First published in Sweden by Vaktel Forlag Publishing, 2013. Maps on end papers. Includes bibliographical references (pages 302-306) and index.
Contents:
Hitler against Stalin -- Lebensraum -- The Wehrmacht versus the Red Army -- Towards the abyss-- Strike at dawn -- The first battles of annihilation -- Tank battles in the North -- The advance towards Kiev -- The advance towards Moscow -- The Blitzkrieg is halted -- Annihilation in the Ukraine -- Leningrad holds out -- The Finnish front -- The final attempt against Leningrad -- Typhoon against Moscow -- The race for "the Soviet ruhr area" -- The Battle of the Crimea -- The Red Army strikes back -- Results and conclusions. The military scene -- The war of annihilation -- Appendices: Order of battle on 22 June 1941 -- German and Soviet unit structures in June 1941 -- Tanks in Operation Barbarossa -- Aircraft in Operation Barbarossa -- Loss tables.
Summary:
Operation Barbarossa was the largest military campaign in history. Springing from Hitleŕs fanatical desire to conquer the Soviet territories, defeat Bolshevism and create ́Lebensrauḿ for the German people, it pitted two diametrically opposed armed forces against one another. The invasion began with 4.5 million troops attacking 2.3 million defenders. On one side was the Wehrmacht, without any doubt the world́s most advanced military force. On the other were the Soviet armed forces, downtrodden, humiliated, decapitated and terrorized by an autocratic and crude dictator with no military education whatsoever. Based on decades of research work in both German and Russian archives, as well as interviews with a large number of key figures and veterans, Operation Barbarossa brings our knowledge on the war on the Eastern Front several big steps forward. It reveals and dispels many myths and misconceptions including: the myth of mass surrenders by Soviet soldiers; the myth about the vast differences in troop casualties between the two sides; the myth of the Soviet partisans and the myth that it was the Arctic cold that halted the German offensive. It also does not shy away from difficult truths such as the true nature of Finland́s participation in Operation Barbarossa, and the massive scale of rapes committed by German troops. Illustrated with over 250 photos, many never previously published, and several clear and detailed maps, this is an objective, balanced account, published in time for the 75th anniversary of the start of Operation Barbarossa on 22nd June 2016.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.