Eastern Front

Hitler influence in the Battle of Moscow

The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of WWII between the European Axis powers against the Soviet Union , Poland and some other Allies which encompassed Northern , Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945.

The battles on the Eastern Front constituted the largest military confrontation in history. They were characterized by unprecedented ferocity, wholesale destruction, mass deportations, and immense loss of life variously due to combat, starvation, exposure, disease, and massacres.

It was decisive in determining the outcome of World War II, eventually serving as the main reason for Germany's defeat. It resulted in the destruction of the Third Reich, the partition of Germany for nearly half a century and the rise of the Soviert Union as a military and industrial superpower. 

The two principal powers were the Nazi power in Germany and the Soviet Union, along with their respective allies. Many Battles took place in the Eastern front influenced by Hitler.  

After Hitler presence in Barbarossa Battle, he decided to the advance to Moscow . He and his generals sent panzer groups from the north and south in the last two weeks of November. The north group got 21 miles from the city before General Winter came to the rescue of Russia.

Since the Nazis had planned to take Russia before winter started, they were not equipped for the cold weather and snow. With temperatures at 60 degrees below zero, the Germans literally froze. German soldiers lit fires under the engines of their tanks for hours to get them warmed up. German soldiers were freezing to death while they slept.

However, the Red Army were able to pull reinforcements from Serbia and led a divesting counterattack. Hitler decided not to let his generals retreat and lost all confidence in him. All through December Hitler started to fire all of his top commanders. This led to Hitler naming himself commander-in-chief. On December 5, Hitler lost all former allies against Russia. This lead to the near capture of Hitler's prize army. Moscow, along with the Soviet Union, had been saved.

The final tally tilted amazingly harsh on the Russian side of the battle. Russia suffered over 600,000 deaths. Meanwhile , the German troops suffered a smaller deaths with 250,000. For the efforts of Moscow residents to defend the capital city, Moscow was honored with the title Hero City in 1965.

Moscow Battle is considered one of the most importante batles in the war between the Axis powers and the USSR, basically, because the Soviets were able to successfully prevent the most serious attempt to capture their capital. 

The battle was also one the of the largest during WWII, with more than as million deaths. This marked a truning point as it was the first time since the Wehmach began its conquest in 1939.

References:

http://war.by-airforce.com/articles/Moscow-1942.html

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/battle_for_moscow.htm

http://www.serpukhov.su/dima/war/eng/eindex.htm

Francesca Montalbetti