202501031419 Status: #idea Tags: #world_war_2 #geopolitics #history #politics #war # Why Hitler invaded Russia in WWII After their non-aggression pact and later bilateral trade deals, Nazi Germany became alarmingly dependent upon Russian raw materials in order to continue its war effort. This became especially true after the British blockade and American trade embargo took effect, with Germany effectively cutoff from the world economy, relying solely on the materials of the Eurasian landmass. The materials imported from Russia included, most importantly, iron, copper, nickel, and oil - all of which were critical inputs to produce the tanks and warplanes needed to sustain the fighting. Taking advantage of the non-aggression pact and Hitler's initial focus on the West (France & England), Stalin gobbled up several Eastern European countries and large portions of Finland. These further encroached on Nazi raw materials. The final straw were Stalin's demands in exchange for Hitler's request for him to join the Axis Powers in 1940. These included the Balkans becoming part of the Soviet sphere of influence, territorial annexations in Bulgaria, and recognition of annexed territory in Romania. Acquiescing to these demands would have effectively cut off Hitler from easy access to the Mediterranean and Black Sea, hemming German in further with England controlling the North Sea. More importantly, the Soviet Union would also have control over Romania's Ploiești oil fields. This, combined with the oil imported from Russia itself, accounted for over 80% of all oil used by Nazi Germany. If the Soviet Union controlled these oil fields, Nazi Germany would essentially become its economic vassal, with the Soviets able to strangle the German economy & war machine at any time by turning off the oil spigot. German leadership was acutely aware of how vulnerable these factors made Germany in its war against Britain (and presumably the US once it joined) after its experience during WWI: - [[The longer war drags on, the more economic it becomes]] - [[Germany’s only chance to win World War I was in the first 6 weeks]] - Given these geopolitical considerations and Hitler's longstanding desire to acquire East Europe for Lebensraum, Hitler felt it was time to begin preparations to declare war on the Soviet Union by the end of 1940. --- # References [[Stalin's war]]