Operation Barbarossa (Unternehmen Barbarossa) was the codename for Nazi Germany's
invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that commenced on June 22, 1941. The
operation was named after Emperor Frederick Barbarossa of the Holy Roman Empire. It is
not to be confused with the whole war on the Eastern Front. Operation Barbarossa lasted
from June 1941 to December 1941, the Eastern front lasted from June 1941 to May 1945
when the Soviets took Berlin.

The original goal was the rapid conquest of the European part of the Soviet Union and
Ukraine, west of a line connecting the cities of Arkhangelsk and Astrakhan, often referred to
as the AA line (see the translation of Hitler's directive for details). The failure of Operation
Barbarossa arguably resulted in the eventual defeat of Nazi Germany, and was a turning
point for the fortunes of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. Most significantly of all, Operation
Barbarossa opened up the Eastern Front, which ultimately became the biggest theatre of
war in human history, with some of the largest and most brutal battles, deadliest atrocities,
terrible loss of life, and miserable conditions for Soviets and Germans alike.
OPERATION BARBAROSSA
JUNE 1941