Operation Barbarossa
On June 22, 1941, Germany launched its invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II, codenamed Operation Barbarossa.
Hitler thought it was going to be a quick victory, but due to the harsh winter weather, as well as those bunch of crazy determined Soviet resistance, German forces suffered greatly.
Operation Barbarossa Begins
June 22, 1941, more than 3 million German and Axis troops invaded the Soviet Union launching the operation. It was Germany’s largest invasion force of the war. Will go down as one of the most powerful invasion in history.
Despite all warnings and signs, Stalin refused to believe that Hitler was planning an attack and the German invasion caught the Red Army unprepared. German forces moved quickly along the vast front (1,800-mile-long).
Hitler’s directives for the invasion included the Commissar Order, which authorized the immediate execution of all captured enemy officers. Many were killed (POW) upon capture which violates international war protocols.