In August 1939, these two powerful nations struck a shocking nonaggression pact, agreeing to a ten-year period without conflict. This pact, known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, was not just a simple agreement but a strategic move that reshaped the map of Europe. Under the terms, the Soviet Union was granted control over Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and the eastern half of Poland This allowed Nazi Germany to invade the western half of Poland without Soviet interference, which Adolf Hitler did on September 1, 1939, just nine days after the pact was signed, marking the beginning of World War II in Europe. Despite the pact, both Germany and the Soviet Union harbored no illusions about their future. They anticipated an inevitable clash but used the agreement to bide their time. Hitler, ever the opportunist, focused on expanding Nazi influence across Western and Central Europe, swiftly conquering France, Denmark, Belgium, and other nations. Meanwhile, Joseph Stalin tightened his iron grip on the Soviet Union, forcefully consolidating power. On June 22, 1941, the landscape of World War II shifted dramatically. Hitler shattered the Nazi-Soviet nonaggression pact with the launch of Operation Barbarossa, a massive invasion of the Soviet Union. From the Baltic Sea in the north to the Black Sea in the south, 3 to 4 million Axis troops advanced, including many non-Germans such as Hungarians, Romanians, Finns, etc. In just one week, German forces had pushed 200 miles into Soviet territory. Within a few months, 2.5 million Soviet soldiers were dead, wounded, or missing. By December, this number had escalated to nearly 7 million. The fighting was extraordinarily brutal. Executions and mass rapes were daily occurrences. Instead of deporting Jews and Roma to concentration camps, the 3,000-strong German Einsatzgruppen, or “operational groups,” executed civilians in their own towns and villages, resulting in the mass murder of over 1 million people, often through mass shootings. However, the Germans faced a harsh reality check with the onset of the bitter Russian winter. Hitler, expecting a quick Soviet collapse, famously declared, “We have only to kick in the door, and the whole rotten structure will come crashing down.” This meant the Germans were unprepared for a prolonged conflict. The Nazis also underestimated the vast distances involved in their campaign. Moscow, situated 1,000 miles east of Berlin, proved to be a formidable objective. By the time German forces reached the outskirts of Moscow, they were stretched beyond their limits. The Red Army capitalized on this, successfully defending Moscow and pushing the Germans back, marking a decisive moment in the war. Hitler aimed for a strategic victory in 1942 by targeting Stalingrad, a key industrial city in southwestern Russia. Stalingrad was a major producer of artillery for Soviet forces, and its location along the Volga River made it a crucial shipping route to the Black and Caspian Seas. The Battle of Stalingrad became the largest and bloodiest confrontation in the history of warfare. Over five brutal months, the city endured relentless German airstrikes and savage hand-to-hand combat. The toll was staggering: 2 million people were killed, wounded, or captured, including many civilians Both sides suffered heavy losses, but the encircled German army in Stalingrad eventually surrendered to the Soviets. This surrender marked one of the war’s most decisive turning points, forcing the Germans into a steady retreat that culminated in their eventual surrender on May 9, 1945, after the Battle of Berlin. The photos collected here, brought to life in full color, depict the bloody battles and daily struggles of World War II’s Eastern Front. (Photo credit: Colorized and upscaled by RHP / Wikimedia Commons / Bundesarchiv). Notify me of new posts by email.
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