The Big Gamble: Operation Barbarossa the invasion of the Soviet Union

Having been defeated by the British in the air battle of Britain, Hitler turned to the East. On June 22nd 1941, a huge force of nearly all of German Armed Forces invade the Soviet Union with German Allies. The massive force by the Axis Forces are, 8.2 Million troops of them 7.8 of them German Troops, with 4,500 Panzers,and 4,350 aircraft. In three massive Army Groups the Germans advance with 90 miles per day. Against this Axis Force is 3.9 million Red Army troops, 3,600 old tanks, and 4,389 aircraft. On the first day the German Air Force the Luftwaffe wipes out over 3,000 of the Red Air Force's aircraft on the ground. The blow to the Soviet Army is un measurable. In July the Germans surround over 400,000 Red Army troops trying to attack Army Group Centre. Another large Red Army Force fighting against Army Group South is surrounded totaling 800,000 troops. Leader of the Soviet Union Joseph Stalin orders all troops to hold their ground in face of the overpowering Axis Armies. The order given to the Red Army to hold fast meets disaster as in the months of August and September 500,000 Red Army troops are killed,350,000 troops captured, another 2,000 planes wiped out either in the skys or on airfields, and 1,500 tanks destroyed. Attempting to achieve a victory against the Axis, Stalin orders an entire front withdraw. New Soviet Army positions are built only 150 miles out side of Moscow. As the Soviets retreat in a form between good and a total mess another 100,000 Soviets are killed and captured. By the date December 6th 1941 the Germans are only 185 miles from the gates of Moscow. Victory once again for the Germans seems only a matter of time.