Why did Hitler invade Russia? Why did the invasion fail? Could it have succeeded?

Answer 1

Well, Hitler's agenda was total world domination. Uno of his slogans was: "Today Germany belongs to us, tomorrow, the whole world." He wanted to make Moscou his headquarters for the conquer of Asia.
Why did he fail ?
Well, several reasons. Mussolini said that to conquer the soviet union, three generals must be defeated: general mud, general distance, and general ice. Add to this that Hitler began to mistreat the Russian population, who had received the Germans like some sort of helpers to eliminate Stalin's tyranny.
But when they realized that Hitler was as bad as Stalin, the Russians decided that they would stay with their own home made dictatorship and began to fight the Germans.
Also, in a secret reunion of the top nazis to decide the invasion, Goering stated that sooner or later the USA would enter the war as well, and if they attacked the soviets they would be practically alone against the whole world.
Could it have succeeded ?
Perhaps, had been Hitler more cautious and prudent

Answer 2

The main reason Hitler invaded Russia was political. It is true that the German ideology was 'lebensraum' , in other words, breathing space for the German population, but politically Fascism and Communism are on opposite sides of the spectrum. Remember, what ultimately brought Hitler to power in Germany was his defeat of the Communists in the German Parliament. And true to his roots, he wanted to wipe out Communism everywhere. Since the Russians were run by a Communist government, it was almost a natural step to want to attack and defeat that government.
The failure of the invasion of Russia has more to do with Hitler as Commander and Chief than anything else. Instead of driving to Moscow straight away in the first year, he kept diverting armies for other tasks. The theory of Blitzkrieg, which was the German army doctrine in WW 2, was to 'Haul *** and by pass' anything that got in your way. The Moscow objective was well within reach by the end of summer, but Hitlers' meddling in maneuvers caused delay after delay, and it wasn't until late in the year when the snow was falling, that the now exhausted German troops, get within striking distance of Moscow. By then, winter and reinforcements blunted the German advance.
In 1942, the attack on the Moscow should have been resumed, but Hitler changed the plans and decided to go for Stalingrad. It was a folly that every German general could see, so he sacked them wholesale and his plane to stretch the German forces to breaking point in the pursuit of a political goal turned into disaster.
Stalingrad was an absolute travesty, and it was all Hitlers' idea.
Kursk, in 1943, was a battle that never would have happened had not Hitler decided that it should. Had Hitler allowed his generals to fight the war, the Germans would have owned Russia.

Answer 3

Hitler planned all along to invade Russia for 'lebensraum' or 'living space' for the Germanic people.

The initial phase of Operation Barbarossa was delayed by diversions in Greece and the Balkans and industrial production problems. The Russians had good intelligence an the delay helped the Russian move their factories to behind the Urals and do the age old practice of 'scorched earth'.

German industrial production was not at full speed and being ever slowed down by sabotage, bombing and production problems. The Americans provided trucks and needed industrial and design help to Russia. The Battle of Britain siphoned off much needed aircraft. The Germans weren't really prepared for winter and got stuck in the worst winter of the previous 40 years.

Yes it could have of succeeded. It almost did. Even with all the mentioned disadvantages, the Germans came within a few kilometers of taking Moscow in the initial push. If it wasn't for heroic defending and a bit of luck the Germans would have indeed won.

Answer 4

He invaded because he was foolish and underestimated the Russians.

He should have settled his feud with the British first before undergoing such a huge campaign in the East.

It was foolish of him to invade Russia while the Brits were still in the war attacking his rear while the majority of German troops were facing off the Russians in the East.

Hitler underestimated the Russians ability and willingness to fight, as well as their technological capabilities. He never thought they could have a tank as good as the T-32, and he definitely never thought they could produce them in such high numbers.

He made several huge blunders, often against the advice of his Generals. Like for instance, sending over a million German troops into Russia in the late summer without winter clothing.

Yes, Hitler could have succeeded if he had done things differently from the start. If he had waited about 3 years, to have his jets ready, he would have easily been able to wipe out any other country's air force.

Answer 5

When Did Hitler Invade Russia

Answer 6

Operation Barbarossa was originally suppose to begin May 15, 1941. But because of problems in Greece and Yugoslavia that Hitler thought he needed to take care of he invaded 6 weeks later. That was probably his major mistake.

Once he invaded he wanted to take the resources of the Ukraine first instead of just going strait to Moscow, against his generals wished. The Germans quickly overran the Soviet forces on the border.

Along the way they encountered broad support from the Russian people but treated them as inferiors and the support turned on them. That could have been a great help.

Their armor was too heavy for the Russian roads. They were fine for Western European paved roads but Russia was Communist and they mainly had dirt or gravel roads.

They had no winter supplies that hurt them allot. They had greatly underestimated the Size of Russian forces. Over 200 division. Initially they beat them easily but they just kept coming. Wore them down.

Lastly it would not have been as bad of a defeat it Hitler had let his forces withdraw.

He should never of invaded Russia while still having a western front. Should have taken care of Britain first. Luckily he didn't.

Answer 7

He thought his army was invincible so he invaded Russia. He didn't think it would take very long to conquer it and he started in September. The Russians were much tougher than he thought and because he also thought it would be over fast he sent his army in with only summer clothing. The Germans were finally able to take Stalingrad but only after days and days of fighting from room to room, and house to house. Something they were not trained for at all. By then the Russian winter had come and the retreating Russian army counter flanked around the city and cut off the Germans suppy lines and eventually the German army surrendered. If he would have started his attack in the spring he might have prevailed. But he did not remember history. Napoleon tried to invade Russia in the winter also and failed.

Answer 8

I have recommended The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer for insight on questions like this. Hitler relied on his intuition more than factual analysis. The invasion was seen as suicidal by most of the top German staff, but he went ahead anyway. I think it's pretty clear Hitler was clever in maniacal way, but he was also obviously a very, very sick man. Sick people do not make sound decisions.

Answer 9

wanted to control the world is the short simple answer, he amde the smae mistake napoleon did, he started to late in the year for a war w russia, i think it was late June before he moved, his generals advised him to move in febreuary but hitler thought he knew better, operation barbarossa was a foregone conclussion, ahd he started earleir he most probably would have been able to take moscow and had that occured russia would have folded w/o its leadership, w moscow and leningrad in his hands he could have left small garrison forces ( in comparisson to what was needed to fight the russians) to control the areas and concentrated mroe untis on england. of course had he kept his pact w russia and taken out england first he could have then taken russia at hi leisure or even sued for peace and still kept his holdings, but he was too greedy, he shuld nver have fought on two fronts

Answer 10

He invaded Russia for all the natural resources it has (oil, coal, iron and etc.) Plus it would give him access to 2 oil rich, pro-Nazi countries, Iraq and Iran and then into India. He failed because of Russian determination, bad tactics, broken weaponary, limited supplies, and severe winters.