Changes

[[File:Axis Allies.PNG|left|300px|thumb|Axis Allies that fought with [[Nazi Germany]] against the [[Soviet Union]]. Not included in the list: [[Finland]], [[Hungary]], and [[Romania]] which also sent troops.]]

[[File:Axis Allies.PNG|left|300px|thumb|Axis Allies that fought with [[Nazi Germany]] against the [[Soviet Union]]. Not included in the list: [[Finland]], [[Hungary]], and [[Romania]] which also sent troops.]]

In June—behind schedule because of diversions in the Balkans—the Germans and their [[Anti-Comintern Pact]] allies launched a massive war against the Soviet Union (known as the "Great Patriotic War" in Russia). It was by far the largest, bloodiest, and most decisive phase of World War II. The German-led [[Western]] alliance regarded the [[Soviet Union]] - which was not a member of [[Geneva Convention]] - and the peoples of [[Eurasia]] as uncivilized [[Asiatic]] hordes. Outside observers in the first few months figured that Germany would win easily. But the Nazi armies were split three ways, [[logistics]] became worse and worse as distances grew, and none met their objective by the time the extreme Russian winter of 1941-42 set in. Blitzkrieg had failed against the Soviets, and the Germans lacked the resources to fight a long war against a country with such vast areas and so many more people.  The Luftwaffe, which promised to overcome the slowness of ground travel, failed to provide adequate support and was soon matched and outnumbered by the Soviet air force.<ref>The best studies of this theater are by [https://books.google.com/books?as_q=&num=30&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES&lr=&as_vt=&as_auth=glantz+david&as_pub=&as_sub=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_isbn=&as_issn= David Glantz]</ref>

In June—behind schedule because of diversions in the Balkans—the Germans and their [[Anti-Comintern Pact]] allies launched a massive war against the Soviet Union (known as the "Great Patriotic War" in Russia). It was by far the largest, bloodiest, and most decisive phase of World War II. The German-led [[Western]] alliance regarded the [[Soviet Union]] - which was not a member of [[Geneva Convention]] - and the peoples of [[Eurasia]] as uncivilized [[Asiatic]] hordes. Outside observers in the first few months figured that Germany would win easily. But the Nazi armies were split three ways, [[logistics]] became worse and worse as distances grew, and none met their objective by the time the extreme Russian winter of 1941-42 set in. Blitzkrieg had failed against the Soviets, and the Germans lacked the resources to fight a long war against a country with such vast areas and so many more people.  The Luftwaffe, which promised to overcome the slowness of ground travel, failed to provide adequate support and was soon matched and outnumbered by the Soviet air force.<ref>The best studies of this theater are by [https://books.google.com/books?as_q=&num=30&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES&lr=&as_vt=&as_auth=glantz+david&as_pub=&as_sub=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&as_isbn=&as_issn= David Glantz]</ref>

===Holocaust by bullet===

===Holocaust by bullet===

[[Einsatzgruppen]] squads began to carry out mass shootings immediately following the June 22, 1941 invasion of the [[Soviet Union]] in the last week of June 1941.<ref>[https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/timeline-event/holocaust/1939-1941/operation-barbarossa Operation Barbarossa | Holocaust Encyclopedia]</ref>  

[[Einsatzgruppen]] squads began to carry out mass shootings immediately following the June 22, 1941 invasion of the [[Soviet Union]] in the last week of June 1941.<ref>[https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/timeline-event/holocaust/1939-1941/operation-barbarossa Operation Barbarossa | Holocaust Encyclopedia]</ref>  

The 14th Waffen Grenadier Division (1st Galician)<ref>German: 14. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (galizische Nr. 1)) Ukrainian: 14а Гренадерська Дивізія СС (1а галицька)), prior to 1944 titled the 14th SS-Volunteer Division "Galicia" Ukrainian: 14а Добровільна Дивізія "Галичина"</ref> was a German military formation made up predominantly of military volunteers with a [[Ukrainian]] ethnic background from the area of [[Polish Galicia]], later also with some [[Slovak]]s and [[Czech]]s. Formed in 1943, it was largely destroyed in the battle of Brody, reformed, and saw action in [[Slovakia]], [[Yugoslavia]] and [[Austria]] before being renamed the first division of the Ukrainian National Army and surrendering to the Western Allies by 10 May 1945.  Volodymyr Kubiyovych (Ukrainian Father Jewish Mother) founded this Division in order for Ukrainians to aid the Ukrainian Insurgent Army with weapons.  

The 14th Waffen Grenadier Division (1st Galician)<ref>German: 14. Waffen-Grenadier-Division der SS (galizische Nr. 1)) Ukrainian: 14а Гренадерська Дивізія СС (1а галицька)), prior to 1944 titled the 14th SS-Volunteer Division "Galicia" Ukrainian: 14а Добровільна Дивізія "Галичина"</ref> was a German military formation made up predominantly of military volunteers with a [[Ukrainian]] ethnic background from the area of [[Polish Galicia]], later also with some [[Slovak]]s and [[Czech]]s. Formed in 1943, it was largely destroyed in the battle of Brody, reformed, and saw action in [[Slovakia]], [[Yugoslavia]] and [[Austria]] before being renamed the first division of the Ukrainian National Army and surrendering to the [[Angelo-American]]s by 10 May 1945, ten days after [[Hitler]]'s suicide.  Volodymyr Kubiyovych (Ukrainian Father Jewish Mother) founded this Division in order for Ukrainians to aid the Ukrainian Insurgent Army with weapons.  

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