The Second World War on the Eastern Front

Contents

Acknowledgments

List of Maps

List of Plates

Chronology

Whoâs Who

Glossary

Maps

Part One: Analysis

1. Introduction

2. The Background

a. The Origins of the War on the Eastern Front

b. Planning âOperation Barbarossaâ

c. Soviet Preparations for War

3. 22 June 1941: The Invasion

a. The Border Battles

b. The Battle for Leningrad

b. The Battle for Kiev

c. The First Major German Defeat: Rostov

d. Mass Murder in the USSR

d. The Battle for Moscow

4. The War turns against the Germans, 1942-43

a. âOperation Blueâ

b. The Battle for Stalingrad

c. German Efforts to Halt the Red Army

d. The Partisans

d. Operation Citadel

5. The Soviet Union on the Offensive

a. Battles for the Ukraine

b. Relief of Leningrad

c. âOperation Bagrationâ

d. The Destruction of Army Groups North and South

d. The Battle for Berlin

6. Assessment

Part Two: Documents

1. Nazi-Soviet Pact, 23 August 1939

2. Hitler Letter to Mussolini, 21 June 1941

3. Directive for âOperation Barbarossaâ

4. Directive for Special Areas during âBarbarossa,â 13 March 1941

5. Decree for the Conduct of Courts-Martial in the East, 13 May, 1941

6. âCommissar Decree,â 6 June, 1941

7. Stalinâs Speech on 3 July, 1941

8. Decree on Treatment of Civilians, 23 July, 1941

9. Halderâs Diary, 3 July 1941

10. Halderâs Diary, 11 August 1941

11. Field Marshal Walter von Reichenauâs order, 10 October, 1941

12. Hitler comments on motorization, 29 October, 1941

13. Order for German forces to go on the defensive, 8 December 1941

14. Hitler comments on the winter, 12 and 17 January, 1942

15. Order for âOperation Blue,â 5 April 1942

16. Soviet order concerning discipline in the Red Army, 28 July, 1942

17. A German Witness to a mass shooting, 5-6 October, 1942

18. A German soldier describes the retreat in the Ukraine, summer 1943

19. âFortified Areasâ Order, 8 March 1944

20. A Soviet soldier on combat during âOperation Bagration, 29 June, 1944

21. A German Soldier on the Eastern Front, 14 January, 1945.

22. Decree for the destruction of German industry, 30 March 1945

23. Hitlerâs Last Proclamation to the Eastern Front, 15 April 1945

Guide to Further Reading

References

Index