The Great Patriotic War and World War II are events that took place at the same time, on a certain territory against one enemy, fascism. The Patriotic War, being part of the World War, was fought in its average time period.
The beginning of hostilities was the clash of interests of the great powers. The world hegemony of Great Britain and France, as a result of the conclusion of the Treaty of Versailles in the First World War, most infringed on the territorial interests of the USSR and Germany. The Soviet Union did not demonstrate its revanchist ideas, while Adolf Hitler came to power, using the mood to return the former lands, power and power to the German people. Germany was preparing for war.
Goals of countries participating in hostilities
The characterization of the pre-war situation of World War II and the Great Patriotic War is briefly reduced to the creation of political and economic conditions under which Germany was able to decisively demonstrate its expansionist aspirations, whileleading European countries have opted for a contemplative policy.
This war was the longest, bloodiest and most destructive in the history of mankind. Germany, Italy and Japan, striving for a redivision of the world, having concluded an alliance among themselves, planned the creation of huge colonial territories and the destruction of the local population. This was the main cause of the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War. On the part of these countries, the war was of an aggressive, aggressive nature.
To counter the occupational actions, the attacked countries united against a common enemy. For this time, all political and ideological differences between them were discarded.
First stage of the World War
1939-01-09 German troops entered the territory of Poland. This day is considered the beginning of a bloody war. France and Great Britain, being its allies, immediately declared war on Hitler, but the aid to the Polish state ended there. Neither the two great powers, nor fascist Germany waged hostilities among themselves. Left without support, Poland, abandoned by the allies to its fate, resisted as much as it could, but, in the end, fell. Her allies counted on satisfying Hitler's appetite in Europe, and that his further blow would fall on the USSR. But without receiving a proper rebuff, Germany in April of the forties captured the territories of Norway and Denmark. Historians call this period the “strange war.”
Developing the offensive, Hitler occupied France, Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. Victorythe German army, inspired by nationalist ideas, was given without much difficulty. On the occupied territory of France, a collaborationist state was created, that is, a new government under the leadership of Pétain, which voluntarily agreed to cooperate and submit to the occupation regime. Historians call it the Vichy regime.
Reciprocal step of the Soviet Union
The threat of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War and the Second World War for the Soviet country was postponed for some time, and Stalin got the opportunity to prepare a little for it. The Polish state, abandoned by the fugitive leaders, was left to fend for itself. Soviet troops entered the territory of Western Ukraine and Belarus to protect the local population, which led to the annexation of these territories to the USSR as union republics.
The next step of the Soviet government was the expansion of influence and the subsequent annexation of the three B altic republics: Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. An attempt to include Finland in its composition was unsuccessful, but as a result, some territorial concessions were achieved. And, finally, Bessarabia, given away by the Romanian government, also became part of the USSR. Thus, by increasing its own territory, the Soviet state significantly strengthened the security and military power of the country.
The modernization of the army's weapons and the training of command personnel were carried out at an accelerated pace.
The "Triple Pact" of the aggressors
Before Germany entered the Soviet land, the USSR had almost nothing to do with the global slaughter flaring up on the planet. In SeptemberIn 1940, the aggressor armies of Germany, Italy and Japan, having united, concluded the Tripartite Pact. Later, Bulgaria, Hungary and other countries joined it.
By June 1941, only two independent states remained in Europe: the USSR and Great Britain, which was subjected to powerful air raids, but successfully defended.
Hitler's plan for the USSR
The periodization of the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War refers the events of June 1941 - May 1945 to the second stage of hostilities. The main task that Hitler set for Germany was the conquest of living space in the East. He planned to start a war with the USSR only after the final pacification of Europe. But the Barbarossa plan was signed even before the end of the war with England, since the Fuhrer was very worried about the increased rearmament of the Soviet troops.
The Blitzkrieg, calculated by Hitler, was to be completed before the onset of winter, the Soviet army should be driven back beyond the Urals, and the territory liberated from the Soviets would eventually be populated by German colonists. The local population, reduced at times, was to be used for rough work. Of course, the remaining Asian territory of the USSR would also be under the control of the Reich, it was planned to transfer numerous concentration camps from Europe here.
This was the goal set for Germany by its Fuhrer, who wanted to destroy the incomprehensible Russian people and their savage culture. From the first day of the struggle for their lives and future, this war became for the Sovietpeople of the national, national, liberation.
Three stages of the Patriotic War
Historians traditionally divide the events of military operations of that time into three periods of the Great Patriotic War. World War II merges with the Patriotic War in this time period.
Stages of events:
- From June 22, 1941 to November 1942. The beginning of hostilities on the territory of the USSR, the failure of Operation Barbarossa, the battles of 1942.
- From November 1942 to December 1943. A turning point in the course of the war, the defeat of the Germans in Stalingrad and the Kursk Bulge.
- From January 1944 to May 9, 1945. Liberation of Soviet territory and European countries, capitulation of Germany.
The beginning of the war with the Soviet people
The beginning of the war is calculated with huge losses. Five million fighters were put out of action killed, wounded or captured. The Germans destroyed many Soviet tanks and planes. In a short time, the enemy captured one and a half million square meters. kilometers of territory. The Barbarossa plan seemed to be on track.
As always, the danger united the Soviet people, gave them strength. Hitler hoped that in difficult conditions interethnic strife would begin, but the opposite happened. The country has become a single family, protecting all its national values.
The biggest and most significant event of that period was the battle for Moscow. From September 1941 to April 1942, on the outskirts of the capital, the confrontation between the two armies continued. Finally, the Soviet soldiers managed to push the enemy backfor 100-250 kilometers. This was the first significant defeat of Hitler in the history of the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War. The victory served as a signal to other countries to make decisions. England and the USSR entered into an agreement, and later signed an agreement with the United States on support and military supplies to the Soviet army. Thus was born the anti-Hitler coalition.
The victory raised the morale of the defenders of the Motherland, the legends about the invincibility of the German army were dispelled. Japan, frightened by this turn of events, refused to enter the war with the USSR and attacked Asian countries, occupying Thailand, Singapore, Burma and others.
Second period of World War II
Characterized by heavy fighting and casu alties on both sides, and marks a turning point in military events.
Germany, having struck at the south of Russia, went to Stalingrad and the Volga. The purpose of the offensive was to cut off the Soviet army from the Ural factories, depriving it of industrial and fuel support. The Soviet leadership, having learned how to fight during the period of hostilities, having strengthened the material base of the army, decided to give a decisive battle to the enemy near Stalingrad. Many kilometers of fortifications were created, the well-known order of the Generalissimo was issued to prohibit retreat. Several months of confrontation ended with the defeat of the Nazis.
The Battle of Kursk, which took place some time later, contributed with victory to the beginning of the expulsion of the enemy. From this turning point of the Great Patriotic and World War II began the destruction of fascismon the planet.
Anglo-American troops waged a liberation struggle in the Pacific. Egypt and Tunisia were liberated from German and Italian occupation. There was resolute talk about opening a second front in the north of France, which was discussed at a meeting of the first persons of the USSR, America and England in Tehran. Russia has promised to fight against Japan after the end of the war in Europe.
Finishing
The years of the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War are marked by the complete liberation from the invaders of Soviet territory and the beginning of the campaign of Soviet troops across Europe. Allies of Germany: Romania and Bulgaria fell without resistance, heavy battles unfolded for Hungary, but the most desperate resistance was on the territory of Poland. At the same time, soldiers of the second front landed in the north of France, in Normandy. Anglo-American and Canadian troops were assisted by the local Resistance movement.
When the fighting was going on in Germany, the second meeting of the "big three" took place in Y alta. The leaders of the three states decided to divide the defeated Germany into occupation zones. On April 16, the assault on Berlin began; on April 30, the Victory Banner was raised over the Reichstag. On May 8, Germany capitulated.
End of the Great Patriotic War and World War II
1945-09-05 is celebrated by the Soviet people as a day of victory in the war, which changed a lot in the life of the country. But the Second World War continued, and Russia, fulfilling the promise given to the allies, entered it.
The main defeat of the Japanese troops was carried out by the Americans, having released by this timemany captured Asian countries. Rejecting the ultimatum to surrender, Japan was bombed from the air with atomic bombs.
The Soviet Union liberated Manchuria, South Sakhalin, the Kuriles and North Korea within three weeks. Japan signed the surrender on 1945-02-09. The World War is over.
Results of the Great Patriotic War and World War II
The positive results of experts include, first of all, the destruction of the fascist machine, the liberation of the world from the aggressors. At the cost of terrible losses and incredible efforts, the Soviet people saved themselves and the planet from enslavement.
The achievements of this victory were:
- freedom and independence;
- expanding the borders of the state;
- destruction of fascism;
- liberation of the peoples of Europe;
- appearance of the socialist camp.
The price of victory was very high. From the moment when the Second World War and the Great Patriotic War began and ended, six long years have passed. During this time, about 30 million Soviet people died, a third of the national we alth was destroyed, more than 1,700 cities were turned into ruins, 70,000 villages were wiped off the face of the earth, many factories, factories, roads. Only 3% of men born in 1923 returned home, which still makes itself felt by demographic failures.
