Hitler orders attack on the Soviet Union

On 18 December 1940 Adolf Hitler issues a directive for the „Barbarossa Affair“: By May of 1941, preparations for a German attack on the Soviet Union are to be completed. With a victory over Moscow, Hitler hopes he can force Great Britain to sue for peace.

© Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin Nice and civilized conversation between the soviet Secretary of Foreign Affairs Wjatscheslaw Molotow and Adolf Hitler, only a few days before the last-mentioned issues the directive for the war against the USSR (November 1940 in Berlin)