Operation Barbarossa
- Initial Attack on Russia (Breaking Non-Aggression Pact) –June 22, 1941 – Led by Von Paulos
- Stalin was warned, did nothing – caught off guard
- First attacks masterful. Soviets pushed back
- Captured Leningrad/Keiv, 50 miles from Moscow –Russians retreat to Moscow, scorched earth policy
- Russian Winter hits. Coldest in 50 years –German Machines all freeze. Germans not ready for winter
- Thousands died to cold
- Attack on Moscow failed (50miles) –Siberian soldiers and weather primary reason
Germany broke the non-aggression pact by invading Russia. The Germans caught them completely of guard.