Barbarossa - Part I

[Dave]

This looks like it's from the classic TV serires "The World At War", narrated by Laurence Olivier.
Barbarossa stands I think as the largest land battle in history, and one of the biggest tragedies.
Vids are about 9 minutes each.
Part I - Background & Blitzkrieg

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[Dave]

The Russian winter and "Ivan's" determination.

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[Dave]

T-34 tanks.
Battle for Moscow.
With the Wehrmacht at a standstill Zhukov unleashes battle-hardened, highly trained divisions from the Red Army's Siberian front...
Some very strong images in this one.

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No mention of Stalingrad in the whole episode !

[Jim]

Got to agree with you Dave, but a great adition to the forums.. Nice find.

[Kelly]

-40'C & 40 Divisions of Winter Warfare specialist troops from Siberia.... And Hitler really didn't have a clue as to what he was letting himself in for.

[Dave]

I Know Kelly ! Can you just imagine it from the German point of view ?? I'm finding out that neither the Germans NOR the Russians expected to see these divisions unleashed, as they were protecting the Northern borders from the Japanese. It was only the timing that allowed them to be used, in that these frontiers of the Japanese empire were neglected as they were being kept busy elsewhere by Allied armies......
Hitler underestimated the Russian professional soldiers after they screwed it up so badly agianst Finland immediately pre WWII......as seen on these pages !
The Japanese on the other hand never underestimated the Russians.

[sleipnir]

thank you Dave...