Barbarossa Through German Eyes: The Biggest Invasion in History

by Jonathan Trigg

Spring 1941 – the Third Reich triumphant! Having taken over Germany in 1933, Hitler launched a series of lightning campaigns across Europe that crushed Poland, Denmark, Norway, France, the Low Countries, and then the Balkans. Only Great Britain had withstood the Nazis, but even it was battered and bruised and close to defeat. Then, on 22 June 1941 – in the most momentous decision of the war – the Nazi dictator turned East and flung his victorious armies into the vastness of the Soviet Union. Having signed a Non-Aggression Pact with Hitler back in 1939, Stalin was taken completely by surprise by the German attack. Hitler’s Wehrmacht – buoyed by years of untrammeled success and led by some of the greatest commanders Nazi Germany had to offer – crashed across the border and sent the Red Army reeling. The German plan was simple and its scale staggering; over three million men, armed with over three thousand panzers, the same number of aircraft, more than seven thousand guns and carried by over six hundred thousand vehicles and even more horses, would be joined by over half a million soldiers from allied countries, and together they would destroy the largest army in the world while advancing a thousand miles to the very borders of Asiatic Russia. There they would halt and what remained of the Soviet Union and the communist faith that spawned it would wither and die. In the newly conquered lebensraum, Hitler and the Nazis would then commence the biggest mass human extermination program in history. Barbarossa was huge, but it was fought by men; and on the German side, in particular, it would be fought by junior officers and simple soldiers as the Wehrmacht tried to win the war once and for all.

Genres: History, World War II, Military History

288 pages, Hardcover

Published October 15, 2021

Reviews

[Dachokie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written book that illustrates Operation Barbarossa (history’s largest invasion) as a self-inflicted bloodletting for the seemingly invincible German war machine.

An accumulation of personal accounts neatly tied-together by the author’s smooth narrative presents a visceral image of how miserable and futile the invasion of the Soviet Union truly was. A compelling read that details how the harsh Russian environment and the dogged and unpredictable nature of its military seemed to lure the Wehrmacht into a web it would never escape.

Jonathan Trigg does a great job telling the history with the personal accounts giving insight to the invaders’ plight. No stone is left unturned in this book as we are presented with the campaign’s barbaric nature and Germany’s failure to understand its enemy, terrain, climate and logistics.

A balanced read. One of the better modern books on understanding Operation Barbarossa that has sparked my interest in reading his other “through German eyes” books.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real gem of a hardback history book. The author really brings to life the human aspect of the German/Russian conflict of WW2. He also manages to incorporate a concise historical narrative of Operation Barbarossa whilst sticking to the premise of the book, which is the personal experiences of those involved and their diaries. I’d go as far as to say that he is so successful at this, that further reading is not really necessary we regard understanding this I’ll fated campaign. The strategic, economical and military aspects of the operation are covered and the author skilfully combines these with the individual stories of those tasked with carrying it out.

The commonly held view of an all conquering, highly skilled, mobilised Wehrmacht, conquering a backward, I’ll equipped and subhuman Russia, thwarted just at the point of victory by the Russian winter, is conclusively proved to be nonsense. Yes the German soldier is better trained, yes he was full of hubris and confidence and yes he achieved outstanding victories against a formidable foe. But he failed to anticipate how good a soldier the Russian was, tenacious, brave and ruthless. With the T34 tank, now regarded as the best tank of the war and an inexhaustible supply of manpower and supplies, he proved, along with help from the vast terrain, that he was more than a match for the German Army.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting perspective from individual German soldiers who fought the Russians in the east, and how they actually knew well before their leaders did that it was a lost cause. Germany never had the material capability to support this offensive. They completely underestimated the size of the Russian landmass, the backward nature of its roads, and the Russian ability to replace lost equipment. All spelled doom for the Germans.

[Steve G**** · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book dispels the myth of the ‘clean’ Wehrmacht, most notably the Army. It debunks the apologist narrative that atrocities were solely the work of ardent Nazis and the SS.

“Savagery begat savagery, as each side justified its own behaviour in light of the others actions”

[Thomas Hunter Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Read

It’s quite different to read a book from the German armies point of view there were some great facts and interesting memoirs from soldiers. Worth a read for WWII enthusiasts.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well researched book and the Third Reichs gamble that led to their downfall.

[Wayne Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars