Hitler's Great Gamble : A New Look at German Strategy, Operation Barbarossa, and the Axis Defeat in World War II

On June 22, 1941, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union in Operation Barbarossa, one of the turning points of World War II. Within six months, the invasion bogged down on the outskirts of Moscow, and the Eastern Front proved to be the decisive theater in the defeat of the Third Reich. Ever since, most historians have agreed that this was Hitler’s gravest mistake. In Hitler’s Great Gamble, James Ellman argues that while Barbarossa was a gamble and perverted by genocidal Nazi ideology, it was not doomed from the start. Rather it represented Hitler’s best chance to achieve his war aims for Germany which were remarkably similar to those of the Kaiser’s government in 1914. Other options, such as an invasion of England, or an offensive to seize the oil fields of the Middle East were considered and discarded as unlikely to lead to Axis victory. In Ellman’s recounting, Barbarossa did not fail because of flaws in the Axis invasion strategy, the size of the USSR, or the brutal cold of the Russian winter. Instead, German defeat was due to errors of Nazi diplomacy. Hitler chose not to coordinate his plans with his most militarily powerful allies, Finland and Japan, and ensure the seizure of the ports of Murmansk and Vladivostok. Had he done so, Germany might well have succeeded in defeating the Soviet Union and, perhaps, winning World War II. Drawing on a wealth of primary and secondary sources (including many recently released), Hitler’s Great Gamble is a provocative work that will appeal to a wide cross-section of World War II buffs, enthusiasts, and historians. On June 22, 1941, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union, a country with which he had signed a nonaggression pact two years earlier but which always was a target in his ideological and racial plans. This invasion, Operation Barbarossa, opened the Eastern Front and fundamentally changed World War II. Within six months - in early December 1941 - the German invasion had bogged down at the gates of Moscow, and within four years, the Eastern Front proved to be the decisive theater in the war against the Third Reich. The outcome has always colored analysis of Hitler's decision to launch Barbarossa, and most historians have agreed that this was one of Hitler's great mistakes. In Hitler's Great Gamble , James Ellman argues that Barbarossa was a gamble, but that it was not doomed from the start: that it was a reasonable gamble spoiled not by strategic shortsightedness, but diplomatic setbacks and tactical execution. In Ellman's recounting, the invasion of the Soviet Union was not a doomed act of madness or hubris, but a logical gamble that maximized the Third Reich's attempts at achieving its war aims, however perverted, of "living space" and subjugating the Slavs. Had Finland and Japan made good on their alliance with Germany - had Hitler been more committed to diplomacy and not military invasion - Germany might well have succeeded in defeating the Soviet Union and, perhaps, winning World War II. Drawing on a wealth of primary and secondary sources (including many recently released), Hitler's Great Gamble is a provocative work that will appeal to a wide cross-section of World War II buffs, enthusiasts, and historians. Contents......Page 6 Introduction......Page 8 Part I THE GERMAN QUEST FOR GREAT POWER STATUS AND THE LOGIC OF BARBAROSSA......Page 14 1 The German Strategic Predicament and Hitler’s Rise......Page 16 2 German Relative Economic Weakness and the Fall of France......Page 30 3 Seelöwe......Page 38 4 Two Maritime Strategies......Page 52 5 The Rising Soviet Threat to German European Hegemony......Page 68 6 Hitler’s Decision, Marita, and the Countdown to Invasion......Page 78 7 The Logic behind Barbarossa’s Chance for Victory in the East......Page 86 Part II GERMANY’S FAILURE IN THE EAST AND THE USSR’S MIRACULOUS VICTORY......Page 100 8 Drang nach Osten......Page 102 9 Historical Explanations for Germany’s Defeat in the East......Page 120 10 An Early Drive for Moscow......Page 146 11 Cold, Snow, and Mud......Page 156 12 The “Fatal” Delay of Marita and a Southern Tyfun......Page 162 13 Nazi Genocide, Ideology, and the Loss of Hearts and Minds......Page 170 14 A Japanese Attack on the USSR and the Key to German Victory......Page 182 15 The Pursuit of Oil and the Road to Global War......Page 192 16 The Critical Summer and the Road South......Page 200 17 The Anaconda Option......Page 212 18 Finland Fails Germany and Itself......Page 222 Conclusion......Page 234 Notes......Page 240 Index......Page 258 About the Author......Page 272 In Hitler's Great Gamble, James Ellman Argues That Barbarossa Was A Gamble, But A Reasonable Gamble Spoiled Not By Strategic Shortsightedness, But By Diplomatic Setbacks And Poor Execution. Drawing On A Wealth Of Primary And Secondary Sources, Hitler's Great Gamble Is A Provocative Work That Will Appeal To World War Ii Enthusiasts And Historians-- The German Strategic Predicament And Hitler's Rise -- German Relative Economic Weakness And The Fall Of France -- Seelöwe : The Planned Invasion Of England -- Two Maritime Strategies -- The Rising Soviet Threat To German European Hegemony -- Hitler's Decision, Marita, And Countdown To Invasion -- The Logic Behind Barbarossa's Chance For Victory In The East -- Drang Nach Osten : The Drive To The East -- Historical Explanations For Germany's Defeat In The East -- An Early Drive For Moscow -- Cold, Snow, And Mud -- The Fatal Delay Of Marita And A Southern Tyfun -- Nazi Genocide, Ideology, And The Loss Of Hearts And Minds -- A Japanese Attack On The Ussr And The Key To German Victory -- The Pursuit Of Oil And The Road To Global War -- The Critical Summer And The Road South -- The Anaconda Option -- Finland Fails Germany And Itself. James Ellman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In Hitler's Great Gamble, James Ellman argues that Barbarossa was a gamble, but that it was not doomed from the start: that it was a reasonable gamble spoiled not by strategic shortsightedness, but by diplomatic setbacks and poor execution.