Example research essay topic: Matter Of Time Soviet Union - 1,768 words

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War beyond Europe In order for us to understand what enabled Hitler to achieve easy victories, in early stages of war, we will need to analyze a geopolitical situation in Europe, before 1939. In years 1930 - 1940 Communism was at its strongest, while striving for no less than taking over the whole world. Up until collapse of Soviet Union in 1991, its emblem used to be hammer and sickle over the globe. Today it became customary to accuse Hitler of dreaming about globe domination, yet he never openly suggested that he wanted to conquer the world, while Stalin did so numerous times. In fact, in 1920 Red Army tried to occupy Poland, as the first step on the way of liberating Europe from capitalism. Yet, this attempt has failed miserably; this is why Stalin decided to wait until the economy of Soviet Union was fully militarized, in order to insure military success of the next attempt to bring happiness to European workers.

At the same time, Hitler simply wanted to return back German historical territories that were being separated from Germany by the treaty of Versailles, while strengthening Germany, because he knew that it was only the matter of time before new Communist onslaught would begin. Therefore, many Europeans thought of Nazi Germany as their natural protector against the threat of Communism, because the governments of their own countries were being corrupted by Communist infiltrators. This is why some countries did not even put up a symbolic resistance, while being occupied by German military forces. The good example is Denmark. A few regiments of German paratroopers were being dropped on Copenhagen and they ended the war within an hour. In fact, Danish officials thought that German paratroopers on the streets of Copenhagen were the part of movie production.

Another important factor that played a crucial role in enabling Hitler to conquer European countries with amazing speed, at the beginning of war, was his military genius. Hitler designed a new military strategy, which was based on tank divisions thrusting deep into enemy's territory, while avoiding military strongholds and cutting supply lines. This strategy is called a Blitzkrieg, which literally translates as instant war. Hitler, unlike majority of European leaders of the time, recognized the fact that future wars are going to be very dynamic, because of rapid pace of technological development.

Germany's quick victory over France in 1940 illustrates this point the best. Hitler attacked France, because he was already in war with this country since 1939. There was a large contingent of British army in France at the time and he simply needed to eliminate the continental threat to Germany from the West. French army relied on Maginot line for effective defense, because French generals were not able to recognize the fact that, after WWI, the concept of warfare changed its very essence. Just as with the case of Poland, Hitlers tanks simply over passed French line of defense and began to roll straight to Paris. French society was being demoralized by its own government, which used to promote pacifism, prior to outbreak of WWII.

Majority of French soldiers were more concerned about their survival then about beating off the aggression. There were reports of whole French divisions surrendering, after the first shots were being fired. Therefore, we can say that it were both demoralization of French society and the effectiveness of German army that allowed Hitler to accomplish a quick military victory over France. The concept of Blitzkrieg proved to be very effective.

However, Germany's military defeat was only the matter of time, ever since the war became prolonged. Let us not forget that German economy was being fully militarized only in 1943, while producing weapons became the priority in Britains economy since 1939. Soviet economy became completely militarized in 1930. In fact, Hitler even reduced his army in size, after the end of French campaign, because he expected British politicians to get back to their senses. However, Churchill had chosen in favor of escalating the war, even though that Hitler tried many times to initiate peace talks. This was because Roosevelt assured him of American assistance.

When Britain ran out of money to pay for the delivery of military supplies from America, Roosevelt introduced the system of land-lease, when weapons were being given to Britain for free. By doing this, America had basically entered the war against Germany, without declaring it officially. American naval vessels were escorting convoys across the Atlantic, with orders to sink German submarines upon a sight. This was happening, while Roosevelt kept declaring that America wants nothing except peace. This is why the tide of war started to turn against Germany, after 1942. The coalition of USA, Britain and Soviet Union simply did not leave Germany any chances to win war.

Germany would be much better off without having allies like Italy, Japan or Bulgaria. It is because of Italy that Hitler had to send his troops to Northern Africa. Mussolini was facing a prospect of complete military defeat in Libya and he had no choice but to ask Hitler to assist him. This resulted in situation when much needed troops were being sent to a desert, instead of being deployed in crucial sections of Eastern front. Hitler did officially declare war against U. S after Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1942, because he remained faithful to his allied obligations towards this country.

He was expecting Japan to declare war on Soviet Union as well, but this did not happen. Japan was only pursuing its own agenda. We can say that it is not that Hitler was not getting much help from his allies, but that he had to help them. This is why Axis proved to be very ineffective, as military alliance. There was only one strategic mistake, on the part of Hitler, during the war he alienated people in occupied parts of Soviet Union, instead of making allies out of them.

People under Communist yoke considered Hitler to be a liberator, after he declared war on USSR. In first moths of war, there were instances of whole Soviet armies surrendering to German troops. It is estimated that Germany took 2 million of prisoners of war, in first few months of campaign against Soviet Union. This is an unprecedented number. Stalin and his gang stood on the brink of complete military defeat. However, instead of bringing freedom to the people of Soviet Union, Hitler simply wanted to turn them into slaves.

This is why Stalin was able to slowly regain citizens support. Hitler did not trust Russians, this is why he was resisting to the idea of formation of Russian Liberation Army until 1943, when it is became clear to everyone that Germany was loosing war. Today it is often being suggested that Hitlers attack of Soviet Union was a mistake. However, many historians, including James Stokesbury, do not understand that Hitler simply had no choice. By 1941 Stalin had active army of 6 million and 8 million of reservists, which were being secretly transported towards the Western border. Soviet Union had 26. 800 tanks against 3000 of German tanks, which were obsolete by Soviet standards.

All Soviet troops were being concentrated in immediate proximity to German border, which indicated that Stalin was planning to attack Hitler within a week or two. The only chance Hitler had, was to launch a preemptive strike, which allowed him to destroy Soviet air force on the ground and to encircle Soviet army in huge pockets. Stalin did not have plans for defensive war, which is why German army was able to move so quickly through Soviet Union, until German advance stalled in winter of 1941. We can say that Hitler was doomed after he signed a Non-Aggression pact with Soviet Union in August of 1939. This is because Hitler thought that by signing this pact he was protecting his rear, before committing German military effort to the invasion of Britain. However, Stalin had his own plan he simply let Hitler to step into a trap.

It was only by pure chance that Hitler was able to realize that Germany was about to be attacked. He had no illusion that Germany could never win war against Soviet colossus, if war became prolonged. Nevertheless, the preemptive attack was only the mean for him to eliminate the immediate threat of Soviet invasion. Hitler produced a deathblow to international Communism. Like a wounded bear, Stalin was able to regain strength and put an end to National-Socialist Germany, yet after this, it was only the matter of time before Soviet Union would collapse. There is no doubt that American and British war effort was very important in bringing about Hitlers downfall.

Still, modern historians, such as James Stokesbury, often exaggerate it. For example, he spends a great amount deal, discussing the dynamics of Desert War, which he considers to be as important as war on Eastern front. However, there were only two German divisions and one paratrooper brigade fighting against British and American forces, throughout the conflict in Africa. We cannot simply compare the scale of Desert War to what was happening on Eastern front. When Allies had finally opened a Second front by invading Normandy in 1944, Germany was already doomed.

Only an overwhelming numbers allowed Allied forces to occupy France and to begin advancing into German territory. Nevertheless, during the Ardennes offensive, German army almost accomplished its military objectives, while driving British and American forces back towards Antwerp. After having realized that Allies were facing the possibility of defeat, because of this German offensive, Churchill asked Stalin to begin his winter offensive two weeks earlier than it was originally planned. To conclude this paper, let us summarize its main points.

First of all, Germany did not have any chances of wining war against USSR, Britain and U. S. because the industrial output of Axis powers could be related to the industrial output of Allies in proportion 1 to 100. Second of all, Hitlers only mistake was the fact that he did not take advantage of geopolitical situation in occupied parts of Soviet Union.

Third of all, the importance of Allied war effort is often being exaggerated, because the outcome of WWII came as result of Stalin being able to simply bleed out German army. Without the involvement of Soviet Union into the war, Allies could never have a chance of winning war against Germany; the story of Dunkirk proves the validity of this statement better than anything else. Bibliography: Stokesbury, James. A Short History of World War 2. New York: William Morrow and Company, 1980.

Research essay sample on Matter Of Time Soviet Union