I am having a hard time understanding this question can anyone help PLEASE!!!!?

Question

From the signing of the Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact in August of 1939 until the launching of Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, Stalin had proven to be steady and consistent in upholding the terms of the 1939 agreement with Germany. In fact, he had acted much like an ally in his relationship with Germany, joining in the invasion of Poland for example. Hitler decided to turn on Soviet Russia and attempted to conquer that vast country in 1941. Did Hitler have any good (valid) reasons for attempting this? What were the most important reasons for his failure? Was German success even possible? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Hitler’s reasons for attacking the Soviet Union are clearly delineated in German Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop’s statement of 22 June 1941 on Germany’s declaration of war, and Hitler’s proclamation of the same day (containing a shorter review of Nazi-Soviet relations). In brief, these statements allege that Russia had pursued the following policies antagonistic to German Plans:

1. Russia had pushed her mutual assistance pacts with Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania to include the establishment of Soviet military and navel bases in those countries and later had resorted to full military occupation and eventually to complete annexation. By the German-Soviet pacts of 23 August and 28 September 1939, Germany had renounced all interest in the Baltic States, Finland, and Bessarabia, and had agreed to Russian annexation of Eastern Poland but had not interpreted this to mean permission for Russia to annex any other than the specified Polish territory.

2. The Russian war on Finland and subsequent annexation of strategic Finnish territory and bases were actions beyond what Germany considered legitimate implementation of the Soviet “sphere of influence” in that country.

3. The agreements of 1939 had specifically forbidden Soviet political agitation beyond the portion of Poland allotted her; this clause had been violated by Soviet underground activities in the General Government area.

4. Russia insisted on forceful settlement of her claims on Rumanian territory in June, 1940, and despite German intervention in Russia’s favor to secure both Bessarabia and Bukovina (the latter constituting a new demand), had occupied those regions too rapidly to permit their orderly evacuation by Rumania.

5. When Soviet Foreign minister Molotov visited Berlin in November, 1940, he had raised still further Russian demands, which Germany felt she could not accept. These consisted of a three-point program calling for a Soviet protectorate over Bulgaria, Russian military and navel bases at the Straits, and complete abandonment of Finland by Germany. “Germany” said Ribbentrop, “naturally was unable to accept these Russian demands, designated by the Soviet Government as a primary condition for cooperation with the signatories to the tripartite pact. Thus the latter’s efforts to come to an understanding with the Soviet Union failed.”

Following these disputes within the frame of German-Russian negotiations, Ribbentrop cited a sequence of hostile Russian actions taken independently of any consultation with Germany and all centering about Germany’s Balkan program.

The Nazi military failure in Russia was comprised of a number of elements not the least of which was the tenacity of Russia to enter a near gorilla war as the support of the Allies came to her aid and the production of war materials developed. Once those two were in place Germany’s possibility of winning dropped to very low odds. At the time this was in the best interest of the Allies to assist Russia because it worn down the German military machine.

Was it ever possible that Germany could win. Keep in mind that at the initiation of the war Germany was unmatched in military strength and had been successful to that date. If the Allies had not come to the aid of Russia (which was a possibility) Germany’s odds were considerably higher.

This is a far more complex question than the short reply here and if you are really interested could take a lot of personal study time to begin to understand these times.

Keep in mind, both of these countries were expansionist and World War II (for both of them) was an opportunity to expand territory. If they hadn't went to war (with each other) at that time they would have done so in the not too distant future.

Answer 2

Hitler and Stalin signed a non-aggression pact in 1939, much to the shock of the rest of the world. The question states that Stalin lived up to his end of the bargain, not attacking Germany and letting them run roughshod over much of Europe in the meantime. However in 1941, Hitler turned on Stalin and attacked Russia.

The three parts of the question: Did Hitler have any reasons to attack Russia? If so what were they?

Part two: Why did he fail?

Part three: Did Hitler ever have a chance of winning?

Answer 3

Hitler's 'valid' reason for attacking was outlined in his book, Mein Kampf (published in the 20s),.....'living space' for the German folk.

His failure conquor the USSR had many reasons. The biggest reason was his failure to defeat the Soviets at Stalingrad, which blocked his access to the Caucasian oil fields, something necessary to carry on an effective war. Other blunders and reasons for his failure include:

1. Started too late in the year (1941), by the time they reached Moscow, the coldest winter in years hit and the Werhmact was totally unprepared.

2. Guderian's Panzers were diverted south at the gates to Moscow in 1941.

3. Again in 1942, the Germans made the fatal mistake of splitting Army Group South in two culminating in the debacle at Stalingrad and the failure to reach to Caucasus oil fields.

4. The Soviets were into a mindset of ordering important and troop saving withdrawals. At Stalingrad the Germans lost 25% of their entire operational strength in the Eastern Front, a heavy blow by all accounts but NOT decisive. It would however be the main factor for Germany's not being able to complete the conquest of Russia.

5. The Germans blew another chance during their offensive in the summer of 1943. Against Guderian's opinion that the production of Tiger and Panther tanks should be up to operational standards, Hitler launched the ill fated offensive at Kursk. The results being the destruction of the panzer armies. The fact that the German still had the capability to launch an offensive of this magnitude in 1943 proves that Stalingrad was not a decisive turning point in the war. From then on, it was just a delaying tactical war against the Red Army.

6. On the western front, two mistakes come to mind: stopping his tanks and allowing the BEF to escape to Britain via Dunkirk, and switching from the bombing of airfields and radar stations to London and other cities....the RAF was nearly brought to its knees before that 'miracle.'

7. Hitler made the mistake of diverting resources to multiple designs, rather than picking the best and staying with it... example is the multiple tank designs.

8. The Russians were resilient, as one German officer stated, "attacking Russia was like an elephant stamping out ants, you killed thousands, maybe millions, but in the end their number told and you were eaten to the bone."

Answer 4

Good reasons: Yes.

Reasons For failure: Late starting. Poor logistics. Over confidence.

Was Success Possible: Yes.

The Soviet Union was already preparing to attack Germany, but wasn't ready when the Germans attacked first. Details of the planned soviet attack came out in the 1990s. its documented in "Stalins Folly" by Constantine Pleshakov (Cassell 2005).


The German invasion was delayed by several weeks due to Mussolini having gotten the Italians bogged down in Greece - requiring the Germans to bail him out before attacking Russia. This meant they didn't quite take Moscow (the major rail-centre) before winter. Some Germans got close enough to catch a commuter tram into downtown Moscow - so it was close!

Also, this additional campaign cost the Germans in terms of casualties (including the airbourne forces lost on Crete), supplies, and , most importantly, wear & tear on vehicles.

The Germans had not prepared for the mud of the Russian winter, or for the different (wider) gauge of the Russian railways.

They had not allowed for Russian superiority in tank design - the KVI and T-34 designs came as a nasty shock.

There was no winter clothing prepared before the invasion, or any attempt made to find low-temperature lubricants for vehicles and guns - collosal blunders that halted the advance, shattered morale and cost many lives.

Despite the late start, reduced supplies and the poor preparations they very nearly succeeded - so with a little more forethought & preparation, and starting on time and fresh, they would've succeeded.

Answer 5

This was because Germany wanted to end the alliance agreement to have reinforcment to invade poland. So after the battle for Poland, Hitler wanted more land so he invaded Russia which was a bad idea because the Germans weren't use to the cold and many died. The Russians however was used to the cold so they manage to hold Germany for a while until a Luftwaffe strike came

Answer 6

German success was not possible. Napoleon tried to conquer Russia and it didn't work for him either. The Russian winter is hard to fight. And it had Hitler fighting a war on two fronts.

Yes Hitler wanted to rule the world. Yes Russia had oil and other resources. But it was a bad idea for him.

Answer 7

hitler didnt actually have any vaild reasons though ther reasons he gave were....his attack was a pre emptive war strike as the red army was preparing to attack them...also in mein kamf he said taht germans required more space to live and that could be found in the east..also he wished to create the "new order"of pure germans all around the world..especially in russia..
teh main reasons were that he underestimated soviets strenghth..forgot about the harsh winter of russia....or bad planning..they forgot that the russians knew how to navigate the harsh terrain during winter better that them.....german success would have been possible had hitler not been so hasty..and not overlooked the above facts specialy the last one

Answer 8

May due to his daring adventure and ambition to build am empire like any successful invaders or fear of being conquered. Failure is alluded to lesser military advancement as to artillery or there might be conflict inside his own camp.
With vastness and big population of Russian army? It is doubtful especially Russia is big power with several allies.

Answer 9

Tell your teacher that God intervened and used Hitler's bloated ego against him, because in the final analysis, Hitler was not to rule the world but was to be a foundation stone for the final conflict between Muslim extremists and western civilization. Then watch your teacher partake in some spontaneous combustion