Army Group Center

The push for Moscow

Objectives

Students will be able to describe 2 elements of

the battle plans for the Axis and Allied forces for
the Battle of Kursk in a constructed response
question.

Students will be able to describe the major events

in Operation Barbarossa through earning a 72% on
a learning segment quiz

Academic Language

Resolve- to come to a definite or earnest decision

about; determine (to do something)

Entrenchment- to dig trenches for defensive

purposes around (oneself, a military position, etc.)

Concentrated- clustered or gathered together

closely.

The Goal of
Center
They were to march to Moscow
They were the strongest and
largest facet of the invading
German army
Led by Fedor Von Bock
Their plan was to use the rapid
blitzkrieg into the heart of the
Soviet Union
First task was to take Smolensk

The Road to Moscow

Army Group Center was moving much faster than

Army Group North and Army Group South.

They took Smolensk in August of 1941 and could

easily push to Moscow

This posed a risk for being flanked and overtaken

from the North and the South by the Soviets

They opted to reduce their forces and split their

strength to the north and the south

Hitler blunders

All of Hitler's military advisors

advised that Moscow should
quickly be taken as to cripple
the Soviets

Hitler believed that the way to

beat the Soviets was to hurt
their economy

Hitler returns his focus on

Moscow at the end of summer

This means the weakened

German army would have to
take Moscow in three months
or suffer at the hand of the
Russian winter

The Soviet Preparation

The Soviets knew Hitler would

turn his attention back to
Moscow

Soviets create a rigid line to

halt the advance of the
Germans

"Revolution Day" paradeNovember 7th

Germans believed there was

no reserves by December and
though there were no counter
offensives coming.

18 Soviet divisions came to

push back the German
offensive

Battle of Kursk

Last large German offensive

in the Soviet Union

Hitler believed it was his

resolve that will create the
needed boost of morale to
troops for Germany to win.

Hitler went out to the field

headquarters in Zaporizahia,
due to his distrust of his
commanders.

German Plans

Original plan (Hienz Guderian)

was to set up a defensive line
and prepare to counterattack
the stretched Soviet lines

Hitler rejected based on the

political implications of
becoming defensive

German plan was to pincer off

and envelop Kursk in the spring
after the rasputitsa had ended

The extra time waiting in

preparations allowed for the
Soviets to prepare for the
German attack

Soviet Preparations

Soviets knew that the Germans

were amassing a large attack to
try and prevent their defeat in
the East

Soviets broke up three sectors of

defenses and had 300,000
civilians to aide in the
construction of these defenses

They made a huge network of

minefields (tank 503,663/
personnel 439,348), barbed-wire
fences, anti-tank ditches, deep
entrenchments, anti-tank
obstacles, dug-in armored
vehicles, and machine gun
bunkers

Total depth of all defenses was

30o kilometers (190 miles)

The Battle

Germans faced a lack of fuel and

spare parts for machinery

This would become the largest

tank battle ever

Germans had superior tanks but

the means in which the Soviets
had to supply their forces and
defensive advantages, the Soviets
could slowly push the advantage

Soviets used the tactic called

pakfront as a means to push back
German advances

Germans push through first

defensive line but are slowed by
Soviet "silent tanks"

What made the

difference?

The Soviets could out

produce the Germans and
held the defensive
advantage

While the German Tigers

were far superior, there
were a limited number as
compared to the Soviet T34s

While the Soviets held

heavy casualties and loss of
tanks, the draw between
the two sides held the
advantage for the Soviets

Barbarossa Quiz

Take out any notes you have taken over the

Barbarossa section

You will have the rest of class to work on your quiz

When you have finished, turn in your quiz and

then return to your seats and work on your study
guide

Review day tomorrow so do not forget your study

guide!