Stalin's Purges and WWII Invasion

In 1940, Hitler finalized plans for a military and genocidal campaign against the Soviet Union, known as the hunger plan. The Nazi invasion, Operation Barbarossa, aimed to conquer the Soviet Union swiftly with a three-pronged attack targeting Leningrad, Ukraine, and Moscow. Hitler's decision to invade was a significant gamble, as the German forces were unprepared for a prolonged winter campaign. Despite facing a large Red Army, Hitler underestimated them due to Stalin's purges, which had weakened the Soviet military leadership.

What was the name of the mass starvation policy ordered by Hitler against the Soviet Union?

• The Blitzkrieg

• Operation Overlord

• The Hunger Plan

• The Final Solution

What was the code name for the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union?

• Operation Barbarossa

• Operation Market Garden

• Operation Sea Lion

• Operation Torch

Which city was NOT a target in the three-pronged attack of Operation Barbarossa?

• Stalingrad

• Moscow

• Kiev

• Leningrad

Why was Hitler's decision to invade the Soviet Union considered a gamble?

• The Soviet Union had superior technology

• The Germans were unprepared for a winter campaign

• The Germans lacked air superiority

• The Soviet Union had a larger army

How many men did the Red Army have on the western border at the time of the German invasion?

• 2 million

• 1 million

• 4 million

• 3 million

What was one reason Hitler underestimated the Soviet military?

• The Soviet military was technologically advanced

• The Soviet military had better morale

• Stalin had purged many of his military leaders

• The Soviet military had superior numbers

What did Soviet propaganda films show about Stalin?

• His military's technological superiority

• His military's collective strength

• His military's air superiority

• His military's naval power

What was the impact of Stalin's purges on the Red Army?

• It strengthened the army's leadership

• It improved the army's technology

• It increased the army's morale

• It decimated the army's leadership

What was the German High Command's view of the Red Army?

• A highly motivated force

• A technologically advanced force

• A poorly led and weakened force

• A well-led and strong force

In what decade did Stalin's purges primarily occur?

• 1940s

• 1930s

• 1950s

• 1920s