Operation Barbarossa 'German Invasion' - June 22, 1941 (WW2 Stories & World War 2 Events)

[NEW] World War 1 Stories & Real Battle - ⁠Listen Here⁠ Operation Barbarossa was the code name for the German invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II, which began on June 22, 1941. It was named after Frederick Barbarossa, the medieval Holy Roman Emperor. The operation was the largest military campaign in history in terms of manpower, area traversed, and casualties. It marked a crucial turning point in World War II, shifting the conflict into a truly global war and beginning the deadliest phase of the conflict on the Eastern Front. The invasion was launched by Nazi Germany with the primary objective of defeating the Soviet Union, securing its vast resources, and implementing the Nazis' long-held plans of territorial expansion and racial subjugation. Hitler also sought to destroy what he saw as the Jewish-Bolshevik threat to Germany. The German forces initially achieved significant victories, capturing vast territories and inflicting heavy casualties on the Red Army. However, the invasion eventually stalled due to logistical issues, the onset of the harsh Russian winter, and the resilience of the Soviet forces. The failure of Operation Barbarossa marked a crucial turning point in World War II. It forced Germany into a prolonged two-front war, stretched its resources thin, and eventually led to the Red Army launching a counter-offensive that would end with the capture of Berlin by Soviet forces in 1945. The invasion also led to some of the worst atrocities of the war, including the mass murder of Jews and other civilians in occupied territories.