What+were+two+military+operations+of+Germany+in+WWII?

= Back to Army Divisions and Operations = =**Blitzkrieg**= =**Operation Barbarossa**=
 * Blitzkrieg (Lightening War) was created by Germany for use in World War II with the idea that with it they could avoid trench warfare like in World War I (Fulbrook, 123). The other use for Blitzkrieg was that Germany would be able to more easily break through the Manginot line created by France after World War I so that if trench warfare ever arose again, the French would have a much greater advantage. Blitzkrieg was the consept of moving in swift attacks towards the enemy and not stoping (USHMM, Blitzkreig). The frontline would come in consisting of Panzers, light fast tanks favored by Hitler, as well as foot soldiers and a second sweep would follow behind and take out any left over resistance. Blitzkrieg was very successful at the beginning of World War II, and Germany was able to defeat Poland, Denmark, the Netherlands, France and several other countries in a very short time.**

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 * On June 22, 1941 The German army began it's largest offensive of World War II, called Operation Barbarossa. In a speach to the German people about the attack, Hiltler said, "Today I can tell you that it was the most difficult decision of my entire life, for such a step always involves risk, and only posterity will know the exact outcome" (Stein, 79). Germany used 117 army units in the attack (except for the Rumanians and Hungarians) and the Russians used 132 (History Learning Site, Operation Barbarosa). Hitler had by this time decided that the Russians were a greater threat to Germany and he was determined to defeat Russia. At first the offensive was very successful, "**** By Day 17 of the attack, 300,000 Russians had been captured, 2,500 tanks, 1,400 artillery guns and 250 aircraft captured or destroyed" (History Learning Site, Operation Barbarosa). Yet, ultimately, the Germans advanced so quickly, they did not have enough supplies to keep their army moving forward. Then the terrible Russian winter set in and the Germans were unable to cope with the extreme weather. **

=** Seige of Leningrad **=




 * The Seige of Leningrad began as part of Operation Barbarossa. When the Germans failed to occupy Leningrad by September, 1941, they encircled the city hoping to starve the Russians into submission. The Seige lasted 900 days, from September 8, 1941 to January 27, 1944 (Saint Petersburg.com, the 900-Day Seige of Leningrad). During the worst of the Seige, hundreds of thousands of people died from starvation and the cold.**


 * Despite such suffering, the Russian army defending the city asked it's citizens not to give up. In a speach to the people of Leningrad, A.A. Zhdanov (who was in charge of defending the city) said, " The moment has come to put your Bolshevik qualities to work, to get ready to defend Leningrad without wasting words. ... It is a question of life and death" (Voices, Activities on the Seige of Leningrad). By the time the Seige was over, as many as 1,000,000 persons living in the city had died, making it one of the worst seiges of a big city in history.**
 * by Lars Kruus**