Operation: Barbarossa

Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a 2,900 km front. In addition to the large number of troops, it also involved 600,000 motor vehicles and 750,000 horses. Planning for Operation Barbarossa started on 18 December 1940, and was implemented in June 22 1941. The campaign came to it's conclusion on December 3 of the same year, with the German defeat outside Moscow.

Operation Barbarossa's failure led to Hitler's demands for further operations inside the USSR, all of which eventually failed, such as continuing the Siege of Leningrad, Operation Nordlicht, and Battle of Stalingrad, among other battles on the occupied Soviet territory.

Barbarossa was the largest military operation in human history in both manpower and casualties. Its failure was a turning point in the Third Reich's fortunes. Most important, Operation Barbarossa opened up the Eastern Front, to which more forces were committed than in any other theatre of war in world history.

Operation Barbarossa in Days of Infamy
Operation Barbarossa was reaching it's climax outside of Moscow when Japan invaded Hawaii in late 1941. The Invasion and Japan's rampage through out the Pacific pushed the news of the German's defeat off the headlines of News papers around the US.

Operation Barbarossa in In the Presence of Mine Enemies
Operation Barbarossa was successful in defeating the Soviet Union and adding it's lands to that of the Reich. Memorabilia from the campaign were placed on display in the Soldiers Hall.

Operation Barbarossa in The Last Article
Operation Barbarossa resulted in the defeat of the Soviet Union and it's territories annexed by Germany. Field Marshal Model had participated in it's final climax outside of Moscow.

Operation Barbarossa in The Phantom Tolbukhin
Operation Barbarossa was a success partly in due to Joseph Stalin's purges, which took out many leading Soviet Generals.

Operation Barbarossa in Worldwar
Operation Barbarossa was still fresh in the minds of many German's and Russians when the Race invaded in mid 1942. Many German's fumed over the defeat while the Russians still remembered it as a sign of German treachery.