7th August 1941. The first German strategic reports on progress in Russia claimed that Germany had taken nearly 900,000 prisoners and destroyed or captured 13,100 tanks, 9,100 aircraft and more than 10,000 heavy guns.

7th August 1941. The first German strategic reports on progress in Russia claimed that Germany had taken nearly 900,000 prisoners and destroyed or captured 13,100 tanks, 9,100 aircraft and more than 10,000 heavy guns.

The first 45 days of Barbarossa had gone better than expected for the German forces and her allies.

Despite private initial concerns that some of Hitler's General's had, soon evaporated like the Soviet defences that they encountered. Moral was high and a belief in the superiority of the German Soldier was clear by the results on the battlefield.

While they made territorial gains, German forces also sustained heavy casualties, as the Soviets’ numerical advantage and the strength of their resistance proved greater than expected. By the end of August, with German Panzer divisions just 220 miles from the Soviet capital, Hitler ordered—over the protests of his generals—that the drive against Moscow be delayed in favor of focusing on Ukraine to the south.

Though Hitler blamed the winter weather for the failure of the Moscow offensive, the entire operation had suffered from a lack of long-term strategic planning. Counting on a quick victory, the Germans had failed to set up adequate supply lines to deal with the vast distances, icy weather and harsh terrain.

They had also underestimated the strength of the Soviet resistance, which Stalin skillfully encouraged with his calls to defend “Mother Russia.” Hitler’s Commissar Order and other ruthless behavior on the part of the Germans also served to solidify the Red Army’s determination to fight until the end.