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Originally posted by Rick Lee
Germany invaded Russia in June of '41, well before Japan attacked the US. And IIRC, Sorge told Stalin Germany planned to invade Russia, but Stalin refused to believe him and had him recalled and executed - not exactly genius on Stalin's part. And IIRC, Hitler decided to stop at the gates of Moscow and Lenningrad to divert his troops south toward Stalingrad on the way to securing the Caucases oil fields. Basically, Hitler's and Stalin's own haphazzard screw ups created this mess. I don't recall Heydrich having much to do with it, but I could be wrong.
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Stalin refused to believe his own lying eyes and ears that the Germans were going to invade the USSR.
HItler moved Ost and in the first wave got to the gates of Moscow, and Leningrad. By that time due to the late start and diversion of capturing another 300,000 or so Russian Troops Winter had set in. Which blunted the allready exhausted German drive.
During the Winter of 41 and early 42 the Russians counterattacked pushing the Germans back. Hitler told them no retreat, and it worked as Goerings Luftwaffe was able to supply the German Army from the air.
Hitler then had to make a choich drive and take MOscow, which was what the Russians were prepared for. Or continue the offensive in the South to secure the industrial and resource rich South. By this time Stalin had pretty much realized he should listen to his Generals, and instead of fighting they retreated letting the Germans capture territory drawing them ever deeper into Russia where their supply lines would get over extened and the mass of troops spread out. Thus by September the German Army was on the Volga and in the Cacasus Mountains. The highwater mark of the 3rd Reich as they were also virtually at the gates of Cairo at El Alamein.