Operation Barbarossa was the code name for the German military invasion of U.S.S.R (Soviet Union). The invasion was launched on June 22, 1941. Hitler stated that "when the attack on Russia starts, the world will hold its breath." Once winter came around in Russia, German operations were abandoned. Hitler's plan had failed, which was to take control of the Soviet Union before winter.
Germany and the Soviet Union had signed a mutual non-aggression pact in 1939, pledging not to go to war with one another for the next ten years. But in 1941, Hitler broke his non-aggression pact with Stalin and invaded Soviet territory. The German invasion ordered by Hitler was massive way, intending to secure a quick victory. Germany sent over 3 million soldiers, and 3,000 tanks were involved in the attack. The German generals had predicted that they could win in 10 weeks' time. As we know, that didn't happen, and the war on the Eastern front between Germany and the USSR became the bloodiest theater of war in World War II.
