Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This video examines the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 and the key mistakes that doomed Hitler's great gamble. From tenacious Soviet resistance and vast logistical challenges to brutal winter conditions and strategic miscalculations, we explore the factors that turned the German Blitzkrieg into a war of attrition.
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TIMECODES
0:00 Why did Germany invade the Soviet Union?
1:45 Why was this the perfect time to invade?
3:19 What was the German plan?
4:13 What made Operation Barbarossa a war of annihilation?
5:11 Why were the Soviets taken by surprise?
5:59 What were Germany's tactics?
6:57 What happened at Minsk?
7:59 How did the Soviets mobilise so many troops?
9:26 What happened at Smolensk?
10:54 Why did Hitler change the plan?
12:26 What happened at Kiev?
13:30 What was German occupation like?
15:12 What happened at Moscow?
17:09 How did the Soviets end Operation Barbarossa?
18:02 Why did Operation Barbarossa fail?
FILM CLIPS
Explore and licence the film clips used in this video: film.iwmcollections.org.uk/collections/_59bpXoaL
IMAGE CREDITS
Edik Tonkonogi image and letter courtesy of Yad Vashem.
Yad Vashem Photo Archive, 15000_16758503.
Yad Vashem Documents Collection, O.75/2957, p.00016.
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This video examines the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 and the key mistakes that doomed Hitler's great gamble. From tenacious Soviet resistance and vast logistical challenges to brutal winter conditions and strategic miscalculations, we explore the factors that turned the German Blitzkrieg into a war of attrition.
VISIT IWM LONDON
Get up close with our objects: iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-london
TIMECODES
0:00 Why did Germany invade the Soviet Union?
1:45 Why was this the perfect time to invade?
3:19 What was the German plan?
4:13 What made Operation Barbarossa a war of annihilation?
5:11 Why were the Soviets taken by surprise?
5:59 What were Germany's tactics?
6:57 What happened at Minsk?
7:59 How did the Soviets mobilise so many troops?
9:26 What happened at Smolensk?
10:54 Why did Hitler change the plan?
12:26 What happened at Kiev?
13:30 What was German occupation like?
15:12 What happened at Moscow?
17:09 How did the Soviets end Operation Barbarossa?
18:02 Why did Operation Barbarossa fail?
FILM CLIPS
Explore and licence the film clips used in this video: film.iwmcollections.org.uk/collections/_59bpXoaL
IMAGE CREDITS
Edik Tonkonogi image and letter courtesy of Yad Vashem.
Yad Vashem Photo Archive, 15000_16758503.
Yad Vashem Documents Collection, O.75/2957, p.00016.
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
https://x.com/I_W_M
instagram.com/imperialwarmuseums
facebook.com/iwm.london
tiktok.com/@imperialwarmuseums
