| − | The '''Eastern Front''' of [[World War II]] was the area of conflict created by [[Nazi Germany]]'s [[Operation Barbarossa]], the invasion of its former ally, the [[Soviet Union]]. It ended with the [[Battle of Berlin]] in 1945 and the suicide of [[Adolf Hitler]]. Well over 15 million soldiers died on the Eastern Front, and millions more civilians, mostly Russians. | + | The '''Eastern Front''' of [[World War II]] was the area of conflict created by [[Nazi Germany]]'s [[Operation Barbarossa]], the invasion of its former ally, the [[Soviet Union]]. Though Germany had been initially successful, poor strategic decisions, Partisan Resistance, and the Russian Winter eventually allowed the Red Army to push back the Germans. It ended with the [[Battle of Berlin]] in 1945 and the suicide of [[Adolf Hitler]]. Well over 15 million soldiers died on the Eastern Front, and millions more civilians, mostly Russians. |