In August 1939, Hitler and Stalin signed on normal aggression and The world is taken by surprise at this.
From the onset Hitler didn’t hide his hatred for the Soviet Union, to him, it was the home of communism- this new ideology which he detested. Communism stood in the way of area to premises.
The Russian public and the military in particular, could not understand, these two have been sworn enemies , how could they now have any kind of a deal?
Stalin himself had actually read mind comes, he was not naive about hitters aims. This was a deal with the devil for both sides. But while Western diplomats struggled to understand this baffling Alliance, Hitler and Stalin reveal their hands.
Beginning of September 1939, Germany invades Poland from the west after the Soviet Union invaded from the east. Within a few short weeks, Hitler and Stalin’s armies complete their conquest. As they carve up the spoils, and redraw opponents borders, The true meaning of the Nazi-Soviet becomes clear.
– It is Over the next two years, Stalin watches the Nazi war machine blitzes its way across Europe, smashing through democracies, like the Netherlands and France. But as the dust settles, it becomes increasingly obvious that Hitler has no intention of merely expanding to the west. He wants control of all of Western and Central Europe. And Russia is the last frontier.
With Hitler’s troops busy holding his gains across Europe, and the Nazi-Soviet pact in place. Nobody expects the future to open a second front of the wall.
Although so many national leaders have learned that Hitler’s promises mean nothing but When the betrayal comes, it is still unexpected. Very early morning, 22nd of June, Everything changed, Operation Barbarossa started -It is basically Attacks on The Soviet Union by Germany.
From the very moment onwards, the two countries were again, arch enemies. within six eight weeks, They use the old textbook Nazi tactic of blitzkrieg. An overwhelming attack first by claims rapidly like tanks, artillery, and infantry.
Hitler at this point believed that the Red Army would collapse like a house of cars. all they had to do was to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure would collapse. So by December 1941, The German army has stormed through Soviet territory, holding a line that stretches from Leningrad to Roscoff. The Red Army suffers astonishing casualties.
But the Nazi onslaught is finally halted at Moscow. By the following spring, it is clear that Russia isn’t going to fall as easily as far as Hitler’s war machine needs feeding. If Germany is going to continue fighting the war and needs oil needs vital resources. And that means heading down to the Caucasus and the southern part of the Soviet Union. So in the summer of 1942, as the Wehrmacht continues its assault on Russia.
Hitler and his generals plan to send German Army groups to take the rich oil fields. But As Hitler plots the route to the caucuses, he spots the opportunity to strike a humiliating blow tot he German High Command when they’re going over the plan for that summer. They noticed that there’s this city named Stalingrad. They’re just a juicy morsel that caught their eye.
There are strategic reasons for taking Starlingrad- This large industrial city supply is the Red Army with Tex dominance and its right on the back of the mighty river Volga. The capture of Stalingrad would cut off this major Soviet supply.
But the main reason Hitler wanted Stalingrad is because of the eagerness to embarrass Stalin by taking a city that has his name. Hitler changes his plan and splits his forces into two, one continues towards the oil fields, While the others head for Stalingrad.
Just as important as it was for Hitler to take the city for reasons of prestige, it was exactly the same for Staling to keep it -Stalingrad not only bear Stalin’s name, but also holds a deep personal significance. It was the city where he had fought and won in the Russian Civil War. There is an emotion to defend that city during this new Great Patriotic War.
Stalin already furious that so many Soviet cities had fallen so easily is determined that Stalingrad will be different.
On the 28th of July, he urges not one step back. If the defenders of Stalingrad is to stand firm against the Nazi assault, Stalin has to inspire them like never before, fighting for the motherland the homeland resonated intensely with virtually any Soviet citizen.
The overriding motivator was love for the motherland and deep hatred toward the invader. And the people of Stalingrad have more than patriotism. They rally to create local defenses, digging anti tank ditches to slow the bear market. They even destroy their own property, laying waste to anything that the other military will use to their advantage.