Russia in World War II - History of Russia in 100 Minutes (Part 29 of 36)

"History of Russia in 100 Minutes" is a crash course for beginners. Here you will find the complete history summarized and retold in simple language with accurate dates, the most relevant names and essential concepts. After finishing the course, you will know:

The basic characteristics of Russian history in different epochs
The 54 most important rulers and 106 historical persons in Russian history
126 key dates and events in Russian history
The basic terms and concepts of Russian history

The text is accompanied by numerous online resources:
20,000 pictures
700 videos
3,500 songs
100 podcast episodes

All that is available via the smarthistories.com website.


http://smarthistories.com/


Narrated by: Sammi Bold
Written by: Tanel Vahisalu
Edited by: Madis Maasing and Kerry Kubilius
Proofread by: Tony Burnett
Graphic Art by: Mehak Zaib Suddle

Video:
"Why We Fight: The Battle of Russia" by Frank Capra, Anatole Litvak (1943)
"Report From Russia” by Office of War Information of the US (1943)

Music:
"Tchaikovsky (Part II)" and "Crocodile Ghena's Song" (1995) by J.M.K.E.
https://www.discogs.com/JMKE-Sputniks...

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RUSSIA IN WORLD WAR II

World War II was the most widespread and destructive war in history. It was a military conflict that grew out of the consequences of the First World War. The Soviet Union came out of World War II more powerful than ever. The only balancing power was the United States of America (US).

BACKGROUND
In the 1930’s, the system created, according to the Treaty of Versailles, by the winners of World War I, began breaking down, and the political climate in Europe became very tense. Germany, under Adolph Hitler, began taking land in other countries that had seizable German populations. At the same time, Stalin was also preparing for war.

ALLIANCE WITH HITLER
On 23 August 1939, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of mutual non-aggression, between Russia and Germany, was signed. It gave Hitler and Stalin, a free hand to attack their spheres of interest in Europe. The first target was Poland. On 17 September 1939, Stalin followed Hitler and invaded the Eastern half of Poland.

In November 1939, Stalin declared war on Finland. The Winter War ended with an informal defeat for Stalin. Of one million men sent there, at least 200,000 died, and Finland remained independent, although it had to cede some border areas to the Soviet Union. In 1940, Stalin also annexed the Baltic States.

GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR
Although neither decided to keep to the non-aggression pact, Hitler made the first move, attacking Russia on 22 June 1941. Operation Barbarossa, as it was called, came as a shock to Stalin. Thus, the German-Soviet war (1941–45) began. In Russia, it is known as the “Great Patriotic War.”

The Soviet Union was not yet ready for war, and Hitler’s blitzkrieg (“lightning war” tactic) was a huge success. After five months, all the land between Leningrad (formerly Petrograd) and Rostov had been invaded. The Siege of Leningrad (1941-44) lasted an unprecedented 900 days, but with little success. Hitler was also unable to conquer Moscow in the winter of 1941.

The turning point, in World War II, was Germany’s defeat at the Battle of Stalingrad (1942–43), near the southern oil fields that Hitler badly needed. Up to two million men lost their lives there. Under the commanders, Georgy Zhukov and Konstantin Rokossovsky, Hitler's army was forced to withdraw. After the Battle of Kursk (August 1943), it was clear that Germany would lose the war. Other most notable Soviet commanders, who contributed to the victory, were Ivan Konev, Vasily Chuikov, and Alexander Vasilevsky.

RESULTS
In February 1945, the Allied leaders, Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin met at the Yalta Conference in Crimea, where the post-war world order was agreed on. The fact that Soviet troops were just 60 km from Berlin, gave Stalin an incredibly strong negotiating position.

After Germany surrendered on 9 May 1945 (Soviet time), Stalin was reluctant to withdraw his troops, and went on to turn Eastern Europe countries into his satellite states.