Adolf Hitler31 July 1940
Originally intended to last 5 months. Announces Russian invasion plans to his military commanders
Germany · Warfare / World War, 2nd. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.
Originally intended to last 5 months. Announces Russian invasion plans to his military commanders
Involved in planning the invasion of Russia
Sets Spring 1941 for an invasion of Russia which should last no longer than 5 months
A memo is issued to increase the Army from 143 to 180 Divisions
Army Groups A, B & C are moved to the Eastern Front
Hitler received military plans for the invasion, and approved them all, with the start scheduled for May 1941
Hitler signed War Directive No. 21 to the German High Command for an operation now codenamed "Operation Barbarossa" stating: "The German Wehrmacht must be prepared to crush Soviet Russia in a quick campaign". All preparations for the invasion of Russia are to be completed by 15th May 1941
Brauchitschs advice to attack Moscow directly is rejected by Hitler
Warns Hitler about underestimating Russia
Tries to convince Hitler to defeat Britain before the Americans join the British
Negotiations begin for passage of troops through Bulgaria to reach Greece & Russia
Outlines the General Staffs invasion plans to Hitler, the OKW & OKB
"When Barbarossa commences, the world will hold its breath & make no comment". Orders Keitel to make it appear as if Germany is invading Britain rather than Russia
Hitler orders Keitel to make it appear as if Germany is invading Britain
The Bulgarian General Staff allow German troops to pass through Bulgaria
German Army Units cross the Danube from Rumania & take up positions in Bulgaria
Delays invasion by 4 weeks to invade Yugoslavia after an Allied coup in Belgrade
At a General Staff meeting says Germany must destroy the Red Army & the Soviet State
The entire urban population of the invaded land was to be starved to death, thus creating an agricultural surplus to feed Germany and allowing the urban populations replacement by a German upper class. Goerings Green Folder laid out details of the Soviet Unions proposed economic disposal after the invasion
The entire urban population of the invaded land was to be starved to death, thus creating an agricultural surplus to feed Germany and allowing the urban populations replacement by a German upper class
Sets the date for the German invasion of Russia, June 22
The original day planned for operation Barbarossa
Present at a meeting with Hitler to plan the invasio of Russia
3,050,000 troops, 3,350 tanks , 7,000 field guns & 2,000 arcraft are ready
The 4th Army reaches the outskirts of Moscow
German planes bomb Russian border cities
The Luftwaffe supports Operation Barbarossa and attacks Soviet airfields
First day of Operation Barbarossa, commands the 5 divisions of the 1st Panzer Group
Responsible for advancing into the Baltic States. Responsible capturing Baltic ports & moving to Leningrad
First day of Operation Barbarossa, commands the Army Group North
1st day of Operation Barbarossa, commands the Army Group South consisting of 52 Divs
Responsible for capturing the Ukraine & the Caucasus
By the 2nd day of the invasion the Luftwaffe has destroyed 2,000 Russian aircraft
Vilna & Kovoo are taken after the fall of Brest Litovsk during the German invasion of Russia
The western front is broken & the Germans charge towards Minsk
Kleist commands 1st Panzergruppe, comprising XVIII and XL Panzer Corps, which spearheads the Blitzkrieg-style invasion of Russia
Tries to thwart the German attack on the Soviet Union in June 1941 through means such as hinting at the countrys military strength and the unassailability of its industrial reserves
After the pincer battles of Bialystok & Minsk are concluded: 324,000 prisoners, 3,332 tanks & 1,809 guns are captured
The Stalin Line was broken through on all important points
Temperatures in Russia begin to drop below zero
Progress on Moscow is stopped due to the weather & Russian resistance
1st cases of frostbite are reported in the German Army
Convinces Hitler that the Russian resistance is on the verge of collapse
Kleists leading divisions begin to reach Rostov-on-Don
Kleists Panzers seize a bridge over the Don, the last barrier before the Caucasus. Crooses the Don but is forced back by Timoshenko
Reports to Hitler that the Russian weather has brought his forces to a standstill
Russian prisoners amount to 3,806,865; the number of tanks destroyed or captured 21,391, guns, 32,541 & aeroplanes, 17,322
Admits there is no hope of "strategic success" after the failure to capture Moscow
The entire urban population of the invaded land was to be starved to death, thus creating an agricultural surplus to feed Germany and allowing the urban populations replacement by a German upper class. Goerings Green Folder laid out details of the Soviet Unions proposed economic disposal after the invasion. Tries to dissuade Hitler from invading Russia
Takes part in Operation Barbarossa while serving under Heinz Guderian in the 2nd Panzer Army
As early as 1925, Hitler suggested in Mein Kampf ("My Struggle") that he would invade the Soviet Union, asserting that the German people needed Lebensraum ("living space", i. e. land and raw materials) and that these should be sought in the east
Asks Japan to attack Russia, Japan agrees only if Germany successfully invades Russia. Asks Japan to attack Russia, Japan agrees only if Germany's invasion is successful.
The entire urban population of the invaded land was to be starved to death, thus creating an agricultural surplus to feed Germany and allowing the urban populations replacement by a German upper class. Spy Dr. Richard Sorge gave Stalin the exact German launch date.
Ordered to provide air support for Army Group Centre under von Bock
Captures the Bug Bridge leading to Brest Litovsk
Leads an encirclement of Russian troops between Orel & Briansk
Appointed Commander of the Army Group South
By the end of Feb there are over 1 million German losses. By the end of Feb German forces are driven 200 miles from Moscow
Army Group Centre would conduct holding attacks, Army Group North would capture Leningrad and link with Finland, and Army Group South would capture the Caucasus.
Hitler laid out the elements of the plan now known as "Case Blue" (Fall Blau) in Fuhrer Directive No. 41.
Hitler's HQ issues orders for the "final victory in the East."
The directive set the 1942 summer campaign's goals on Germany's Eastern Front.
Case Blue is a continuation of the previous years Operation Barbarossa, intended to knock the Soviet Union out of the war, and involved a two-pronged attack against the oil fields of Baku as well as an advance in the direction of Stalingrad along the Volga
River, to cover the flanks of the advance towards Baku
The German Armed Forces (Wehrmacht) 1942 strategic summer offensive in southern Russia between 28 June and 24 November 1942.
The German offensive commenced on 28 June 1942, with 4th Panzer Army starting its drive towards Voronezh. Due to a chaotic Soviet retreat, the Germans were able to advance rapidly, restoring Wehrmacht confidence for the upcoming major offensive.
Forward elements of 4th Panzer Army had reached the Don River near Voronezh and became embroiled in the battle to capture the city
As part of the second phase of the operation, on 9 July, Army Group South was split into Army Group A and B with Wilhelm List appointed as commander of Army Group A in place of von Bock
Hitler and von Bock, commander of Army Group South, argued over the next steps in the operation. The heated debate, and continuing Soviet counterattacks, which tied down 4th Panzer Army until 13 July, caused Hitler to lose his temper and dismiss von Bock
Hitler moves his HQ to Vinnitsa in the Ukraine
The Germans began to suffer logistics difficulties, which slowed down the tempo of the advance. The German 6th Army was continually delayed by fuel shortages. Eight days later, on 20 July, shortages of fuel were still undermining operations, leaving many units unable to execute their orders
With air support from the Ju 87s of Sturzkampfgeschwader 77, Lists Army Group A recaptured Rostov, the "gate to the Caucasus"
The Swastika is raised over Mount Elbrus
The 6th Army crossed the Don and Army Group B established a defensive line on one of its bends.The 6th Army reached the northern suburbs of Stalingrad later that day, beginning the Battle of Stalingrad
45: reorganized Army Group South into two smaller Army Groups, A and B; directed Army Group A to advance to the Caucasus and capture the oil fields (Operation Edelweis); directed Army Group B to attack towards the Volga and Stalingrad (Operation Fischreiher)
Believing that the main Soviet threat had been eliminated, short of oil and needing to meet all the of Case Blue, Hitler makes changes to the Fuhrer Directive No.
Logistics lines were already at breaking point with ammunition and fuel shortages most apparent and it would be impossible to advance using the conservative supply rates he demanded.
The new directive created enormous logistical difficulties, with Hitler expecting both Army Groups to advance along different routes.
There is no evidence Hitler was opposed by, or received complaints from Franz Halder, the Chief of the General Staff, or anyone else, about the directive until August 1942.
The Germans reach Ordzhonikidze, the most easterly part of the invasion
After defeating the last Soviet counter-attacks, 6th Army resumed its offensive on 2 September, linking up with 4th Panzer Army the following day. On 12 September, the Germans entered Stalingrad
In the Chancellery says Russia will be defeated in 1943 by a push in the Spring
Hitler came to recognise that the capture of the Caucasus oil fields was unlikely before the Russian Winter forced the German forces to take up winter positions. Unable to capture them, he was determined to deny them to the enemy and ordered the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKL) to inflict as much damage as possible
The Soviet counter-offensive at Stalingrad compelled von Richthofen to once more withdraw his units north to the Volga and bring an end to the aerial offensive
3rd Romanian Army had been transferred from Caucasus on 10 September, to take over Italian positions on the Don, opposite the Soviet bridgeheads. The Romanians were understrength and had only around six modern anti-tank guns per division.
3rd Romanian Army, on the Don River west of Stalingrad, and 4th Romanian Army, south-east of Stalingrad, had been under constant Soviet attack since September.
Hitler ordered 6th Army to remain on the defensive, rather than try to break out. It was intended the army would be supplied by air, but the quantity of supplies necessary was far beyond the ability of the Luftwaffe to carry. 6th Armys strength diminished and the Soviets gained the upper hand inside the city
The Soviets launched Operation Uranus, a two-pronged counter-offensive against the flanks of 6th Army. With the battle for the city and the exhaustion of 4th Panzer Army, the flanks were mainly guarded by Romanian, Hungarian and Italian soldiers.
The bulk of the German tank reserve, the 48th Panzer Corps, consisted of about 180 tanks, half being obsolete Panzer 35(t)s. The two Romanian armies were routed and 6th Army, with parts of 4th Panzer Army, were encircled in Stalingrad.
The Case Blue offensive saw gains, with an advance into the Caucasus capturing large areas of land and several oil fields. However, the Red Army defeated the Germans at Stalingrad, following Operations Uranus and Little Saturn. This defeat forced the Axis to retreat from the Caucasus. Only the city of Kursk and the Kuban region remained tentatively occupied by Axis troops
During the German relief operation at Stalingrad, Soviet forces had been redeployed, lesser objectives substituted, and the operation renamed "Little Saturn".
Following the success of Operation Uranus, the Red Army began Operation Saturn, to cut off Army Group A and all troops east of Rostov.
Spearheaded by some of the first Tiger tanks, the offensive got within 48 km (30 mi) of the southern 6th Army front, but the Germans made no attempt to break out.
The attack fell on Eighth Italian Army and the remnants of 3rd Romanian Army, and led to the destruction of most of Eighth Army. A relief operation called Operation Winter Storm began.
The failure was followed by a siege that lasted for almost three months, during which 6th Army was destroyed
The Kerch Peninsular, Kharkov, Crimea & Sebastopol are captured
Commands the Soviet winter offensive, von Brauchitsch is dismissed
Holds the Corps bridgehead on the east bank of the Dneiper River
The disaster at Stalingrad was the end of Case Blue and the territorial gains had been reversed by the end of 1943, except for the Kuban bridgehead on the Taman peninsula, retained for a possible second offensive to the Caucasus, which was held until 9 October 1943
The German Armies are split at the Pripet Marshes
Kiev is re-captured & German armies in the Ukraine are threatened with encirclement
Believes Mussolini is losing control & diverts forces from Russia to Italy
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