Operation Barbarossa: The German Invasion of Soviet Russia

by Robert Kirchubel

Overview

When Hitler ordered the start of Operation Barbarossa, millions of German soldiers flooded into Russia, believing that their rapid blitzkrieg tactics would result in the an easy victory similar to the ones enjoyed by the Wehrmacht over Poland and France. But the huge human resources at the disposal of the Soviet Union, and the significant distances and overstretched supply lines that the Germans had to overcome, saw the seemingly invincible armored spearheads start to slow. Finally, in sight of Moscow, the German invasion ground to a halt. Hitler's dreams of a quick victory were shattered and the ensuing war of attrition was to bleed Germany white, robbing her of manpower and equipment in one of the bloodiest episodes in human history. Fully illustrated with unique Osprey artwork, new maps, and contemporary photographs, Operation Barbarossa tells the story of one of the definitive campaigns of World War II and examines how the failure of the invasion contributed to the final defeat of Nazi Germany.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472804716
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	08/20/2013
Series:	General Military
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	400
File size:	78 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Robert Kirchubel has had a keen interest in the Eastern Front campaigns of World War II, and Operation Barbarossa in particular, all his adult life. He has already contributed work to World War Two in Europe and World War Two in the Pacific, and The International Military Encyclopedia. His three-volume study of the Barbarossa campaign is the product of several years' work and research.

Table of Contents

IPreface

Chronology

Introduction

The Road to Barbarossa

Opposing Plans

Opposing Armies

Opposing Commanders

The Frontier Battles

Three Steps Forward, One Step Back

Barbarossa in the Balance

End Game

Conclusions

Appendix

Glossary

Bibliography

Index

Editorial Reviews

Understanding the scale and complexity of Operation Barbarossa's many campaigns and battles has seldom been rendered more accessible or readable. Kirchubel's latest offering reflects both his expertise in the field and his skill as a historian. This is a masterful achievment.” —Dr David Stahel, author of Operation Typhoon: Hitler's March on Moscow

"An excellent introduction of the invasion often as well other Osprey Campaign series books, serves as an excellent starting point for further research." - World War II Database

From the Publisher