Why did Germany/Hitler attack Russia during WWII?

Question

Hitler had already signed a nonagression treaty with Russia? Why did they/he launch Operation Barbarossa? What made him change his mind?

Answer 1

This wasn't a change of mind. Anti-communism was a central tenet of Nazism. The real shock was the pre-war cooperation and the later (but pre-Poland, of course) non-aggression pact.
With the history of WW I so recent and the traditional German fear of 2-front wars, it does seem nuts, but Hitler was sure that Stalin's Russia was rotten and would collapse, but probably the most important factor is an intelligence failure: in the first months of the war, Germany destroyed or captured more units than the Germans thought the Russians had! He probably expected Zhukov would remain facing the Japanese in Manchuria. And the Germans had no clue the T-34 existed.

Answer 2

It was always Hitler's aim to war on the Soviet Union. Partly because there was so much land that had been 'German' before WWI in the eastern countries and Soviet Union and partly - mainly - because it was a "Communist", Slavic (so non-Aryan) country. Add the Ukrainian wheat fields, the minerals and ores and the oil, and it was too much to leave in the hands of sub-humans!!
The Non-Aggression Pact was purely to see that the more 'German' parts of Poland could be safely acquired, and that Germany would be free to wage war on the Western Front without worrying that there would be an attack from the east.
Operation Barbarossa was planned long before Hitler invaded France - some say it was planned before the western campaign!
It appears that Hitler felt flushed with success after conquering most of Europe. He was frustrated by the failure of the Battle of Britain, but felt the Allies were essentially 'cooped up' on the islands of Britain and could never get into "Fortress Europe". When it still seemed Germany was winning, he launched Barbarossa, to acheive his main aim. (It suprised many he waited as long as he did.)

In short, then, the Non-Aggression Pact was purely tactical and always intended to be temporary. (And it did help that Soviet forces in Poland were still fitting into their new defensive positions, while their removal from 'Russian' soil weakened their defenses.)

Answer 3

Hitler never changed his mind he was always going to invade Russia,the pact was made to ensure he did n't have to fight on two fronts like in WW 1.It also allowed for the Russians to take part of Poland when Hitler kicked off.Hitler always despised Communists as he blamed them amongst others for Germany's defeat in the first War.He also considered Slavs less equal than Aryans as someone else pointed out and had layed out these ideas long before in 'mein kampf' his book.So once he had beaten western Europe bar Britain and failed to destroy the RAF and Britain's politicall will for a fight he decided to have a pop at Russia.If he had done so about 3 months earlier and stuck to his original 'schedule' it might have worked but 50 miles from Moscow he halted the advance to concentrate on Stalingrad. Insane move.the Russian winter ensued causing more problems to the Germans than any army had done till that point.Defeat at Stalingrad ended his dream.

Answer 4

Hitler saw Russia as weak and unstable. Russian had just been b1tchslapped by Finland of all countries. in the "Soviet-Finnish War" or the "Russo-Finnish War" sometimes called the winter war. Also russia has always had a habit of breaking treaties. They had a treaty with Finland, "Treaty of Tartu" but attacked anyway. Russia who outnumbered the Finns 4:1 in men, 100:1 in tanks and 30:1 in aircraft. Russia predicted Finland's defeat in under 30 days. After 4 months Russia's 1,000,000 man attacking force was reduced by 126,875 dead or missing, 264,908 wounded, and 3,100 captured. After taking a beating like that Germany thought Russia would be easy pickings. They were right until Russia started receiving aid from the US.

Answer 5

In WWII, Britain had some outposts in Iraq. Some in Iraq tried to make a deal with the Nazis to overthrow the Brits. There was fighting between Britain and some Iraqis, with limited help from Germany. Britain won; mostly an air campaign I believe.

Answer 6

two reasons...

1. everytime he listened to Wagner he got the urge to invade russia

2. the boundless motherland of russia drew him eastward, ever eastward, the same way Napoleon was when he too was left chomping at the bit at the English Coast. The Russian space would provide him living space for the German folk...libensraum

The non-aggression pact was only a convenient ploy that freed hitler to deal with the west, in order to avoid a two front war, which even Mein Kempf said was a costly mistake in the first world war.

Answer 7

He wanted their oil, primarily, but other natural resources as well. In the Ukraine, the Ural Mountains contain all of the mineral elements known. Like Napoleon however, he made the mistake of invading during an El Nino year, which typically produces worse-than-usual winters over continental Europe and Asia.

Answer 8

Hitler considered people of Slavic origin "sub-human", plus he was crazy.

In hindsight it was the dumbest move he could have made, and his generals were certainly against it, but things are a lot clearer looking back.

Hitler was a brilliant politician, but not the best military strategist. Later on in the war his generals tried to assinate him.....

Answer 9

Greed.

Things were going well enough elsewhere and Hitler justr couldnt contain himself.

Why even mention the treaty? Can we ever trust people like this?

I see a parallel to Iran.

Answer 10

He wanted to expand Germany.Russia has so much land.Capturing it would be one step toward ruling the world.I mean just think.All of that land.But unfortunatly he is a nazi and a racist and their shallow minds lead to their destruction.Stalingrad turned the tide of the war and the U.S crippled Japan as Russia invaded Berlin.