Eastern Front

Eastern Front

The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of conflict between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and other Allies. It was known as the Great Patriotic War in the Soviet Union. The Eastern Front was the largest and bloodiest theatre of World War II, characterized by unprecedented ferocity, wholesale destruction, mass deportations, and immense loss of life due to combat, starvation, exposure, disease, and massacres.

Background

The Eastern Front was initiated by Operation Barbarossa, the code name for the German invasion of the Soviet Union, which commenced on 22 June 1941. The operation marked the beginning of a campaign that would result in some of the largest battles in history, as well as the most horrific atrocities committed during the war.

Major Battles

• Battle of Stalingrad (23 August 1942 – 2 February 1943): A turning point in the war, the Soviet victory at Stalingrad marked the beginning of the German retreat from the Eastern Front.
• Battle of Kursk (5 July – 23 August 1943): Known for being the largest tank battle in history, the Soviet victory at Kursk further weakened the German forces.
• Siege of Leningrad (8 September 1941 – 27 January 1944): A prolonged military blockade undertaken by the German Army Group North against Leningrad, resulting in severe famine and casualties among the civilian population.

Impact

The Eastern Front was pivotal in the defeat of Nazi Germany. The immense scale of the conflict and the significant losses suffered by the German military on the Eastern Front contributed to the overall weakening of the Axis powers. The Soviet Union emerged as a superpower following the war, having borne the brunt of the fighting against Germany.

Aftermath

The conclusion of the Eastern Front saw the Red Army capturing Berlin in May 1945, leading to the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany. The war on the Eastern Front had a profound impact on the post-war geopolitical landscape, leading to the division of Germany and the onset of the Cold War.

See also

• Western Front (World War II)
• Operation Barbarossa
• Soviet Union in World War II

External links

• History.com - Eastern Front
• Britannica - Eastern Front