The Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945)

World History

This collection uses primary sources to explore Operation Barbarossa and World War II on the Eastern Front.

An American political cartoon titled “And if Russia is crushed” that expresses fear of Russian defeat by Nazi forces in World War II.

This charcoal-drawn political cartoon by artist Daniel Robert Fitzpatrick of the *St. Louis Post-Dispatch* acknowledges the primacy of Russia as the last hope for halting Nazi domination of continental Europe. The cartoon was drawn in 1942 when German Nazi troops held critical Russian cities including St. Petersburg/Leningrad under siege but had not yet managed to defeat the Soviets.


A World War II political cartoon that communicates concern about the Nazi invasion of Russia by Dr. Seuss.

This October 1941 cartoon appeared in a popular New York newspaper called *PM*. It was one of 400 World War II-era political cartoons created by Theodor Seuss Geisel (later known as Dr. Seuss). It expresses concern about the recent Nazi invasion of Russia, but pride in the success of US naval forces, newly engaged in the war effort, against Nazi submarines. 

A radio program highlighting World War II-era Soviet heroism based on a short story by a female Russian survivor of the Siege of Leningrad.

This story’s tale of the survival of a Soviet pilot shot down by Nazis behind enemy lines serves as a parable for the bravery of the people of Leningrad who survived over 900 days of siege warfare without letting their city fall to Nazi forces. The audio recording was created in the mid-1960s and is a dramatization of the short story “Will Power” by Soviet author Vera Ketlinskaya, herself a survivor of the siege of Leningrad.

A Soviet poster celebrating the female labor force that supported victory over the Nazis in World War II.

This 1944 Soviet poster (featuring a Soviet Rosie the Riveter) by Iosif Aleksandrovich Serebriannyi commended the Soviet women who made up a major labor force in the USSR during World War II. The caption reads, "А ну-ка, взяли! / A nu-ka, vziali!", meaning "Let's get that!" Soviet women worked in munitions factories and construction throughout the war and led resistance efforts in cities such as St. Petersburg/Leningrad.

A table of World War II casualties listed by nation.

This table from a *Readers’ Digest* book about World War II was preserved in a scrapbook by a collector of information about World War II. The table includes military and civilian deaths and shows the high tallies in both categories incurred by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

A photograph of a Soviet World War II memorial in Ukraine that commemorates the defeat of the Nazi occupying regime by Soviet forces.

Eastern Europe and Russia are dotted with war memorials honoring the many Soviet soldiers and civilians who gave their lives during World War II. This memorial is located in Ukraine, which was invaded and seized by the Nazis in 1941. Soviet forces retook the area in the Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive in 1943, preventing the region from becoming the agricultural “breadbasket” of the Nazi empire.

A 1939 annotated map of Nazi aggression and emerging World War II “theaters of war.”

This illustrated pictorial map of the early European Theater of World War II was included in the *Los Angeles Times* as a bonus item for readers. The map features decorative images of World War II-era warfare, including naval vessels, aircraft, and tanks, in its margins, as well as the instructions for readers of the *Los Angeles Times* to mount and preserve the map to reference it as the war progressed. The headline “Save this Map!” indicates that the 1941 newspaper subscribers who received it in their paper should expect to use it during years of war to come.

An excerpt from an interview with a Soviet soldier who survived the Battle of Stalingrad.

This 2008 oral history is an interview conducted by a student at American University. The interview subject is American University professor Vadim Medish, an immigrant from the Soviet Union who had fought with Soviet forces to repel the Nazi invasion of Russia in the Battle of Stalingrad in World War II.

An excerpt from a 1944 pamphlet on the Siege of Leningrad published by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics’ American embassy.

This pamphlet details the legacy of the valiant resistance efforts of Soviet armed forces and civilians to repel Nazi invaders from Stalingrad and Leningrad. This excerpt contains photos taken from inside the Siege of Leningrad. While its publication by a Soviet embassy indicates that the pamphlet is an example of political propaganda celebrating Soviet heroism, the content of the pamphlet features moving photographs and accounts of valor by Russian civilians during the siege.

A 1942 political cartoon predicting Nazi defeat in the attack on Stalingrad.

Artist Daniel Robert Fitzpatrick drew this political cartoon, “Gateway to Stalingrad,” for the *St. Louis Post-Dispatch* in 1942. It depicts Nazi legions marching towards Stalingrad, leading the reader to consider the prospects of these Nazi forces for success or failure.

An excerpt from a talk by historian Timothy Snyder on the impact of World War II-era German and Soviet rule on Eastern Europe.

This 2010 talk at Harvard Book Store features Yale professor Timothy Snyder discussing his new book, *Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin*. His book examines the Nazi and Soviet policies that caused the deaths of fourteen million civilians in the multi-state region between Berlin and Moscow from 1933 to 1945.

A 1941 political cartoon by Dr. Seuss depicting Stalin serving a roasted Adolf Hitler.

This cartoon, entitled “They're Serving Roast Adolf at Joe's House Tonight,” was published after Hitler’s forces began to progress eastward towards Russia in late 1941. From 1941 to 1943, Theodor Seuss Geisel (later known as Dr. Seuss) was the chief editorial cartoonist for the New York newspaper *PM*, drawing and publishing over 400 editorial cartoons.

An excerpt from *The Story of the Second World War* by historian Henry Steele Commager about the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

This two-part segment is part of a larger book written by historian Henry Steele Commager, a prolific writer of forty books and 700 published essays during his seventy-year career. This excerpt focuses first on the effective, brutal destruction of all resources that could not be defended by the Soviets, and then profiles the incredible resilience of the people of Leningrad who withstood a 900-day siege by Nazi occupying forces. Commager’s book is unique as a work of history because it was written by a witness to the war immediately after its conclusion.

A 1952 US Army report on the impact of weather and climate on the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union.

This report by the US Army uses weather statistics and interviews with German generals to summarize the role that climate and weather had on the Soviet defeat of Nazi forces in World War II. It is interesting to consider the potential purposes of the report, particularly because it was drafted as the Cold War was underway and the American military may have been contemplating scenarios that included war with the Soviet Union.

Questions

1. Even as the war raged, the Soviet Union honored the contributions of members of its armed forces and civilians in its wartime propaganda supporting the war effort, like the [poster celebrating the female labor force](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1692). After the war, the Soviet Union and Soviet-occupied states built thousands of war memorials, such as the one featured in the [photograph of a Soviet World War II memorial](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1694) in Ukraine. Popular literature, shown in this [radio program highlighting World War II-era Soviet heroism](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1691), celebrated the bravery of the Soviet people in achieving Nazi defeat. Think about these examples and compare and contrast them with how Americans have commemorated veterans who served in World War II. 
2. Consider the American political cartoons by Daniel Robert Fitzpatrick, “[And if Russia is Crushed](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1689)” and “[Gateway to Stalingrad](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1698).” What points does Fitzpatrick make with these cartoons? What do you think the average American understood about the importance of Soviet resistance to the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II after viewing cartoons like this?
3. Consider the American political cartoons by Dr. Seuss, “[Bad News/Good News](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1690)” and “[They're Serving Roast Adolf at Joe's House Tonight](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1700).” How does his style differ from Daniel Fitzpatrick’s in “[And if Russia is Crushed](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1689)” and “[Gateway to Stalingrad](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1698)?” Look at Dr. Seuss’s cartoon “[They're Serving Roast Adolf at Joe's House Tonight](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1700)” and explain the main idea he is trying to convey in his image. Do you agree with his analysis of Stalin’s impact on the fate of Adolf Hitler?
4. Read the [excerpt from *The Story of the Second World War*](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1701) and the [pamphlet on the Siege of Leningrad](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1697). What facts and photographs most stand out to you? Who deserves credit for the Soviet victory over the Nazis in the Soviet Union?
5. Read the [excerpt from an interview with a Soviet soldier](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1696) who survived the Battle of Stalingrad. What portion of his account makes the biggest impression on you? This Soviet soldier ultimately moved to the United States and became a celebrated professor of political science at American University. How do you think his participation in World War II may have shaped his worldview?
6. The excerpt from a [talk by historian Timothy Snyder](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1699) focuses on the under-studied mass casualties that occurred between 1933 and 1945 in the area he calls the “Bloodlands” between Berlin and Moscow. What factors does he think are to blame for this lack of understanding of the devastation on World War II’s Eastern Front? 
7. Look at the [table of World War II casualties](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1693) listed by nation. Which nations suffered the highest casualties? Why?
8. Read the [US Army’s 1952 report](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1702) on the impact of weather and climate. What lessons could our American military learn from this report?
9. Consider the [1939 map](https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/world-war-ii-s-eastern-front-operation-barbarossa/sources/1696) provided to readers of the *Los Angeles Times* for them to keep, save, and display to track the progress of the war. Where are the main “theaters of war” in 1939? Where would they be in 1941? What about in 1944? Which other theaters of war might be evident on a world map not centered on Europe?

Activity

*Part 1:* After reviewing the information and images in this set, ask the class to work in pairs to craft a thesis statement about the role of the Soviet Union and its people in defeating Nazi Germany in World War II. Each pair should share their thesis statement with the class. Ask the class if there are common themes that emerge from these thesis statements.

*Part 2:* Make an argument to the class that no matter how complicated our historical relationship with the Soviet Union or the current state of Russia may be, Americans, and all Western Europeans, still owe a debt of gratitude to the Soviet civilians and soldiers who gave their lives in World War II to defeat the unstoppable progress of Nazi occupation across Europe and beyond. Ask students to discuss why they think that the United States and Western European nations have often been reluctant to recognize and celebrate Soviet contributions to the defeat of Hitler’s Nazi forces in World War II. 

*Part 3:* Ask students to work in pairs on one of the following activities:

* Design a proposal and sketch for a war monument in the United States honoring the sacrifice of the Soviet people in World War II.

* Write a letter to the Russian ambassador to the United States explaining what the class has learned about Operation Barbarossa and its significance, and conveying thanks to the Soviet veterans and civilian supporters of World War II. 

* Write a brief essay on why expressions of gratitude towards the Soviet people or current Russian government might be inappropriate or ill-advised. 


Teaching Guide: Exploring Operation Barbarossa

Resources

1. “[World War II: Operation Barbarossa](https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/07/world-war-ii-operation-barbarossa/100112/),” *The Atlantic*, July 24, 2011.  
2. [The Eastern Front](https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/eastern-front), National World War II Museum.  
3. “[Don’t forget how the Soviet Union saved the world from Hitler](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/05/08/dont-forget-how-the-soviet-union-saved-the-world-from-hitler/?utm_term=.b5561915b0b1),” *The Washington Post*, May 8, 2015. 
4. [Invasion of the Soviet Union](https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005164), June 1941, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.  

Overview

In June 1941, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler violated a non-aggression pact with Josef Stalin and launched a massive invasion of the Soviet Union. This offensive, named “Operation Barbarossa,” was motivated by a desire to crush one of Europe’s last holdouts against Nazi domination as well as Hitler’s disdain for communism and the Slavic people. Additionally, Hitler sought to commandeer the Soviet Union’s natural resources, including natural oil and gas and vast agricultural areas of Ukraine that could serve as the Nazi “breadbasket.” 

With Operation Barbarossa, Germany divided its military resources between combat on the new Eastern Front and existing Western Front. In planning this latest attack, Hitler and his military leadership underestimated both Stalin’s preparedness for war and the will of the Soviet Union to resist Nazi occupation at any price. In response to early Nazi successes in the westernmost Soviet-held territories, the Soviets employed a “scorched earth” approach—burning and destroying any resource, asset, field, or town before it could be seized and drawing the Nazi forces deeper into the Soviet Union with few means to provision their troops. As a result, the Nazi invasion took much longer than anticipated and Hitler’s troops experienced the brutal hardships of combat in the frigid Russian winter.

The failed Sieges of Stalingrad and Leningrad proved to be “nails in the coffin” for the Nazi forces because Russian civilians held out without surrender for years and exhausted Nazi efforts to take control of their cities. Germany’s forces were depleted through this unsuccessful attempt to conquer the Soviet Union, with a loss of 775,000 soldiers due in part to harsh winter conditions and lack of food and supplies. However, the Soviets paid a higher price for their hard-fought victory. 800,000 Soviet soldiers died in battle, another six million were wounded or captured, and historians estimate Soviet civilian death totals at an unfathomable fifteen million. Operation Barbarossa still stands today as the largest military engagement in world history. Germany’s defeat by Soviet forces was the single most significant factor in the collapse of the Third Reich and the end of Nazi control of Europe. 

English

World War II’s Eastern Front: Operation Barbarossa

eastern-front_04_12915c2d53a95da5256919783f05aa16.jpg

Courtesy of University of Southern California Libraries.

Serebriannyi, Iosif Aleksandrovich, “A nu-ka, vziali!,” Digital Public Library of America, https://dp.la/item/12915c2d53a95da5256919783f05aa16.

A Soviet poster celebrating the female labor force that supported victory over the Nazis in World War II.

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Tips for Students

Item 4 of 14 in the Primary Source Set World War II’s Eastern Front: Operation Barbarossa