The Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) By:Vasilis Daskalopoulos, Ilianna Kotini.

The Great Patriotic War

(1941-1945)

By:Vasilis Daskalopoulos , Ilianna Kotini

World war II timeline

September 1939:war officially begins1939: Nazi-soviet pact1939/40: Finish-Russian war, USSR gains territory1940: USSR occupy Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania1941: Non aggression pact between USSR and Japan1941, June 22: Germany declares war on USSR1942/43: Stalingrad battle and siegeNovember 1943: Stalin’s plan to annex Eastern Russia and Poland is approved1945,Yalta and Potsdam: Conferences between the Big Three

• Stalin had total control over USSR by the time WWII begun

• Russian people saw Stalin as an hero

• He used Lenin’s legacy to command total obedience.

• Stalin systematically misinformed the Russian population

Stalin’s position before the World War II

Stalin’s Internal Attitude

• Stalin, in one of his early speeches, lied about how the war progressed

• Although initially unnerved because unexpected invasion, soon Stalin recovered and planned a response:

1. All factories were moved to safety

east of the Volga River. 2. All soldiers who quit, or

retreated would be executed.• The USSR lost 20 million of people,

surpassing by far any other country in death toll.

• It also secured Stalin as a leader because his victory saved the USSR and restored its national pride.

Foreign policy1939:USSR and

Japan sign the Neutrality Pact.

1939: Nazi-Soviet Pact,

1944: Percentages

Agreement

1945 and on: the ‘Big Three’ meet in Tehran, Yalta and Potsdam

The Nazi-Soviet Pact

The Percentages Agreement-

1944

Increase of Power and Force

Stalin: 1. Creates a buffer of communist

states around USSR2. Eliminates members of the

Polish government3. Made sure he was seen as the

result for victory

Stalin takes over Eastern Europe-Cartoon by Illingworth-

“We want friendly states around our friendly states..”

Conclusion

1. Stalin secured his position through:

2. Totalitarian control3. Securing USSR’s

self sustainability throughout the war

4. Leading to victory as promised.

5. By being a dominant figure in international affairs.

6. By expanding the USSR’s influence.

Thank you for your

attention!