1941-06-22 at 1941-07-10

38. On June 22 the invasion of Russia began. The choice of the same date for the opening of the campaign as that upon which Napoleon had begun his Russian campaign over a century earlier invited comparisons between the two dictators and the two campaigns; it is in itself sufficient evidence of the Nazi expectation of a quick victory. The advances were indeed swift and deadly, and large Russian forces were encircled, but as they retreated the Russians carried out their traditional strategy of the “ scorched
earth,” though on a scale greater than ever before in their history. Moreover, the Russian forces encircled refused to surrender and their continuing fight was a severe embarrassment to the advancing enemy. Partisans appeared far in the German rear, and the ability of the vast Russian spaces to absorb even modern armies was once more apparent.

39. Nevertheless the Russian plight was soon very serious. In spite of her newly developed industrial regions in the Urals and elsewhere she still relied largely on the industrial output of the western areas and of the Ukraine, and these were her most fertile sources of food supply as well. As, one after another, the German advance overwhelmed the great industrial cities of the west and south, and drew ever nearer to Leningrad and to Moscow, the loss not only of supplies but of the sources of supply became more and more obvious, and the necessity for help from the industries of Britain and the U.S.A, became more acute.