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The USSR in World War II
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The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

Dec 14, 2015

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Page 1: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

The USSR in World War II

Page 2: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill

Page 3: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

The Big Three: Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin at Yalta, Feb.1945

Page 4: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

The ultimate test of the Russian battle order has usually been war

The Romanov Empire failed that test in WWI – and fell By the time of the next test – WWII, the Russian state was

transformed into a more formidable machine The “socialist” organization of the country was aimed at

making the state more militarily capable A similar logic unfolded in Italy and Germany under

different forms of “socialism” They talked of “socialism”, but they meant winning world

wars

Page 5: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

If the essence of War Communism was to win the Russian civil war, the essence of Stalinism was to win in World War II

Belief in the inevitability of war – of one kind or another The slide to war

Forced modernization The Great Terror of 1937-38 Skirmishes in the 1930s: China, Spain Diplomatic maneuvers in 1934-39: attempts to contain the

fascist powers, then a non-aggression pact with Hitler

Page 6: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

Global civil war and interstate conflict Fierce Left-Right struggles in European countries since

WWI, the lure and fear of revolution Stalinism in Russia as a new stage in the Russian civil

war: forced modernization to strengthen the state and make it fit for the next round of interstate wars

Fascism as a new stage in European Left-Right conflict: to defeat the Left internally and externally

Projection of the internal conflicts on interstate relations The Spanish Civil War Appeasement: betrayal of Czechoslovakia The fall of democracies across Europe due to both

internal (Left vs. Right) and external (actions of Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union)

Page 7: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

The geopolitical triangle: Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Japan), USSR, Western democracies (WDs)

USSR

WDs

Axis

Page 8: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

As a state committed to world revolution, the Soviet Union was viewed as a threat by Western elites

The rise of fascism was partly a response to the threat – and anticommunism was one of the motives of Western appeasement of Hitler

But the Axis powers were also challenging other Great Powers in Europe and Asia – the continuing conflict between empires

In the 1920s-early 1930s, before Hitler’s coming to power in Germany, USSR cooperated with Germany against Britain and France

When Germany became a radical anticommunist force, USSR and Western democracies discussed “collective security” arrangements to prevent Hitler’s aggression – without success

Then Britain, France and the USSR made their separate deals with Hitler, which enabled him to start World War II

Page 9: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

Britain and France hoped to channel Hitler’s aggression to the East, toward conflict with Russia – reluctant to fight Germany

Hitler was determined to prevent Western democracies and USSR from joining forces: beat them one by one

Stalin was determined to avoid war with Germany as long as possible – but convinced that such a war was inevitable

1939: A divergence of interests between USSR and Western democracies – and a convergence of interests between Germany and USSR

The unexpected deal was logical – but only temporary

Page 10: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

Moscow, August 23, 1939: German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop signs non-aggression pact with Russia

Page 11: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.
Page 12: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.
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Hitler and Mussolini in Munich, June 1940

Page 15: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

1939-1941: growing tensions between USSR and Germany At first: division of the spoils. But then: Germany’s unexpected triumph in the West emboldens

Hitler Hitler’s strategic goal of conquering the USSR was never

abandoned – for geopolitical and ideological reasons Stalin expected the new war to generate a new wave of

revolutions – and intended to get involved By 1941, his fear of German power became the

overwhelming factor He was appeasing Hitler – and preparing for war against

him at the same time Each of the two intended to strike first Hitler preempted Stalin and delivered a crushing blow

Page 16: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

Operation Barbarossa June 22, 1941 Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded

the USSR along an 1,800 mile front Goals:

Total destruction of the Soviet state Colonization of the Soviet territory, together with

allies – Japan especially Enslavement of the population, turning the territory

into a resource base for the Third Reich

Page 17: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

The Nazi invasion : http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=StYywx7Uzok&feature=related BBC, “War of the Century”, Parts

2,3,4

Page 18: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

Hitler explaining the future war against Russia, March 1941: “It is a struggle between two ideologies… Communism

presents an enormous danger for the future. A communist has never been and never will be our comrade. It is a struggle for annihilation. If we think otherwise, then, even if we should crush the enemy, the communist threat will rise again in 30 years…

This war will be vastly different from the onw in the West. In the East, brutality is a benefit for the future. Commanders must be ready for sacrifice and overcome their doubts.”

From the diary of General F. Halder, Chief of Staff, Land Forces, Germany

Page 19: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

German poster depicting Soviets: “The lower race”

Page 20: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.
Page 21: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

STAKES IN THE BATTLE FOR RUSSIA Will the Soviet state survive? Will Soviet society as a product of the transformations since

1917 be crushed? Will the Soviet Union become a German colony? How many Soviet citizens will survive? Will genocide become a new global norm? What will become of the world?

Page 22: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

In the first 10 days, German armies moved 550 km into Soviet territory

In the first 20 days of the war, the Red Army lost 1/5 of its manpower – 600,000 men

By July, 20 mln. Soviets found themselves under occupation. Nazi terror began.

Resistance Redeployment of industry to the East

Page 23: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

Victims of German occupation

Page 24: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

Japanese terror in occupied China

Page 25: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.
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Resistance http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=4IAfigTgzmU&feature=related

Page 27: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

The Battle of Moscow: September 1941 – January 1942

Page 28: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

Moscow, October 1941

Page 29: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

Women digging anti-tank moats near Moscow

Page 30: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

Antitank barriers in downtown Moscow

Page 31: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

November 7th, 1941: military parade in Red Square

Page 32: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

Marshal Georgi Zhukov, commander of Soviet forces in the Battle of Moscow

Page 33: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

Women in the war: medics

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Women in the war: pilots

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Children workers assembling weapons

Page 37: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

Partisans

Page 38: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

Partisans

Page 39: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.
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The Battle of Moscow was the first Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

Casualties in the battle of Moscow: 250,000 – 400,000 German 600,000 – 1,300,000 Soviet

Page 41: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.
Page 42: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

The Siege of Leningrad September 1941 – November 1943 The Germans and Finns failed to take the city The cost to Soviet population: About 1.4 million people were rescued by military

evacuation from the besieged city of Leningrad in two years between September 1941 and November 1943.

Another 1.2 million civilians perished in the city.

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Page 47: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

In 1939-41, states of the Global Right attacked the world order, aiming at global primacy

Western democracies joined forces with the communist state in a defensive Center-Left coalition against the Right

The battle for Russia became decisive for the defeat of the Global Right

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US and British aid to the Soviet ally, 1941-45: Food - $1.5 bln. in Automobiles – 427,000 Warplanes – 22,000 Tanks – 13,000 Warships – over 500 Explosives – 350,000 tons Other supplies

Total estimated cost of Allied aid to USSR in contemporary prices –

$100 bln.

Page 52: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

America at war: http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=G5u8E4s57I0&feature=related

Page 53: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

The turning point of World War II: Stalingrad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5u8E4s57I0&feature=related

Page 54: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

The Battle of Stalingrad claimed over two million casualties, more than any other battle in human history

It was also one of the longest: it raged for 199 days Killed, wounded or captured at Stalingrad:

Soviets: 1,290,000 Germans and allies: 850,000

Page 55: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.
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Red flag over Berlin, May 1945

Page 58: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

Checking out Hitler’s headquarters, May 1945

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Berlin, 1945: surrender of German High Command

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Ovens in Buchenwald concentration camp

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Survivors of a Nazi concentration camp

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June 24, 1945: Marshal Zhukov leads Victory Parade in Red Square

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Victory Parade in Red Square, June 24, 1945:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDQ2gQttPBs&NR=1

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Soviet losses in World War II Over 27 mln. killed (13.6% of the population) Of those who survived, 29 mln. took part in the fighting

(including 0.8 mln. women) Battlefield losses – est. 8 mln. (Germany lost 4 mln.) 5 mln. POWs (of them 3 mln. died in concentration camps)

US and British POWs – 232,000 (8,500 died) German POWs – 2.4 mln (0.45 mln. died)

1710 cities and 70,000 villages completely or partially destroyed

40,000 hospitals, 84,000 schools, 43,000 libraries destroyed

Historically unprecedented level of damage suffered by any country

Page 68: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

The war took all nine of her sons

Page 69: The USSR in World War II. London: monument to Roosevelt and Churchill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da1e9Sz8I8k&feature=related