Germany Attacks the Soviet Union

Germany Attacks the Soviet Union

By Jessica Brown

Hitler's armies were moving west across Europe.

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Hitler wanted a large piece of farmland called, The Soviet Union.

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In 1941, Hitler would try to claim it for Germany.​

The Soviet Union was ruled by Joseph Stalin, a brutal dictator.

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In 1939, Stalin and Hitler had made an agreement not to attack each other. This allowed Hitler to send all of his forces west to conquer France without having to worry about also fighting the Soviet Union.

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This agreement also made it possible for Stalin to invade Finland, which he did in 1940.​

In June 1941, Hitler broke the agreement with Stalin.

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Hitler began an invasion of the Soviet Union. He sent 3 million German troops with 3,000 tanks and 2,500 planes.

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The German forces destroyed much of the Soviet army and forced the remaining Soviet troops to retreat.​

As the Soviets retreated, they burned crops and destroyed railways and factories.

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This was called "scorched-earth". The Soviet army's goal was to leave nothing behind of their beautiful country and its vast farmlands for the German's to claim​.

Stalin needed help.

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He turned to the United States for equipment and supplies. Through the Lend-Lease Act, the United States loaned the Soviet Union $1,000,000 for supplies.

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The Soviet Army soon joined the Allies in fighting the Axis Powers.​

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The Germans still pressed forward.

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By November, they had nearly reached the Soviet capital.

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