(4/12)Battlefield I The Battle for Russia Episode 10 (GDH)

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Videos Running Time: 01:55:00 in 11 Parts

Battlefield: "The Battle for Russia"

This fast paced episode of "Battlefield" chronicles the titanic war in the east, that eventually decided World War II in Europe.

Despite numerous warnings from the Communist spy networks: the Lucy Spy-Ring the Red Orchestra Richard Sorge, and pleadings from Churchill and FDR, through ultra decrypts, Stalin discounted all invasion warnings. Stalin felt that all these alarming reports was actually an attempt to divide agreements between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, by the British and Americans. The Soviet Union shipped supplies ahead of schedule to Nazi Germany. The people of the Soviet Union and Stalin were completely dumbfounded when the Germans invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941.

Three German Army Groups attacked into North, Central and the Southern Soviet Union.

Army Group North (Heeresgruppe Nord) (Generalfeldmarschall von Leeb) objective was the Baltic states, recently invaded by the USSR. The ultimate objective was Leningrad. Army Group Center consisted of 16th (Ernst Busch), 18th (Georg von Küchler) Armies and the 4th Panzer Group (Col. Gen Hoeppner).

Army Group Centre (Heeresgruppe Mitte) (Generalfeldmarschall von Bock) was comprised of the 4th (Günther von Kluge) and 9th Armies (Strauss), along with 2nd (Guderian) and 3rd (Hoth) Panzer Armies. Army Group Centre was focused on destroying all USSR forces in central Russia. The German forces would encircle several massive pockets in their advance from Poland to Smolensk.

Army Group South (Heeresgruppe Süd) (Generalfeldmarschall von Runstedt) was comprised of 17th (Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel), 11th Army (Eugen Ritter von Schobert) Armies, and the mainly Romanian and Hungarian 6th Army (Walther von Reichenau). The 1st Panzer Group (von Kleist) was the main armored component.

Army Group South and Army Group Centres Panzer Armies advanced south to encircle Soviet Armies around Kiev. Many German officers protested Hitlers decision to destroy armies in the field rather than capture Moscow. After the Soviet defeat at Kiev, Hitler implemented Operation Typhoon. Weather, attrition and supply lines now hindered the German advance. Moscow attacked with reserves from the Far East and saved Moscow (GDH)

Category:

Education

Tags:

• World
• War
• II
• USSR
• Soviet
• Red
• Army
• Panzer
• Guderian
• Guns
• Tanks
• Leningrad
• German
• Russia
• Russian

[randy109]

Lucky for us (Allies) that Hitler treated his generals with contempt. Had he shown them respect and listened to them we might have lost millions more men and not defeated Germany until '46 or even later. Hitler had brilliant Generals, but the egomaniacal little Corporal thought he knew better. People that think Hitler was a military genius are either ignorant or blinded by Nazi propaganda. Hitler had tremendous charisma, but little strategic or tactical skills...

[Nickradamus]

I'd never heard of Hearts of Iron, I just looked it up, and i want to play NOW!

[DouglasEdward84]

@randy109 I strongly disagree, Hitler's decisions in tactical and strategic matters until 1942 were most often correct, although I agree with your statement about the egomania which I think was actually fueled even more so by Hitler's correct instincts earlier in the war.

[giuseppeRraimondo]

@randy109 but any one that can plan a tactic that took over the great franch army in 2 weeks , is fine for me

[baryga1985]

BTW between 1:41 and 1:53 - this is DEFINITELY NOT Soviet forces. The soldiers in this episode wear Czech pre-WW2 helmets and uniform. They also sport Czech variants of German Mauser rifles. This is most likely Czech pre-1938 or Slovak (after-Munich) troops, but they are definitely NOT Soviets.

[gettincrazywithit]

@GalinaDmi I strongly disagree. Who made the guarantee that US wouldnt be able to drop a bomb on European soil? The bombastic Hermin Goering?? LOL Berlin was being bombed when Germany looked like they were going to win the war in Russia.

[GalinaDmi]

@gettincrazywithit If the campaign in the east would have been sucessful, the united states hadn't the opportunity to throw any bomb on european soil or elsewhere, where it mattered. Not even one us aircraft would get through to Europe if USSR would have lost, as planed at the end of 1941/begin 1942.

The most embarassing fact is that the 2nd front was established when Russia has already alone decided the war with its own strength.

(Austria)

[gettincrazywithit]

@TheAdrianStalker I understand and acknowledge Hitlers wartime blunders. I am simply stating the US had A bombs in 45 and Germany even if they beat Russia wouldnt have had the bombs until years later..My point is the US would have simply won the war with A bombs regardless of the campaign in the east.

[TheAdrianStalker]

@gettincrazywithit

No, actually it does matter alot. For example, Hitler refused the withdrawal of his troop proposed by his general staff in battle of Stalingrad which eventually cause the entire German 6th army to be annihilated. Also, Hitler decision of operation citadel (battle of Kursk) was launched even being warned by his general, thus operation citadel end up a disaster event for the German as well. Hitler decision caused heavy causality to his army and turn the tide favor for russia.

[gettincrazywithit]

@randy109 Hitlers decisions were irrelevant really. No matter what he achieved against the USSR in 41-44 wouldnt have mattered. The US would have simply A bombed Berlin in 45, war over. lol

[assdickmkgee]

Zhukov even looks like a mean bastard.