The operation against the Soviet Union was a 'Blitzkrieg' ('lightning war') that saw the German Wehrmacht and its allies advance cover greater distances in less time than any of their other campaigns. Of course it would also need to, due to the vast land area that made up the Soviet Union and Russia in particular. The [[Luftwaffe]] worked in co-ordination with the [[Panzer]] Divisions to ensure as rapid an advance as possible. The attack aimed to reach the capital of the [[USSR]], [[Moscow]], before the dreaded Russian winter set in, but failed to do so. The Russians threw back the German armies at that time; their first military success.
The Germans began their offensive anew in 1942 after the winter had passed and again met with success, but the Russians were bolstered by supplies from the Allies including some from the [[United States]] and their continued mobilization of their own great manpower reserves. <ref>https://videopress.com/v/0bp9xJfs</ref> Also, the addition of the T34 [[T-34 tank ]] gave them a weapon that was in many ways superior to any other tank that had been seen in the war. The [[Battle of Stalingrad ]] in late 1942/early '43 was the turning point in the War on the Eastern Front, and a Nazi victory became practically impossible after that as the size of the Soviet forces and their fighting ability continued to grow. ==In popular culture==Former [[GRU]] officer and defector [[Viktor Suvorov]] claims that the order to write a song for the liberation of the German-occupied Europe came from [[Joseph Stalin]]: "Stalin needed a song about the great war against Germany in 1941. And Stalin ordered such a song." ''[[The Sacred War]]'' was written. [[Youtube]] has identified the song as "inappropriate or offensive for some audiences."<ref>*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2N366xn6V4&t=132s The Sacred War! (English Lyrics)]. youtube (Viewer discretion is advised).</ref> ==See also==*[[Molotov-Ribbentrop pact]]*[[Katyusha (song)]] ==References=={{reflist}}
[[Category:Russian History]]
[[Category:German History]]
[[Category:World War II]]
[[Category:World War II Battles]]