Beyond Barbarossa: The Eastern Front of World War 2

The Wehrmacht assembles its biggest concentrated force for the largest single campaign of Operation Barbarossa.    Image 1: German half-track, deep in the mud of rasputitsa.  Image 2: Pulling vehicles through the mud of Russia in fall.  Image 3: Eventually, the Germans had to resort to horses to haul even their field guns during rasputitsa.  Map: The push toward Moscow in the fall of 1941.  If you...

Sponsor: The Eastern Front Trilogy by Scott Bury The true story of a Canadian drafted into the Soviet Red Army in World War II.  https://scottburyauthor.com/books/the-eastern-front-trilogy/ As the Germans strangle Leningrad and sweep across Ukraine, we can see just how complicated the Eastern Front is, and how connected to events and decisions a world away.  Map 1: Closing on Leningrad. Photos: Ra...

Having captured most of Ukraine and with a choke-hold on Leningrad, Germany appears to be winning as it advances on Moscow. But the big picture looks different close up.  The Battle of Smolensk may just be the big turning point in the was in the East.  This episode sponsored by The Eastern Front Trilogy, the true story of a Canadian drafted into the Red Army in World War II.  The Eastern Front Tri...

After the Battle of Smolensk, Germany changes its strategy. It diverts forces away from the drive on Moscow toward two other key objectives: Leningrad in the north, and Kyiv in Ukraine.  This is how that played out.    Map source: US Military Academy.  Bibliography: Glantz, David: Operation Barbarossa: Hitler’s Invasion of Russia, 1941. The History Press, Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK, 2001. https:/...

Operation Barbarossa caught the USSR unready. But that doesn't mean they were helpless. They hit back—hard.        Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Beyond Barbarossa, the first English-language podcast in the world to focus on the Eastern Front of World War II, takes a close look at the opposing forces facing off across the border on June 22, 1941.  Music by Nicolas Bury.  Links Beyond Barbarossa: the website for more maps and information.  Enjoy this podcast?  Support us on Patreon to help cover the costs of production.  The Eastern Front Tr...

What brought Nazi Germany and the USSR to the brink of war in June 1941? What about their odd alliance in the late 1930s?  The relationship between these opposite tyrannies played out like the macabre inverse of a romantic comedy. Nothing was funny. Maps to help:  Battle of Khalkin Gol    German invasion of Poland:    Soviet invasion of Poland    Finland 1940        Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...

The first day of the biggest land invasion in the history of warfare. See the maps on the website, https://beyondbarbarossa.podbean.com. Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com . Music by Nicolas Bury.  Support the program by becoming a Patreon patron: https://www.patreon.com/BeyondBarbarossa   Get all the info on the web page .  Contact us by email: contact@writtenword.ca  Follow the...

Beyond Barbarossa: The first English-language podcast to focus on the biggest part of World War II— the largest war in human history—the Eastern Front, launches June 22, 2022, the 81st anniversary. Music by Nicolas Bury.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.