Special Sub-Topic: The Russian Front Click Here To Play: The Russian Front

What was the German offensive against the Soviet Union in 1941 called?

Operation Barbarossa. Hitler wanted the U.S.S.R for 'living space' and broke the Ribbentrop-Molotov Treaty he had signed to invade it. He was particularly keen to destroy Bolshevism, too, and to build up a vast empire in Eastern Europe.

What was the pre-war non-aggression pact that the Germans signed with the Russians, The Ribbentrop- ________ pact?

Molotov. The Germans signed this with Russia in 1939 just before the war and didn't announce it until 3 months later. The pact also secretly carved up Poland between the 2 nations.

Which Russian city was besieged by the Germans from 1941-1944?

Leningrad. The city was also beseiged by the Finns from 1941-45. The Russian civilian deaths in Leningrad was horrendous.

What was the name of the best, widely produced Russian tank of WWII?

T-34. Some modern tanks are still modelled on the T-34. It was later outclassed by the IS-2, which was only produced towards the end of the war.

What was the name of the petrol bomb named after Stalin's second-in-command, Molotov?

Molotov Cocktail. These bombs could knock out a heavy tank if thrown on to the back where the ammunition and petrol were stored.

What event halted the initial German advance into Russia?

winter.

Where was the biggest tank battle on the Russian front?

Kursk. In this battle, over 50,000 tanks faced each other ending with a victory for the Soviets in the summer of 1943.

When did Germany attack the Soviet Union?

22 June 1941. The Soviet Union was attacked without warning. Stalin was taken completely by surprise and apparently had a nervous breakdown: in any case, it was only 12 days after the attack that he was able to bring himself to address the public by radio.

Why did the Germans try to cross the Caucasaus Mountains?

To reach the Soviet oilfields in Baku. Germany was desperately short of oil throughout WW2, so capturing the Soviet oilfields would have brought immense advantages. In 1942 Hitler apparently had fantastic plans for attacking British India at some future date but that was a remote and vague objective.

Who defended Berlin from the oncoming Russian armies?

Old men and boys as young as 12. When the Russians attacked Berlin, most of Germany's soldiers had been killed, so they had to send men as old as 70 and boys of 14 to fight alongside the remaining soldiers.

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