Stalin's decided to send Vyacheslav Molotov to Berlin for stalling discussions. Stalin knew if Hitler did not attack the Soviet Union in summer of 41, he would be forced to wait until 1942. No one in their right would invade the Soviet Union in winter.
Hitler ordered his Generals to prepare for "Operation Barbarossa". Hitler planed to invade the Soviet Union on 15th May, 1941. Hitler wrongely believed the German army would have won before the Soviet winter set in.
Information on "Operation Barbarossa" came to Stalin from various sources. However, Hitler had been forced to postpone Operation Barbarossa for a few weeks. On 22st June, 1941, Germany invaded. The German forces were made up of three million men and 3,400 tanks.
The first few months saw massive gains for the German army. However, winter was approaching. As German troops moved deeper into the Soviet Union, their supply lines became longer. Stalin gave instructions the Red Army should destroy anything that could be of use to the enemy as they withdrew. This was the "scorched earth policy". Soviet guerrilla units behind German front lines causing havic for the Germans who were starting to get bogged down.
October, 1941: German troops were only fifteen miles outside Moscow. Stalin rallied morale by staying in Moscow.
November, 1941: German Army launched a new offensive on Moscow, but failed.
Stalin counter-attacked.
The German army was taken by surprise and started to retreat.
The Germans were pushed back 200 miles.
World War Two
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