5 of 11

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

unprepared for the arctic chills of winter, simply because his pride led him to believe Nazi victory would be secured swiftly, well before winter. Deep falls of snow on a poor network of roads in Russia meant mobilization was fragmented and slow. To continue an attack or to turn back were both difficult options. Carrying the burden of 734,000 wounded men, in a hostile foreign country, on poor roads, in extreme cold was (being polite) "unpleasant". The weather was dictating that Hitler's glorious victory would fast become a glorious embarrassment.

But there were more weather-orientated setbacks for Hitler. The tanks were fitted with narrow treads, poorly suited for traction in snow or mud from ice melt. His 600,000 European horses carrying artillery and supplies, were ill suited to arctic conditions. Communication with command back in Germany was slow or broken. Supplies could not be supplemented with a back up force. (Russian partisans had even blown up rail routes used for supplies). And Hitler's men were not clothed for blizzard conditions; frostbite and disease became commonplace.
"The food supplied was often frozen solid in the -40C cold and one night spent by German soldiers in their nail studded boots and metal helmets could cripple a man for life. Machine guns froze, oil turned thick, batteries died and vehicle engines had to be kept running which wasted precious fuel supplies." www.studyworld.com

The Germans held over 500,000 square miles of Russian territory, but failed to secure the Russian heart, Moscow. The onset of winter depleted their strengths, their ability to secure the ultimate prize.

Some historians claim that the Russians were far more acclimatized to the extreme weather; that this was their advantage. After all, it was their country. They were used to navigating poor roads, little more than sand covered with snow. Soviet tanks may have been mainly obsolete, but at least they were mobile; their tread managed the conditions. Rather than horses, the Russians had small ponies to carry artillery and supplies. Ponies were more suitable. But even with these advantages, the Russians battled to fight effectively in winter. They were still human and their losses were heavy. All the Russians achieved was time.

By 1942, Operation Barbarossa had failed. Hitler had failed to assert his claim on Russia; 1 in 5 of the initial 3 million German military were killed. Stalin almost failed to stem Hitler's progress into Russia; over 3 million were killed. Extreme, harsh weather conditions on the Eastern Front had a pivotal role to play in turning the tide of World War II.

Sources
www.geocities.com
www .worldhistory.informbank.com
ww w.studyworld.com

Learn more about this author, Gemma Wiseman.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

Know something about An overview of the harsh weather conditions on the eastern front of World War II?
We want to hear your view. Write now!