Germany's surprise assault on the Soviet Union in 1941, Operation Barbarossa, aimed at nothing less than complete destruction. Hitler saw this as the answer to establishing 'Lebensraum' for the German people in the East. The Soviets believed that a German attack would take place in the Ukraine. As such, Germany faced the Soviet Southwestern and Southern Fronts, containing many of the best equipped, trained and commanded units in the Soviet order. Nevertheless German superiority began to tell and the Soviet Army was encircled and destroyed at Uman. By the beginning of October 1941 it appeared that the Red Army was in the final stages of collapse and nothing could stop the German juggernaut.

Author Biography

Robert Kirchubel has had a keen interest in the Eastern Front campaigns of World War II, and Operation Barbarossa in particular, all his adult life. He has already contributed to World War Two in Europe and World War Two in the Pacific and The International Military Encyclopedia. His three-volume study of the Barbarossa camapign is the product of several years work and research. Robert lives and works in California. Howard Gerrard studied at the Wallasey School of Art and has been a freelance designer and illustrator for over 20 years. He has won both the Society of British Aerospace Companies Award and the Wilkinson Sword Trophy and has illustrated a number of books for Osprey including Campaign 69: Nagashino 1575 and Campaign 72: Jutland 1916. Howard lives and works in Kent.