Operation Barbarossa essays

Operation Barbarossa essays At the height of his power, Adolf Hitler had the world by the throat. His reign of terror was known in every country around the globe. His strengths as a leader were based mainly in politics; charisma mixed with intelligence. People would follow his lead, run blindly into battle, commit atrocities the likes of which the world had never seen, and not think twice about it. An uncanny ability to sway millions to follow, does not however constitute ability as a military general. Hitlers eventual decline begun with the invasion of Russia, code named "Operation Barbarossa". After this military blunder, the tide of the war began to sway, and the power of Nazi Germany decreased with each passing day. Why did Operation Barbarossa fail so terribly? Hitlers generals had tried desperately to talk him out of it, but he was convinced Russia would fall to the Werhmarcht (German Army). Breaking his non-aggression pact with Stalin, to invade Russia was the most costly mistake Hitler ever made. It se ems that fate is not without irony, as it would be the advancing Russians that eventually brought Germany to its knees. The ultimate ideological goal for Operation Barbarossa was to destroy Communist Russia, but Germanys original intent for invading Russia was to gain control of the oil and wheat regions in the Crimea territory. At this point in the war shortages of petrol, oil, and lubricants were hindering German war efforts. The strategy for invasion however was flawed with many lapses, and uncertainties. The German Army High Command, the German Armed Forces High Command, and even Hitler himself had contradictory ideas. This combined to lead to a number of blunders, unresolved conflicts, and unmet objectives. Hitler was basing his invasion on his delusional belief that the bulk of the Soviet forces could be trapped and destroyed by the time his armies reached the Dneiper River. He also was certain that Stalins "Great ...