility of a quick victory over the USSR.

Directive No. 21 stated: “The German armed forces must be prepared to win by fleeting victory even before the end of the war with England. military operation Soviet Russia”- the main idea of the war plan was defined in the directive as follows:“ The military masses of the Russian army located in the western part of Russia must be destroyed in bold operations with a deep advance of tank units. The retreat of combat-ready units into the expanses of Russian territory should be prevented ... The ultimate goal of the operation is to isolate itself from Asian Russia common line Arkhangelsk - Volga.

On January 31, 1941, the Headquarters of the High Command of the German Ground Forces issued a "Directive on the Concentration of Troops", which set out the general plan of the command, determined the tasks of army groups, and also gave instructions on the deployment of headquarters, dividing lines, interaction with the fleet and aviation, etc. .This directive, defining "first intent" German army, set before her the task of "splitting the front of the main forces of the Russian army, concentrated in the western part of Russia, with quick and deep strikes from powerful mobile groups north and south of the Pripyat marshes and, using this breakthrough, destroy the disparate groupings of enemy troops."

Thus, two main directions for the offensive of the German troops were outlined: south and north of Polesie. North of Polissya was applied main blow two army groups: "Center" and "North". Their task was defined as follows: “To the north of the Pripyat swamps, Army Group Center is advancing under the command of Field Marshal von Bock. Having introduced powerful tank formations into battle, she makes a breakthrough from the Warsaw and Suwalki area in the direction of Smolensk; then turns the tank troops to the north and destroys, together with the Finnish army and the German troops thrown up for this from Norway, completely deprives the enemy of the last defensive possibilities in the northern part of Russia. As a result of these operations, freedom of maneuver will be ensured for the implementation of subsequent tasks in cooperation with the German troops advancing in southern Russia.

In the event of a sudden and complete defeat of the Russian forces in the north of Russia, the turn of troops to the north is no longer possible and the question of an immediate strike on Moscow may arise.

To the south of Polesye, it was planned to launch an offensive by the forces of Army Group South. Its task was defined as follows: “South of the Pripyat marshes, Army Group South under the command of Field Marshal Rutsdstedt, using a swift blow from powerful tank formations from the Lublin region, cuts off Soviet troops stationed in Galicia and Western Ukraine from their communications on the Dnieper, captures crossing the Dnieper River in the region of Kyiv and to the south of it thus provides freedom of maneuver for solving subsequent tasks in cooperation with troops operating to the north, or performing new tasks in southern Russia.

The most important strategic goal of the Barbarossa plan was to destroy the main forces of the Red Army, concentrated in the western part of the Soviet Union, and to capture important military and economic terms areas. Subsequently, the German troops central direction they hoped to quickly reach Moscow and capture it, and in the south - to occupy the Donets Basin. In terms of great importance was attached to the capture of Moscow, which, according to the plan of the German command, should have brought Germany a decisive political, military and economic success. The Hitlerite command believed that his plan of war against the USSR would be carried out with German precision.

In January 1941, each of the three army groups received a preliminary task under Directive No. 21 and an order to play a war game in order to check the expected course of battles and obtain material for the detailed development of an operational plan.

In connection with the planned German attack on Yugoslavia and Greece, the start of hostilities against the USSR was postponed for 4-5 weeks. On April 3, the high command issued an order stating: "The time for the start of Operation Barbarossa, due to the operation in the Balkans, is postponed by at least 4 weeks." April 30 High Command The armed forces of Germany made a preliminary decision to attack the USSR on June 22, 1941. The intensified transfer of German troops to the Soviet border began in February 1941. Panzer and motorized divisions pulled up in last turn so as not to reveal a premature plan of attack.

17 June 1941 high command armed forces Germany gave the final order, which indicated that the implementation of the plan "Barbarossa" should begin on June 22. The headquarters of the high command was transferred to the Wolfschanze command post, equipped in East Prussia near Rastenburg.

Long before the attack on the USSR, the head of the Gestapo Himmler, on behalf of German government started developing master plan"Ost" - a plan for the conquest by fire and sword of the peoples of Eastern Europe, including the peoples of the Soviet Union. The starting points of this plan were reported to Hitler as early as May 25, 1940. Himmler expressed confidence that as a result of the implementation of the planned measures, many peoples, in particular Poles, Ukrainians, etc., would be completely exterminated. For the complete elimination of national culture, it was planned to destroy any education, except primary in special schools. The program of these schools, as Himmler suggested, was to include: “simple counting, up to 500 at the most; the ability to sign, the suggestion that the divine commandment is to obey the Germans, to be honest, diligent and obedient. The ability to read,” added Himmler, “I consider it unnecessary.” Having familiarized himself with these proposals, Hitler fully approved them and approved them as a directive.

Created in advance special teams and "technique" for mass extermination civilians. The German armed forces and authorities in the occupied territories were to be guided by the relevant instructions of Hitler, who taught: “We are obliged to exterminate the population - this is part of our mission to protect the German population. We will have to develop a technique for exterminating the population ... If I send the flower of the German nation into the heat of war, shedding precious German blood without the slightest pity, then, without a doubt, I have the right to destroy millions of people of an inferior race who multiply like worms.

Bibliography

For the preparation of this work, materials from the site http://referat.ru were used.

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The art of war is a science in which nothing succeeds except what has been calculated and thought out.
Napoleon

The Barbarossa plan is a plan for Germany's attack on the USSR, based on the principle of lightning war, blitzkrieg. The plan began to be developed in the summer of 1940, and on December 18, 1940, Hitler approved a plan according to which the war was to be ended by November 1941 at the latest.

Plan Barbarossa was named after Frederick Barbarossa, a 12th century emperor who was famous for his aggressive campaigns. This traced elements of symbolism, to which Hitler himself and his entourage paid so much attention. The plan received its name on January 31, 1941.

Number of troops to implement the plan

Germany prepared 190 divisions for war and 24 divisions as a reserve. For the war, 19 tank and 14 motorized divisions were allocated. Total population contingent that Germany sent to the USSR on different estimates ranges from 5 to 5.5 million people.

The apparent superiority in the technology of the USSR should not be taken into account, since by the beginning of the wars, German technical tanks and aircraft were superior to Soviet ones, and the army itself was much more trained. Enough to remember Soviet-Finnish war 1939-1940, where the Red Army demonstrated weakness in literally everything.

Direction of the main attack

The Barbarossa plan defined 3 main directions for the strike:

Army Group South. A blow to Moldova, Ukraine, Crimea and access to the Caucasus. Further movement to the line Astrakhan - Stalingrad (Volgograd).
Army Group Center. Line "Minsk - Smolensk - Moscow". Promotion to Nizhny Novgorod, aligning the line "Wave - Northern Dvina".
Army Group North. Attack on the Baltic states, Leningrad and further advance towards Arkhangelsk and Murmansk. At the same time, the army "Norway" was to fight in the north together with the Finnish army.

Table - offensive goals according to the Barbarossa plan

	SOUTH	CENTRE	NORTH
Target	Ukraine, Crimea, access to the Caucasus	Minsk, Smolensk, Moscow	Baltic States, Leningrad, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk
population	57 divisions and 13 brigades	50 divisions and 2 brigades	29 division + army "Norway"
Commanding	Field Marshal von Rundstedt	Field Marshal von Bock	Field Marshal von Leeb
common goal	Get on line: Arkhangelsk - Volga - Astrakhan (Northern Dvina)

Around the end of October 1941 German command planned to enter the Volga-Northern Dvina line, thereby capturing the entire European part THE USSR. This was the plan of the blitzkrieg. After the blitzkrieg, the lands beyond the Urals should have remained, which, without the support of the center, would quickly surrender to the winner.

Until about mid-August 1941, the Germans believed that war is coming according to plan, but in September there are already entries in the diaries of officers that the Barbarossa plan failed and the war will be lost. The best proof that Germany in August 1941 believed that only a few weeks were left before the end of the war with the USSR is the speech of Goebbels. The Minister of Propaganda suggested that the Germans additionally collect warm clothes for the needs of the army. The government decided that this step was not necessary, since there would be no war in the winter.

Implementation of the plan

The first three weeks of the war assured Hitler that everything was going according to plan. The army advanced rapidly, winning victories, Soviet army suffered huge losses.

28 divisions out of 170 disabled.
70 divisions lost about 50% of their personnel.
72 divisions remained combat-ready (43% of those available at the start of the war).

During the same 3 weeks, the average rate of advance of German troops inland was 30 km per day.

By July 11, the army group "North" occupied almost the entire territory of the Baltic states, providing access to Leningrad, the army group "Center" reached Smolensk, the army group "South" went to Kyiv. These were recent achievements, which fully corresponded to the plan of the German command. After that, failures began (still local, but already indicative). Nevertheless, the initiative in the war until the end of 1941 was on the side of Germany.

German failures in the North

The army "North" occupied the Baltic states without problems, especially since there was practically no partisan movement there. The next strategic point to be captured was Leningrad. It turned out that the Wehrmacht was not capable of this task. The city did not capitulate to the enemy, and until the end of the war, despite all efforts, Germany failed to capture it.

Failures of the Army Center

The "Center" army reached Smolensk without any problems, but got stuck under the city until September 10. Smolensk resisted for almost a month. The German command demanded a decisive victory and the advance of the troops, since such a delay under the city, which was planned to be taken without big losses, was unacceptable and called into question the implementation of the Barbarossa plan. As a result, the Germans took Smolensk, but their troops were pretty battered.

Historians today evaluate the battle for Smolensk as a tactical victory for Germany, but a strategic victory for Russia, as they managed to stop the advance of troops on Moscow, which allowed the capital to prepare for defense.

Complicated promotion german army inland partisan movement Belarus.

Failures of the Army of the South

The "South" army reached Kyiv in 3.5 weeks and, like the "Center" army near Smolensk, got stuck in battles. In the end, it was possible to take the city in view of the clear superiority of the army, but Kyiv held out almost until the end of September, which also made it difficult for the German army to advance, and made a significant contribution to the disruption of the Barbarossa plan.

Map of the advance plan of the German troops

Above is a map showing the plan of the German command for the offensive. The map shows: in green - the borders of the USSR, in red - the border to which Germany planned to reach, in blue - the deployment and the plan to advance the German forces.

General state of affairs

In the North, it was not possible to capture Leningrad and Murmansk. The advance of the troops stopped.
In the Center, with great difficulty, we managed to get to Moscow. At the time the German army entered the Soviet capital, it was clear that no blitzkrieg had happened.
In the South, they failed to take Odessa and capture the Caucasus. By the end of September Hitler's troops they just captured Kyiv and launched an offensive against Kharkov and the Donbass.

Why did the blitzkrieg fail in Germany?

Germany failed the blitzkrieg because the Wehrmacht was preparing the Barbarossa plan, as it later turned out, on false intelligence. Hitler admitted this by the end of 1941, saying that if he knew real situation affairs in the USSR, then he would not have started the war on June 22.

The lightning war tactics were based on the fact that the country has one line of defense on the western border, all large army units are located on the western border, and aviation is located on the border. Since Hitler was sure that all Soviet troops were located on the border, this formed the basis of the blitzkrieg - to destroy the enemy army in the first weeks of the war, and then rapidly move inland without encountering serious resistance.

In fact, there were several lines of defense, the army was not located with all its forces on the western border, there were reserves. Germany did not expect this, and by August 1941 it became clear that the lightning war had failed, and Germany could not win the war. The fact that World War II lasted until 1945 only proves that the Germans fought very organized and brave. Due to the fact that they had the economy of the whole of Europe behind them (speaking of the war between Germany and the USSR, many for some reason forget that the German army included units from almost all European countries) they managed to fight successfully.

Did Barbarossa's plan fail?

I propose to evaluate the Barbarossa plan according to 2 criteria: global and local. Global(landmark - the Great Patriotic War) - the plan was thwarted, because the lightning war did not work, the German troops were bogged down in battles. Local(landmark - intelligence data) - the plan was implemented. The German command drew up the Barbarossa plan on the basis that the USSR had 170 divisions on the country's border, there were no additional defense echelons. There are no reserves and reinforcements. The army was preparing for this. In 3 weeks, 28 Soviet divisions were completely destroyed, and in 70, approximately 50% of the personnel and equipment were disabled. At this stage, the blitzkrieg worked and, in the absence of reinforcements from the USSR, gave the desired results. But it turned out that Soviet command there are reserves, not all troops are located on the border, mobilization brings quality soldiers into the army, there are additional lines of defense, the “charm” of which Germany felt near Smolensk and Kyiv.

Therefore, the disruption of the Barbarossa plan must be regarded as a huge strategic mistake German intelligence, led by Wilhelm Canaris. Today, some historians associate this person with the agents of England, but there is no evidence for this. But if we assume that this is indeed the case, then it becomes clear why Canaris slipped an absolute “linden” to Hitler that the USSR was not ready for war and all the troops were located on the border.

At the end of 1940, Hitler signed the ominous document - Directive 21, which became known as the "Barbarossa" plan. The attack on the USSR was originally planned for May 15: the German command planned to finish off the Red Army before the onset of autumn. However, the Balkan operation launched by Germany to seize Yugoslavia and Greece pushed back the date of the attack to June 22.

If you want peace, prepare for war

The emergence of the Barbarossa plan may seem strange at first glance. Only a year ago, a non-aggression pact was signed between Germany and the Soviet Union - the so-called Ribbentrop-Molotov pact, which provided for the redistribution of spheres of influence into Eastern Europe. What has changed in relations between the recent "allies"? First, in June 1940, France, Hitler's most serious continental opponent, capitulated to the German troops. Secondly, recent winter war The USSR against Finland showed that the Soviet combat vehicle was not so powerful, especially against the backdrop of German successes. And, thirdly, after all, Hitler was afraid to start a military operation against England, having Soviet divisions in the rear. Therefore, immediately after the signing of the surrender by the French, the German command began to develop a plan for a military campaign against the USSR.

tooth for tooth

Finland and Romania were to play a big role in the implementation of the Barbarossa plan. Most recently, the Soviet Union seized from the Finns - the Karelian Isthmus with Vyborg, from the Romanians - Bessarabia, i.e. land that was formerly part of Russian Empire. The leadership of these countries longed for revenge. According to the Barbarossa plan, the Finnish troops were to hold down the Soviet troops with their offensive in the north, and the Romanian troops in the south. While the German units will inflict crushing blow in the center.

Swedish neutrality

During World War II, Sweden officially declared its neutrality. However, in the Barbarossa plan, the role of Sweden is clearly spelled out - the Swedes had to provide their railways for the transfer of 2-3 German divisions to help Finland. Everything went according to plan - in the very first days of the war, a German division was passed through the territory of Sweden for operations in Northern Finland. True, the Prime Minister of Sweden soon promised the frightened Swedish people that not a single German division would be allowed through the territory of Sweden and that the country would not enter the war against the USSR. However, in practice, the transit of German military materials to Finland began through Sweden; German transport ships transported troops there, hiding in the territorial waters of Sweden, and until the winter of 1942/43 they were accompanied by a convoy of Swedish naval forces. The Nazis achieved the supply of Swedish goods on credit and their transportation mainly on Swedish ships.

Stalin Line

In the 1930s, a powerful system of defensive structures was built on the western borders of the USSR, which consisted of fortified areas from the Karelian Isthmus to the Black Sea, in the West it was called the Stalin Line. The fortified area included casemates, positions for field artillery, bunkers for anti-tank guns. After the partition of Poland and the return of Western Ukraine and the Baltic states, the border moved away and the Stalin line ended up in the rear, some of the weapons were transferred to the new borders, but Zhukov insisted that part of the artillery weapons be kept in the disarmed areas. The plan "Barbarossa" provided for a breakthrough of border fortifications tank troops, but the German command, apparently, did not take Stalin's line into account. Subsequently, some fortified areas played a role in the war, their assault made it possible to delay the advance of the Nazis and disrupt the blitzkrieg.

And we're going south!

Fierce Resistance Soviet troops, a large stretch of troops, guerrilla war in the rear led to the fact that Hitler decided to seek his fortune in the south. On August 21, 1941, Hitler issued a new directive stating that the most important task before the onset of winter is not the capture of Moscow, but the capture of the Crimea, industrial and coal areas on the Donets River and the blocking of Russian oil routes from the Caucasus. The Barbarossa plan, which included a march on Moscow, was cracking at the seams. Part of the troops of the Army Group "Center" was transferred to the aid of the Army Group "South" in order to achieve a strategic advantage in Ukraine. As a result, the attack on Moscow began only at the end of September - time was lost and the Russian winter loomed ahead.

Cudgel of the People's War

The plan developed by the German generals did not take into account the resistance of the civilian population at all. With the onset of autumn, the advance of the Germans slowed down significantly, the war dragged on, and civilians met the winners not at all like obedient Europeans and at the first opportunity - struck back the invaders. The Italian observer Curzio Malaparte noted: “When the Germans begin to be afraid, when the mysterious German fear creeps into their hearts, you begin to especially fear for them and feel sorry for them. They look pathetic, their cruelty is sad, their courage is silent and hopeless. This is where the Germans begin to go berserk... They begin to kill prisoners who have rubbed their feet and can no longer walk. They begin to burn villages that have failed to provide the amount of grain and flour, barley and oats, cattle and horses set in accordance with the requirements. When there are almost no Jews left, they hang the peasants.” The people responded to the atrocities of the Nazis by leaving for the partisans, cudgel people's war, without understanding anything, began to nail the Germans in the rear.

General "Winter"

The blitzkrieg plan so captivated Hitler that when it was developed, the fact of a protracted war was not even considered. The attack was originally planned for May 15 to finish off the Soviets before the fall, but in reality, Hitler's Balkan operation to seize Yugoslavia and Greece pushed back the date of the attack to June 22 - time was needed for the transfer of troops. As a result, General "Winter", as the Germans called him, took the side of the Russians. For winter Hitler's army was completely unprepared, captured Germans sometimes turned out to be dressed in work clothes pulled over uniform trousers and jackets and lined with unnecessary paper, including leaflets calling for surrender, which were scattered from aircraft over the front line over Russian positions. Hands without mittens froze to the metal parts of the weapon, and frostbite became no less formidable enemy of the Germans than the pushing Soviet units.

Famous german plan"Barbarossa" can be briefly described something like this: it is almost unreal strategic plan Hitler to seize Russia as the main enemy on the way to world domination.

It is worth remembering that by the time of the attack on the Soviet Union, fascist Germany, led by Adolf Hitler, had almost unhindered captured half of the European states. Only Britain and the United States offered resistance to the aggressor.

The essence and goals of Operation Barbarossa

The Soviet-German non-aggression pact, signed shortly before the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, was for Hitler nothing more than a handicap. Why? Because the Soviet Union, without assuming a possible betrayal, fulfilled the aforementioned agreement.

And the German leader thus bought time to carefully develop a strategy to capture his main enemy.

Why did Hitler recognize Russia as the biggest obstacle in the implementation of the blitzkrieg? Because the resilience of the USSR did not allow England and the United States to lose heart and, perhaps, to surrender, like many European countries.

In addition, the fall of the Soviet Union would serve as a powerful impetus to strengthen Japan's position on the world stage. And Japan and the United States had extremely tense relations. Also, the non-aggression pact allowed Germany not to launch an offensive in adverse conditions winter cold.

The preliminary strategy of the Barbarossa plan, point by point, looked something like this:

The powerful and well-prepared army of the Reich invades Western Ukraine, breaking the main forces of a disoriented enemy with lightning speed. After several decisive battles, the German forces finish off the scattered detachments of the surviving Soviet soldiers.
From the territory of the occupied Balkans, march victoriously to Moscow and Leningrad. Capture both archival cities to achieve the intended result of the city. The task of capturing Moscow as the political and tactical center of the country was especially highlighted. Interesting: the Germans were sure that Moscow would flock to defend every single remnant of the USSR army - and it would be easier than ever to utterly smash them.

Why was the German plan of attack on the USSR called the "Barbarossa" plan?

The strategic plan for the lightning-fast capture and subjugation of the Soviet Union got its name in honor of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa, who ruled the Holy Roman Empire in the 12th century.

The aforementioned leader went down in history thanks to his numerous and successful conquests.

In the name of the plan "Barbarossa", there was undoubtedly a symbolism inherent in almost all actions and decisions of the leadership of the Third Reich. The name of the plan was approved on January 31, 1941.

Hitler's goals in World War II

Like any totalitarian dictator, Hitler did not pursue any special tasks (at least, those that could be explained by applying the elementary logic of a sound mind).

The Third Reich unleashed the Second world war with the only goal: to seize the world, to establish domination, to subjugate all countries and peoples to their perverted ideologies, to impose their picture of the world on the entire population of the planet.

How long did Hitler want to take over the USSR

In general, the Nazi strategists allotted only five months for the capture of the vast territory of the Soviet Union - a single summer.

Today, such arrogance may seem unfounded, if you do not remember that at the time of the development of the plan, the German army in just a few months, without much effort and loss, captured almost all of Europe.

What does blitzkrieg mean and what are its tactics

Blitzkrieg, or the tactics of lightning-fast capture of the enemy, is the brainchild of German military strategists at the beginning of the 20th century. The word Blitzkrieg comes from two German words: Blitz (lightning) and Krieg (war).

The blitzkrieg strategy was based on the possibility of capturing vast territories in record time (months or even weeks) before the opposing army came to its senses and mobilized the main forces.

Lightning attack tactics were based on close cooperation infantry, aviation and tank formations of the German army. Tank crews, supported by infantry, must break through behind enemy lines and surround the main fortified positions important for establishing permanent control over the territory.

The enemy army, being cut off from all communication systems and all kinds of supplies, quickly begins to experience difficulties in solving the simplest issues (water, food, ammunition, clothing, etc.). Thus weakened, the forces of the attacked country are soon surrendered or destroyed.

When did Nazi Germany attack the USSR?

According to the results of the development of the Barbarossa plan, the Reich attack on the USSR was scheduled for May 15, 1941. The date of the invasion was shifted due to the Nazis carrying out the Greek and Yugoslav operations in the Balkans.

In fact, Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union without declaring war on June 22, 1941 at 4:00 am. This sad date is considered the beginning of the Great Patriotic War.

Where did the Germans go during the war - map

Blitzkrieg tactics helped German troops in the first days and weeks of the Second World War, to travel huge distances across the territory of the USSR without any particular problems. In 1942, a rather impressive part of the country was captured by the Nazis.

German forces reached almost Moscow. In the Caucasus, they advanced to the Volga, but after the battle of Stalingrad they were driven back to Kursk. At this stage, the retreat of the German army began. By northern lands the invaders marched to Arkhangelsk.

Reasons for the failure of the Barbarossa plan

If we consider the situation globally, the plan fell through due to the inaccuracy of German intelligence data. Wilhelm Canaris, who led it, may well have been a British double agent, as some historians today argue.

If we take these unconfirmed data on faith, it becomes clear why he “fed” Hitler the misinformation that the USSR had practically no secondary lines of defense, but there were huge supply problems, and, moreover, almost all troops were stationed on the border.

Conclusion

Many historians, poets, writers, as well as eyewitnesses of the events described, admit that a huge, almost decisive role in the victory of the USSR over Nazi Germany, played the fighting spirit Soviet people, the love of freedom of the Slavic and other peoples who did not want to drag out a miserable existence under the yoke of world tyranny.