Why did the Germans attack the USSR? How and when did Adolf Hitler decide to attack the USSR

The war against the Soviet Union was one of the firm intentions of Adolf Hitler. Unlike his high-ranking military, who also considered war necessary in the medium term but wanted to limit it to revanchist military campaigns against Poland and France, for the "Fuehrer" the conquest of "space in the east" was a non-negotiable goal. This was the aim of his foreign policy in the 1930s.

The latest research by the military historian Rolf-Dieter Mueller has shown that Hitler's seemingly unbalanced policy towards Poland can be called the key if it is seen as an attempt to get an ally to wage war against the Soviet Union.

Only when it became clear that Poland, relying on British and French guarantees, did not intend to give in to German demands, did Hitler decide to make an alliance with Stalin. This happened at the expense of Poland, which was then divided between two dictators.

Ideological mortal enemies

The pact between two ideological mortal enemies surprised the whole world at the end of August 1939, but Hitler from the very beginning did not intend to comply with it. Stalin quickly annexed to his empire as "trophies" most of the territories due to him, including Eastern Poland, Karelia in Finland, the Baltic states, and part of Romania. Meanwhile, the Third Reich subjugated France and the Benelux countries in the west, but he failed to establish air supremacy over Great Britain and land his troops there.

Although Stalin’s Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov was visiting Berlin in November 1940, Hitler ordered on December 18, 1940: “The German Wehrmacht must be prepared to defeat Soviet Russia as a result of a quick military campaign before the end of the war against England ( Plan Barbarossa).

He also set an exact date: "Preparations requiring a longer time should be started now - if it is not already happening - and completed by May 15, 1941." Since this day turned out to be a Thursday, and Hitler began almost all his actions on Friday or at the end of the week, it was assumed that the period from May 16 to 18, 1941, should be considered as a specific time for the attack.

"In a daring operation"

Thus, the Wehrmacht had more than six months before the start of winter in order to complete the tasks of the planned operation: “The mass of Russian troops located in the western part of Russia should be destroyed as a result of a bold operation with the active use of tank wedges, and the possibility of parts of the enemy into the depths of Russian space.

These plans turned into waste paper as Hitler's closest ally, Benito Mussolini, launched an amateurish attack on northern Greece from occupied Albania. The Greeks, after a short retreat, were able to push back the Italian troops, which outnumbered them and were armed. To prevent the defeat of Mussolini, which could pose a danger to the fascist regime, Hitler was forced to intervene.

Therefore, on January 11, 1941, Hitler ordered "for strategic, political and psychological reasons, assistance from Germany." The General Staff of the Ground Forces then developed a plan for an attack on Greece, which was to be carried out from the territory of Bulgaria, as well as the multinational state of Yugoslavia, which was to be obtained as an ally.

Yugoslavia becomes an enemy

But after the failure of the attempt to make Yugoslavia an ally and the removal of the pro-German Prince Regent Paul from power, whose place was taken by the young King Peter II as a result of an officer putsch, Hitler at the end of March 1941 decided to postpone the attack on the Soviet Union to a later date. “The military putsch in Yugoslavia changed the political situation in the Balkans. Yugoslavia must, even if it initially makes declarations of its loyalty, be regarded as an enemy and therefore must be destroyed as quickly as possible.

Since the Balkan war had to be completed as soon as possible, tank divisions were needed for this, as well as other special divisions, which were also necessary for an attack on the Soviet Union. Therefore, there was no other alternative, and the start of the Barbarossa plan was postponed for several weeks.

It is very likely that the postponement of the start of the attack to 22 June 1941 had a decisive influence on the outcome of the war. Despite huge losses, Hitler's strategy in the Soviet Union largely worked in the first months. However, the necessary five weeks were no longer available, and therefore the big offensive against Moscow began only on October 2, 1941, although it was originally planned for an earlier date.

Would Stalin survive defeat?

When the German units reached the suburbs of the Soviet capital at the end of November 1941, the period of autumn thaw had already begun. Soon came the Eurasian winter, for which the Wehrmacht was not prepared. In anticipation of a quick victory, the German leadership abandoned winter equipment.

It seems likely, although it cannot be proven, that if the attack had begun in mid-May 1941, the Red Army in western Russia would have been largely defeated by the end of August. If the attack on Moscow had begun in September 1941, then perhaps it would have been successful. Whether Stalin would have remained in power after that or would have been overthrown - today this is just a subject for speculation.

In the literature about the Second World War, the idea that Hitler did not defeat the USSR only because he did not have time to take Moscow before winter is a red thread. And he did not have time to do this because he made the invasion too late. For some reason, he waited until the end of June, instead of attacking in the spring. Moreover, the initial date of the attack seemed to be scheduled for May 15, 1941. That is, it turns out that Hitler lost precious time due to some whim or bewilderment? Or were there objective reasons that forced him to postpone the implementation of the Barbarossa plan?

First of all, let's clarify where it came from that Hitler set the date for the invasion of the USSR on May 15th. This date has only one source: the directive of the Wehrmacht High Command No. 21, otherwise the Barbarossa plan, signed by the Fuhrer on December 18, 1940. It reads: “I will give the order on the strategic deployment of the armed forces against the Soviet Union, if necessary, eight weeks before the scheduled date for the start of operations. Preparations requiring a longer time, if they have not yet begun, should begin now and be completed by 15.5.41.

It does not follow from this that May 15 was already scheduled as the date of the attack. By this date, the transfer of Wehrmacht troops to areas from where their strategic deployment for operations against the USSR could begin was only to be completed. The appointment of a start date for the operation is the subject of a special order. From the same text it follows that this order should have been given no later than eight weeks before the scheduled date of the invasion. That is, if this deadline was May 15, then the order should have been received no later than March 20, 1941. As you know, there was no such order. [S-BLOCK]

Of course, Hitler was interested in attacking the USSR as soon as possible, and the Barbarossa plan clearly indicates this: "The German armed forces must be ready to defeat Soviet Russia in a fleeting campaign." May 15 was the target date. As early as April 3rd, the OKH issued an order that called for the postponement of Operation Barbarossa "by at least four weeks." The delay was motivated by the need for a military operation in the Balkans. On April 30, after the completion of the occupation of Yugoslavia and Greece, the new order for the first time named a specific date for the attack - June 22, and it was held. On June 17, the troops of Germany and its allies received the Dortmund code signal to advance to their original positions.

So, the reason for the delay seems to be beyond doubt, since the Germans themselves named it. However, some historians doubt the truth of this official version.

According to some mystically minded people, Hitler specifically timed the attack on the USSR to the day when the Russian Orthodox Church celebrated "The Day of All Saints Who Resplendent in the Russian Land." Considering that Hitler considered the campaign against the USSR as “a fight against godless Bolshevism”, and that the German administration everywhere opened churches in the occupied regions that had previously been closed by the Bolsheviks, this “version” should be discarded as an absurd myth. Let's consider more serious explanations.

According to such authors as V. Suvorov (Rezun) and M. Solonin, Hitler undertook the invasion at the most favorable moment in order to preempt the Soviet troops, who themselves were preparing to attack Germany. On July 6, 1941, Stalin allegedly appointed the start of the Red Army's campaign in Europe. Hitler, knowing this, chose the time to defeat the Soviet troops, concentrated near the borders and completely unprepared for defense, with a sudden blow. Therefore, he postponed the attack until June 22, in order to act for sure.

However, this version does not yet find direct documentary evidence. The problem for her is not even the secrecy of the most important Soviet archival documents of the pre-war period. In all German documents, there are absolutely no indications that the preparation of German troops for the invasion of the USSR was carried out depending on the information about the supposedly impending Soviet invasion and in order to forestall it. All the data available today indicate that Nazi Germany was preparing an attack on the USSR, completely regardless of what the Soviet leadership was doing.

The English historian A. J. P. Taylor wrote back in the 70s of the last century: “Subsequently, it was believed that the implementation of the Barbarossa plan ... was ... postponed due to events in Yugoslavia ... This is a legend invented by German generals to justify their defeat in Russia and actually based on nothing. Only 15 out of 150 [more precisely, out of 153 - Ya. B.] German divisions intended for the first strike were diverted to the Balkans. It's hardly a big loss. Mobilization plans in Germany for the Eastern Front were not completed by May 15 ... due to lack of supplies, especially vehicles ... The delay may even have been opportune, since after the spring snowmelt, the ground dried out by mid-June.

One more thought can be added to this. The factor of strategic surprise would certainly have been used by Germany to a greater extent if the invasion had been undertaken in the month of May. At this time, Stalin would have considered the German army the least capable of striking, since its ground operation in the Balkans had just ended, and it had yet to capture Crete.

Therefore, the hypothesis that the Wehrmacht missed a convenient time to defeat the USSR only for purely technical reasons (difficulties in concentrating the material part), and not because of the sudden need to conduct an operation in the Balkans (carried out by very limited forces), deserves serious attention.

By the spring of 1941, Germany had triumphantly marched across the European continent, and it seemed that England was to be the next target of the Third Reich. Moreover, on July 16, 1940, Hitler issued a directive on the invasion of Great Britain, and in September of the same year, the Luftwaffe began massive bombardments of British cities. But then, as the well-known Russian historian and publicist Nikolai Starikov notes in his book “Who Made Hitler Attack Stalin”, an almost unbelievable thing happens: instead of finishing off England, the Fuhrer abruptly changes direction and on June 22, 1941 begins military aggression against the USSR , thereby opening, willy-nilly, a second front, which he, at least in words, so did not want earlier, declaring the "suicidal luxury" of waging a war on two fronts. It is clear that Hitler needed all of Europe as a whole, and not in part, but why did the Fuhrer's previously consistent and methodical actions to seize the continent suddenly lose their inner logic? After all, if Hitler really wanted to destroy Britain, he would certainly have destroyed it: the Fuhrer had the strength and resources for this.

Starikov refers readers to the events of 1938, recalling that on September 30, immediately after the signing.

the Declaration of Non-Aggression and Peaceful Settlement of Disputes between Germany and Great Britain was signed (December 6, 1938, a similar agreement was concluded. “The German Fuhrer and Chancellor (Hitler. - Approx. ed.) and the English Prime Minister (Chamberlain. - Approx. ed.) .) came to an agreement that the question of Anglo-German relations is of paramount importance for both countries and for Europe, ”said in this agreement, which was considered by the heads of the two countries as a “symbol of determination” of both peoples “never to fight against each other friend."

The fact that the Anglo-Saxons, that is, the United States and Great Britain, sponsored Hitler and his Nazi party since the 1920s, . And taking into account the age-old habit of the British to drag chestnuts out of the fire with the wrong hands, it becomes clear: England was, first of all, interested in Germany's attack on the USSR. It is this "insurance" that is usually "forgotten" by historians who adhere to the official version, Nikolai Starikov notes. The guarantee of Hitler's aggression in the East, which England desired, was to be this Anglo-German treaty, which was hardly noticeable against the background of the Munich Agreement, and not the Munich Agreement itself, which concerned only Czechoslovakia.

Hitler (nowpublic.com)

However, after the signing of the most important documents for the fate of Europe, relations between England and the Third Reich failed. Hitler, whom the Anglo-Saxons "fed" like a watchdog, who would cling to the throat of the Soviets, suddenly got out of control and imagined himself equal to England. London could not and did not want to understand and accept this. According to the idea of ​​the Anglo-Saxon political technologists of that time, in order to get a more convenient springboard for aggression against the USSR, Hitler needed to annex both the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the Reich, as well as invade Carpathian Ukraine ( it is also - Subcarpathian Rus - one of the territories that were part of the Czechoslovak state in 1919-1939. — Approx. ed. ).

However, Hitler was already making decisions on his own. In March 1939, he granted the independence of Slovakia (in contrast to the Czech Republic, the remnants of which he annexed to the Reich under the name "Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia"), and gave the Carpathian Ukraine to his other satellite - Hungary. The partnership between Germany and England rapidly went downhill, and Hitler turned for London from a "respectable politician" into a "brazen aggressor."

However, Hitler hated the USSR and Bolshevism much more than Western "democracies". Therefore, until the last moment, he not only hoped, but also took various steps to normalize relations with London. That is why he did not finish off England.

The question arises: what about the bombing of British cities? But what about the air battle for England? Is this not proof of Hitler's intention to destroy England? No, it is not, says Nikolai Starikov. All this "battle" was only a small episode, one inexpressive frame against the backdrop of the monstrous tragedy that the Nazis would soon play out in the East. Hitler's directive to invade Great Britain was like preparing for a play, when, learning the texts, the artists are absolutely sure that the performance will not take place. That is why they do not actually learn their roles, knowing full well that the director is not really going to stage a performance at all. Hitler really did not want the landing of German troops in the British Isles, otherwise why did he disband 50 divisions the day before and transfer another 25 to peacetime staffing? What leader of the country in the midst of hostilities reduces his army? Only one who is confident that the war will end through negotiations.

Even during the bombing of London, Hitler dreamed of an alliance with the British. Bombing of London by German aircraft (annefrankguide.net)

But what about the air battle for England? A correct understanding of Hitler's strategy is inseparable from an understanding of his goals. He does not want to fight with England, however, England also refuses to conclude a peace treaty with Germany, despite the corresponding proposal from Germany. What is left for Hitler in such a situation? Either agree to the conditions of the British (which is stupid and unacceptable for the actual owner of the situation), or try to persuade them to peace. Precisely to incline, not to break or destroy. One more fact is curious: the first bombardment, moreover, of a civilian enemy target in the Anglo-German confrontation was carried out not at all by German, but by British aircraft. As soon as it became clear to the British that the hopes of setting Hitler against the USSR at a convenient time for the British were not justified - instead, Hitler was advancing in the western direction, invading Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, and then France, British bombs flew on the German city of Freiburg . This happened in May 1940. The civilian population died. So what? And nothing. Hitler did not react to this. Only after TWO MONTHS of British air raids on German territory, in July 1940, German aircraft will make their FIRST raid on British territory. This will be the beginning of the “Battle for England”, which, according to official historiography, ended with the victory of the British, who, although they suffered heavy losses, forced, they say, the Germans, whose losses were even more serious, to abandon the plan to invade Great Britain by sea and air. . In fact, according to Nikolai Starikov, it was all a performance. In which, however, civilians and soldiers uninitiated in behind-the-scenes intrigues died for real. But who among the powerful of this world pays attention to such "little things" when it comes to a grandiose operation aimed at destroying a common enemy - Russia? In July 1940, the development of the Barbarossa plan will begin, which will be approved in December of the same year. And in May 41, a strange "" will take place , which, according to Starikov, was the last attempt by Berlin and London to agree on a joint strike against the USSR. A joint strike did not work out (England, we remind you, loves to act by proxy), but Hitler gained confidence that England would not interfere with him - there would be no war on two fronts. Otherwise, he simply would not have attacked the USSR.

By the way, Great Britain and the Soviet Union became official allies in the war against Germany only on May 26, 1942, when the corresponding treaty was signed in London. For eleven whole months, from the moment Germany invaded the USSR, there was no even a formal union between the "allies". England was waiting for the situation on the Soviet-German front to clear up. And when there was a feeling that not only a quick victory, but in general Hitler would not have a victory in the USSR, it was then that England extended an “allied hand” to the country she hated.

70 years ago the Great Patriotic War began

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On June 22, 1941, Hitler attacked the Soviet Union. Why did it happen? Could a terrible war have been prevented? Who benefited from pitting Germany and the USSR? About this - a conversation with a writer, author of the book "Who forced Hitler to attack Stalin?" Nikolay STARIKOV.

Fuhrer and Napoleon

Nikolai, 70 years have passed since Hitler attacked our country, and there are still disputes: Stalin knew or did not know, expected - did not expect that Hitler would attack the Soviet Union. How was it really?

Could the leadership of the Soviet Union, including Stalin, not see the concentration of unprecedented German troops - more than 3 million - at our borders? Of course, they could not see and not know. Reports came from border guards, from intelligence. But did the Kremlin know the exact date of the attack? Soviet intelligence was never able to point it out for a long time and accurately. The leadership of the USSR received a lot of information. For example, Richard Sorge sends a telegram that the war should start on May 15th. May 15 comes - the war does not start. Sources from the German troops report the beginning of the war in early May, then in mid-May, early June, mid-June. Date stream. How can you trust a source that has already made a mistake a couple of times and is again sending another "exact date" of the German attack?

- But after all, Stalin had information even from the German military themselves ?!

On June 22, as soon as Hitler's troops were read his order to start a war with the USSR, several former German communists, now Wehrmacht soldiers, went over to our troops. They reported that the war would start today, in a few hours. But, unfortunately, it was already too late, and this information could not influence the further development of events. But it cannot be said that Stalin did not react at all to all the information that came to him.

How did Stalin react? When Hitler attacked the USSR early in the morning of June 22, what did the Soviet leadership do?

Let's take a look at the chronology. At about 4 am on June 22, the war began. Let us set an hour for the entire political and military leadership to gather in the Kremlin. And with the statement that the war had begun, Molotov spoke only at 12 noon! We see a mysterious "gap" of seven hours. To understand what the Soviet leadership did during those seven hours, let's go back a little. By the time the USSR had not yet been subjected to aggression. Hitler fought with Great Britain. Let us ask ourselves: which country is most interested in starting a German-Soviet conflict? Who needed it the most? USSR? Germany? Of course, the UK. There is a historical analogy: Napoleon, at war with England, had real allied relations with Russia, and not just a non-aggression pact that the Soviet Union had with Germany. Still, Napoleon went to Russia in 1812, deciding that the shortest route to London was through Moscow. How it ended for Napoleon and his empire is known. The difference between Hitler and Napoleon, in addition to all the historical nuances, is that Hitler knew what happened to Napoleon, while Napoleon did not have this experience.

And yet Hitler made the same mistake. At war with England (and Hitler writes in Mein Kampf that it is impossible to fight on two fronts), he suddenly attacks the Soviet Union. Why? Indeed, according to the trade agreement, Hitler received a lot of necessary resources from the USSR. Not for free, for money, within the framework of trade relations. For example, the Soviet Union bought rubber for Germany in the East and it was transported to Germany through our territory.

Stalin simply could not imagine such idiocy on the part of Hitler as an attack on the Soviet Union. Can a sane statesman start another war besides the serious one that is already underway? After all, Hitler is at war with the whole world, the war with Britain is a war with Canada, India and Australia, where the head of the country is the Queen of England. Therefore, it was simply impossible to believe in such stupidity on the part of Hitler.

But the Fuhrer was a player. In 1941, he started a game and put everything at stake. In early May 1941, Hitler's deputy for the party, Rudolf Hess, flew to London. Even the magazine Der Spiegel recently published materials that Hess flew to London on Hitler's instructions. But a large number of authors have been writing about this for half a century. Hess entered into negotiations with the British, not because he had "lost his mind", but because he received an order from Hitler.

- What were the negotiations about?

The materials on Hess were classified by the British. And their opening date is always delayed. Why? If London refused to cooperate with Berlin, then what is there to keep secret? But the fact of the matter is that the British gave Hitler the go-ahead to attack the USSR.

secret connection

- Did the strange German Junkers-52 also bring something to Moscow in May 1941? What?

Hitler simultaneously sent negotiators to London and the USSR, tried to play with everyone at the same time. Why? Because he was deciding how to act, and a strike on the USSR was not at all a settled matter. The probability of continuing the active phase of the destruction of Great Britain was no less likely. On May 15, 1941, 5 days after Hess's flight to London, another German plane flew over all Soviet air defense systems and landed in Moscow. An unknown person got out of there, got into the car and drove off. Now the text of the letter that Hitler sent to Stalin has been introduced into historiography. In a letter, the head of Germany writes: "I have finally come to the conclusion that it is impossible to achieve lasting peace in Europe - not only for us, but also for future generations, without the final collapse of England and the destruction of her as a state."

But the Anglophilia of some generals may prevent the crushing of the English. In his letter, Hitler sets out his problems, explaining everything that is happening to Stalin. This letter is very important for understanding further developments: “In order to organize troops away from English eyes and in connection with recent operations in the Balkans, a significant number of my troops, about 80 divisions, are located near the borders of the Soviet Union. Perhaps this gives rise to rumors about the possibility of a military conflict between us. I want to assure you - and I give you my word of honor - that this is not true ... I want to be absolutely honest with you. I fear that some of my generals may deliberately start a conflict in order to save England from her coming fate and ruin my plans. It's about more than a month. Starting around June 15-20, I plan to begin a massive transfer of troops from your borders to the West. Accordingly, I urge you, as far as possible, not to succumb to provocations that may be the work of those of my generals who have forgotten their duty. And, of course, do not attach much importance to them. It became almost impossible to avoid the provocation of my generals. I ask for restraint, not to respond to provocations and contact me immediately through the channels known to you. Only in this way can we achieve common goals, which, I believe, are agreed ... "

And now we return to the day of June 22: what did the Soviet leadership do 7 hours after the start of the war? The Soviet leadership tried to find out from Hitler what was going on. And only after it became completely clear that what was happening was not a misunderstanding, but aggression blessed by Hitler, Molotov was sent by Stalin to speak to the people on the radio. Stalin himself did not go to speak, not because he was afraid or was in shock, no. The head of the USSR was engaged in more important matters, he began to specifically manage the way out of the difficult situation in which our troops found themselves. After all, on June 22, no one knew how further events would develop.

On the "prostration" of the leader of the peoples

- Khrushchev claimed that Stalin in the first hours and even days of the war fell into prostration.

There is a document - a journal for registering those entering and leaving Stalin's office on June 22. Work was in full swing there, a lot of conversations, speakers. Of course, Stalin did not fall into prostration. This is a blatant lie. In general, Khrushchev's report at the 20th Party Congress is a sample of lies. Khrushchev there also claimed that Stalin led the war on the globe. I read the memoirs of Marshal Meretskov, he directly writes: "Khrushchev's words are nonsense!" This is written by Meretskov, who was arrested on June 23, 1941 and was under investigation until mid-September. And in prison he was beaten seriously. He had plenty of reasons not to like Stalin and to join the choir of detractors. Nevertheless, he writes that Stalin always delved into both strategic problems and small details of military operations. And none of the Soviet commanders ever talked about Stalin's prostration. This is one of the myths that has been imposed on us since perestroika times.

the day before

In 1939, the USSR and Germany signed a non-aggression pact, which was later called the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in the West. Why did this document not allow avoiding war?

Because Hitler broke the treaty. As he violated the second treaty with us - on friendship and border, which was concluded later, at the end of September 1939. At the same time, the Fuhrer did not violate any more agreements, with any country where there were guarantees of non-aggression against each other. With Poland, he terminated it six months before the war. France and England themselves declared war on him. And I also want to say about the terms, they are not at all random. All countries had “agreements” with Hitler's Germany, and only the USSR had some kind of sinister “pact”. There is no such word. Hitler concluded the first non-aggression pact with Poland. The future victim of Hitlerite aggression signed a non-aggression pact with the young Chancellor Adolf Hitler, the same as the Soviet Union, only in 1934. Five years earlier.

- Why did the world leaders allow Hitler to roam Europe?

Adolf Hitler was brought to power by London, Washington, and to a lesser extent Paris. It was a kind of chain dog, who was fed for one purpose - to attack Russia. They themselves do not like to fight, someone should do it for them. They brought a strong-willed man, a fanatic, to power, gave him money, loans, stopped collecting reparations from Germany, and restored industry. But how can Hitler start a war with the USSR if there are states between them? So, you need to bring Hitler to the borders of Russia. And they start feeding their own allies to Hitler. First, they give him independent Austria, which, according to the treaty, they had to protect. Then Czechoslovakia, Poland. Although Poland, according to their plan, was to attack the Soviet Union together with Hitler. But Hitler wanted to become equal with the Anglo-Saxons, to sit at the same table with them. And they didn't need it. Usually people do not put dogs at their own table, the dog has its own place. And Hitler began to point out this very “place!”. Poland stopped negotiations on the Polish corridor and the status of Danzig and overnight took a hostile position towards Germany.

allies

- Why was the Soviet army unable to stop Hitler at the beginning of the war to prevent him from entering the country?

At that time, Nazi Germany had the most powerful army in the world. It was a serious military machine that used a new method - no one could resist it then. The method was that the Germans broke through the defenses and their tank columns went forward, regardless of any pockets of resistance. German aircraft hung in the air, which in the very first hours tried to suppress enemy aircraft and gain air supremacy. As a result, our units found themselves in a situation where these tank wedges were connected far behind our positions. We got boilers. As a matter of fact, the whole summer of 1941, and even part of the autumn, is the successive encirclement of large masses of Soviet troops by these German tank wedges that have broken through. It was a completely new war, for which our army was not ready.

- How did the allies of the USSR behave in 1941?

The allies showed solidarity with us in every possible way. And that's all. There was no real help. The Soviet ambassador in London wrote that we asked the British for specific weapons, aircraft. From Esel Island in Estonia, our long-range bombers bombed Berlin. But we didn't have the heavy-duty bombs that this operation required. The British helped, wrote Soviet Ambassador to England Maysky. They gave six bombs ... The Allies played for time. They didn't provide any real help. When did Great Britain, for example, become an ally of the Soviet Union? Really, not in words? May 26, 1942! What were you waiting for? We wanted to make sure who wins. They needed Germany and the Soviet Union to mutually bleed each other. That is why the Allies did not open a second front. And only after making sure that the Red Army would reach the English Channel without their help, they landed in the summer of 1944 in France. To a greater extent, in order to prevent the penetration of Soviet troops into Europe, and not in order to finish off Hitler.

But after all, since 1939, when Hitler was already at war in Europe, Stalin also did not rush to save it, and from a geopolitical point of view, it was also beneficial for him that the warring countries weakened each other, and the power of the USSR grew at that time?

With these guys from London and Washington, we became reluctant allies. There was a "dog" Hitler, and all the warring parties tried to set this "dog" against each other - that's the meaning of political maneuvers. You just need to remember that they fed this dog, put him in power, armed not Russia - the USSR, but the so-called "democratic countries" of the West. Britain and the USA were not our allies on the eve of 1941, and we did not intend to fight together against Hitler together. The desire of the leadership of the USSR was extremely pragmatic - let the West itself fought against the Hitler they had grown up. And in Europe and the USA they wanted Hitler to fight with us.

There is a very interesting fact during the war. Hitler has already attacked the USSR, the German tank wedges are rushing forward, there is no way to stop them. And on the border of the Soviet Union and Iran there are two full-blooded armies. They stand ... until August 23, 1941. And not a single soldier is sent to the German front from there. What is Stalin - a complete idiot and just forgot that he has two armies near Iran? At the same time, for some reason, he transported troops from Siberia, but from there - not a single soldier. And only on August 23, our troops entered Iran and occupied it together with the British. That is, in fact, we pushed our border 400 kilometers to the side, which gave us a guarantee that the British would not strike at our oil fields. Two armies guarded the Baku oil of the USSR not from the Germans, but from the British. Guarded until 23 August. Until Stalin agreed with the British. And only then the units of these armies began to be transferred to the Moscow front. And performed immortal deeds. By the way, the Panfilov division that stood up to death near Moscow was from there. If you look with open eyes at the facts of those days, two things become quite obvious: the likelihood of a war with the British was higher for Stalin than the likelihood of a war with the Germans. And secondly, Stalin generally wanted to stay away from the conflict. If not all the time, then as long as possible to try to play the role of the United States in the First World War. And he perfectly understood that it was from London that all attempts to drag Russia into the war would be made. Play her against Germany again, as happened in 1914.

- It turns out that Hitler was not ready to fight with the USSR, there was no point in this war for him?

None. Hitler's decision is simply beyond common sense. After all, there were no winter uniforms for his army, there was no winter lubricant for weapons. How can you fight in Russia without all this? Even if they were going to defeat Russia in three months, then after all, the garrisons along the new border of the German conquests also then did not have to sit in shorts. And not with spears! Therefore, Stalin, who did not consider Hitler a complete idiot, could not have imagined such a stupid adventure. And he was convinced that the Fuhrer would first try to end the fight with the British. Not because Iosif Vissarionovich "trusted" the Fuhrer, but because he considered him a sensible politician and realist. But Adolf Hitler as a statesman proved unsuitable. He turned out to be a sentimental adventurer. He succumbed not to facts, but to emotions. Likes and dislikes. After all, Hitler was a terrible Anglophile. An entire chapter of Mein Kampf is devoted to the fact that Germany should be friends only with England. And the story of his rise to power made itself felt. Hitler did not like Russia and loved England very much. And when the choice arose, he made it. And ruined everything that he had achieved before. And he still lost, despite the fact that the war for the USSR began according to the most terrible scenario, and for Germany - according to the best. When Stalin was informed in 1945 that Hitler had shot himself in a bunker, he said only one phrase: "He finished his game, scoundrel." These words contain the concentrated truth about the tragedy of June 22 and its causes...