German Operation Barbarossa on the Eastern front in World War II.

View of the city, Pskov, on the Veilakaya river. A steel bridge is seen and city across it with smoke rising. German troops march in loose formation over a bridge in Novogorod. Views of German camouflaged tank (with shrubbery) and other armor and troops entering Soviet cities of Brest-litovsk, Minsk, Mogilev, and Vitebsk. View of German Panzer III tank heading toward the camera as it enters a narrow street in Smolensk. Animated map shows progress of these German advances and highlights German forces under German Field Marshal Gerd Von Runstedt cutting deep into the Ukraine. Headline on Chicago Daily News reads: "Nazis Claim Knock-out Victory" with subtitle line reading,"Moscow line cracks." Other newspapers reflect conviction that Soviet forces face imminent defeat by Germany. Slate shows communique issued by the German High Command, stating: "The issue in the East has already been settled. Smolensk is the last halt on the road to Moscow." More views of marching German troops. A battery of Soviet artillery firing from a snow-covered field. Animated map shows German forces moving close to Moscow. Foreign diplomats are moved from Moscow to the city of Kuibyshev. Hitler speaking on October 3, 1941, saying "This enemy is broken and will never rise again." Animated map depicts 500 thousand square miles of Soviet territory occupied by December, 1941, and compares it to the entire west central United States encompassing the states of : South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. Fires raging in agricultural area of the Soviet Union. Destroyed Soviet industrial plants, and huge numbers of Soviet citizens under German occupation. Views of destroyed Soviet armor, aircraft and artillery pieces. As season changes, German forces are seen in rain gear moving slowly through cold rainy weather. Some walk beside horses and other ride on horse-drawn caissons along with artillery pieces. Segments of film show contrast between the German military strategies. The German forces would plunge deep into enemy territory and create an area of conquest. This is illustrated by a slate bearing Adolf Hitler's statement that, "A single blow must destroy the enemy, without regard for losses, a gigantic destroying blow." An animated map illustrates the success of this approach by the Germans in Poland, France, and the Balkans. German Generals seen planning the same "Blitz" strategy against the Soviets. Film shifts to the Soviet strategy, showing their idea of building stronger defense, as they fall back, taking advantage of the great size of their territory. Views of Soviet troops on the move. View of Shells knocking out a German tanks. Panzer III tanks advancing. Panzer VI tanks completely covered by German troops catching rides. Soviet field artillery and machine guns firing in cities, forcing German soldiers to leave their vehicles. Soviet cities bombed out and burning, with debris and obstacles limiting the ability of armor to navigate in them. Montage of battle scenes cities of Rostov, Kharkov, Kiev, Kursk, Smolensk, all thwarting the Nazi blitz into the Soviet Union. Battles being waged in cities. (World War II; WW II; World War 2; World War Two)

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