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Creation of the Molotov-Ribbentrop no-agression pact
This benefitted both sides (Germany and the U.S.S.R.): Germany used it to invade freely the western half of Poland and the U.S.S.R. to earn the other half of Poland and to take control of the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) Unfortunately for the soviets, Hitler broke it the 22nd June of 1941, attacking the U.S.S.R. -
Soviet-Japanese Neutrality Pact
This pact was accomplished because the Soviet Union needed to move troops from the east to the eastern front with Germany. With this pact, the U.S.S.R. can move it's troops without fearing a surprise attack from the east. -
The Barbarossa Decree
This decree announced by Hitler, allowed the german soldiers to execute soviet citizens with no reason, which lead to various war crimes. -
Comissar Order
This order was issued by Hitler, and said that the soviet political commissars had to be executed without a previous trial. -
Romania's Prime Minister arrives to Berlin
Ion Antonescu, Romania's Prime Minister, arrives to Berlin in order to receive instructions from Hitler due to their new alliance. -
Turkey and Germany sign a no-agression pact
Germany signed it to prevent Turkey of intervening in the conflict due to it's proximity. -
Italy declares war to the U.S.S.R.
Due to it's alliance with Germany -
Romania declares war to the U.S.S.R.
Due to it's alliance with Germany -
UK supports the U.S.S.R.
To try to convince the soviets to join the Allies. -
Germany attacks the U.S.S.R.
Germany attacks the Soviet Union without much resistance, because at the beginning the soviets believed that after a few days, the attacks would cease and Hitler would try to sign a pact like the Brest-Litovsk pact (peace treaty of WWI). When they realized that the germans were trying to invade the U.S.S.R., the started to defend themselves, but without much success, since the "Wehrmacht" was the most powerful army in the entire globe. The germans broke the Ribbentrop-Molotov no-agression pact. -
US supports the U.S.S.R.
To try to convince the soviets to join the Allies. -
Slovakia declares war to the U.S.S.R.
Due to it's alliance with Germany -
Finland declares war to the U.S.S.R.
With the objective of regaining the lost territories that the soviets took from them at the end of WWI. -
Hungary declares war to the U.S.S.R.
Due to it's alliance with Germany -
Period: to
The Battle of Kiev
The German troops conquered Kiev with the largest siege in history. -
The U.S.S.R. and the UK sign a cooperation agreement
To help the soviets in their battle against Germany and to make them enter in the side of the Allies in the war. -
UK and Finland break relations
This is because the UK was supporting the Soviet Union, and Finland was in war with them to try to regain the lost territories at the end of WWI. Also because it's alliance with Germany. -
Period: to
Battle of Moscow
This was the final battle of Operation Barbarossa. The soviets won and they forced successfully the germans to retire. Many historians say that it is the only victory the soviets had against the germans. Afterwards they regained all this territory with a massive offensive, Operation Bagration, regaining 600 km of territory in 2 months. -
Temperatures in Russia descend to -30 degrees Celsius
This helped the soviets, and transformed the war in an attrition warfare, beacause the germans (that didn't expect the war lasting until december) were badly equipped, unlike the soviets.