Are you new here? You have missed almost two years of World War Two before Germany invaded the Soviet Union today. But don't fear! We have created a playlist with the 'turning points' of World War Two, featuring the Weekly Episodes about all major invasions and events up until now. You can find it here: kzfaq.info/sun/PLsIk0qF0R1j5w8ObblCbE2ZXCcd_2RFAz . We were only able to cover Operation Barbarossa in such depth - with an extra videos and LOTS of maps, thanks to the TimeGhost Army. Join at www.patreon.com/timeghosthistory or timeghost.tv. We need you! . Cheers, Joram . *RULES OF CONDUCT* STAY CIVIL AND POLITE we will delete any comments with personal insults, or attacks. AVOID PARTISAN POLITICS AS FAR AS YOU CAN we reserve the right to cut off vitriolic debates. HATE SPEECH IN ANY DIRECTION will lead to a ban. RACISM, XENOPHOBIA, OR SLAMMING OF MINORITIES will lead to an immediate ban. PARTISAN REVISIONISM, ESPECIALLY HOLOCAUST AND HOLODOMOR DENIAL will lead to an immediate ban. THE PROMOTION OF EXTREME, VIOLENT IDEOLOGIES IS ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN This includes the justification, or promotion of ideologies, regimes, and systems that have historically or are inherently contrary to the principles of democracy and human rights. To be clear some of these ideologies are Naziism, Fascism, Colonialism, Imperialism, Leninism, Stalinism, Revolutionary Socialism, Integral Nationalism and any other ideology that promotes authoritarianism, and a disregard for inalienable individual rights as outlined in the UDHR. Regimes that fall under this rule are for example: Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, the British Empire, Colonial France, pre-emancipation USA, Imperial Japan, Communist China, the USSR and any similar systems and regimes. While an academic discussion of these ideologies and regimes is permitted, even desired, any value statements or comparative posts to extoll their positive sides will be deleted, and may lead to a ban. . Here’s why: It is objectively true that the authoritarian regimes we cover in our series, be they far-left or far-right, were willing to use systematic oppression, violence, and murder to create or maintain their preferred system of governance. From the perspective of human rights, democracy, and plain decency, this is clearly unacceptable. Now, that is, of course, a morally absolute statement based on 21st-century morals and ethics. Therefore, in our content, we refrain from any such judgement and just tell the story as it is. We’re concerned only with the past. We don’t take sides, and we don’t decide which side deserves more blame than the other. Our comment section, however, is not taking place in the past. Our comments are made in the present-day, and political comments such as the ones we don’t allow are promoting a present-day agenda by whitewashing, diminishing, or even justifying the crimes of a past regime. We will not allow for such rhetoric in the same way most democratic European countries (where we create this content) won’t allow for such rhetoric. As historians, our very work depends on this so that we can continue interrogating the past free from political influence.

The saddest part about all this is if we thought the war was a disaster before...now its only gonna get a whole lot worse from here.

The burning church in the video while Goebbels said “God is on our side” was a nice touch.

Imagine two decades ago were TV was the only Historical shows airing, the only other available media that was wide spread was books. Now today history channel has been discredited and mocked for their comical shows, and a KZfaq channel and its sponsors make a series spanning weekly uploads following events across years. These times are truly the greatest.

The Germans realizing the Soviet railroads use a different gauge must feel like when you try to charge your phone at a friends house and they only have an iPhone charger.

Another fine tie/shirt/waistcoat combination. Fitting for such a momentous week. 4.5/5

German High Command: "We're about ready to launch Operation Barbarossa." Hitler: "Hold on, I'm still working on putting together the soundtrack."

Funny, how Stalin, who saw an enemy in every shadow, got caught off-guard by the one major power that really wanted his guts turned inside out at all costs.

3:17 That's gotta be the most awkward ball in the entire Eastern Europe history

This channel is literally a golden gem of the Internet

Awesome: I'm sure I speak for many Patreon subscribers when I say this is the one video we've been long awaiting: Indy picks up the phone and learns about Barbarossa. No words: perfectly done.

That last 60 seconds was probably some of the most chilling writing and visual presentation I've ever seen. It's such an honour to be able to support such an immense project. Here's to another 4 years of content. It'll be Hell, but at least we're marching through it together. ✊

It is weird seeing this in 1945

I feel that, given that Operation Barbarossa was one of the key milestones of the war, it makes sense to use this opportunity to congratulate everyone in the WW2 team on how far this project has come. Although we're only 2 years in, it already has the makings of a fantastic project. Thank you for teaching me so many things I didn't know before. On a more sombre note, of course, and much more importantly, this is the point at which the war gets far bloodier than it has been thus far. Some historians point to the start of Operation Barbarossa as the point when the Holocaust really got going in earnest.

June 22nd: *Plays Le Prelude* 'Get used to hearing this. This will be the victory fanfare for Barbarossa." *Never plays Le Prelude again*

In exactly 3 years time I will finally learn how to pronounce "Bagration": The countdown has begun!

I heard a story once, that the last great Mongol warlord, Timur, aka, Tamerlane, before his death, warned that should anyone disturb his resting place, a calamity far greater and more terrible than himself would befall those responsible. On June 21, 1941, a group of Soviet archeologists in the Middle East uncovered a tomb, containing a skeleton of a tall man of Asian origins, with damage to one of his legs that would have resulted in a distinct limp when he was alive. They surmised that this skeleton was the remains of Tamerlane. The very next day, Operation Barbarossa kicked off, drawing the Soviet Union into a conflict that would cost them millions of lives. How true this story is, I'm not sure.

"The Soviets are taken by near total surprise." For as long as I live, I don't think I will ever really understand how this was possible.

For me this the most hyped video of both "The Great War" and "WW2" channels combined. You did not disappoint Indy & co.

For four years, Axis and Soviet troops will engage in long, brutal combat. The sheer size of the Eastern Front was impressive.

Watching this is really the first time I get the feeling that WW2 has reached the scale of bloodshed and destruction as WW1.

Stalin hears about invasion: "So this is the end?" Hitler: "No, this is just Prelude!"

"What were you doing the night before the Nazi Reich invaded the Soviet Union?" "Dancing."

It's hard to believe that this was almost two years ago and in everything that's happened since then. Stalingrad, Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, North Africa, Midway. I remember when this episode first came out and how it felt so monumental. Yet this war was, and still is, far from over. Les Preludes really was a great choice.

I don't know how many times I've watched this episode... It's such a masterpiece!

This is a pretty sad day for me because my great grandfather, who was a soviet brigadier, was killed by the germans on that day. This video cheers me up a little so thank you. Keep up the awesome work!

Stalin wakes up literally being shot by Hitler Stalin: “Hm... it’s probably nothing” Stalin goes back to bed.

It boggles my mind that this awesome channel doesnt have a million subscribers....what is wrong with humanity

I don't usually write comments on a video unless it blew me away. This video's ending with Franz Liszt Les Preludes with montage of brutal war scenes gave me chills. This is not just a history video but it is also a piece of art. Congratulations to you and your team for creating such a powerful piece of art.

I never thought I'd be even slightly hyped for a major Nazi invasion, but that's the magic of it happening 79 years ago and being retold in a serialised documentary. I'm sure that will last a good 5-7 minutes until the horror begins.

This is such a massive invasion. Only an army as big as the Wehrmacht can do this, there’s no way that the soviets can pull an attack of this scale in, let’s say, exactly 3 years and one day?

Nothing more intense than watching Indy pick up the phone casually, listen, then hang up in total, stunned silence.

I have been watching your videos since your channel doing WW1. The sheer amount of information that is covered is outstanding. Things that I have read in books over the years are show in great detail. Your pronunciation of names of people, places and things is impeccable. Great job. Thank you for all you and your team do.

When mentioning an army under "insert general name here" a picture of the man would be a nice addition.

My Grandmother graduated from high school in Leningrad 3 days before the invasion. On the day of the invasion she was supposed to go to her family in small village near Smolensk. Because of the invasion she stayed in Leningrad, and even though she was there during the blockade(spoiler), this might have saved her life because she was Jewish. This day sealed the fate of most of her family, like millions of others.

text of Molotov's speech for those interested. "Today at 4 a.m. ... without declaring war, Germany attacked our country ... the attack was perpetrated despite a pact of non-aggression between the USSR and Germany, which the USSR faithfully abided by ... responsibility for this attack falls entirely upon German fascist rulers ... at 5:30 a.m. the German ambassador in Moscow relayed the message from the German government that the decision to launch war against the USSR was due to Red Army units concentrated near the East German border. I replied on behalf of the USSR, that Germany attacked despite the peace agreement, making Germany the aggressor ... Hitler's declaration today is a lie and a provocation, and he is trying belatedly to invent charges that the Soviet Union failed to observe the Soviet-German pact. Now that the attack on the Soviet Union has already been committed, the Soviet Government has ordered our troops to retaliate and to drive German troops from our country. This war has been forced upon us, not by the German people, not by German workers, peasants and intellectuals, whose sufferings we well understand, but by the clique of bloodthirsty Fascist rulers of Germany who have enslaved Frenchmen, Czechs, Poles, Serbians, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Greece and other nations. The government of the Soviet Union expresses its unshakable confidence that our valiant army and navy and brave falcons of the Soviet Air Force will acquit themselves with honor in performing their duty to the fatherland and to the Soviet people, and will inflict a crushing blow upon the aggressor ... The government of the Soviet Union expresses the firm conviction that the whole population of our country, all workers, peasants and intellectuals, men and women, will conscientiously perform their duties and do their work. Our entire people must now stand solid and united as never before ... The government calls upon you, citizens of the Soviet Union, to rally still more closely around our glorious Bolshevist party, around our Soviet Government, around our great leader and comrade, Stalin. Ours is a righteous cause. The enemy shall be defeated. Victory will be ours."

"Les Preludes " by Liszt might be the single piece that got me started loving classical music. I won't let the fact that Hitler was a fan bother me.

"If Hitler invaded hell, I will atleast make a positive reference about the devil in the house of commons" - Churchill, june 21 1941

Wow thats a huge number of Divisions. Great job , makes me proud to support you guys.

Never imagined having such an amazing history lesson by Saul Goodman

Damn, this episode is eerie. That much detail about the day it started makes you realize from the very start how massive and horrific this war is going to be.

I swear, the dopamine hitting my brain after watching this episode was much higher than the, ahem "self-care". Every Hair in my body stood up after watching this video, I never imagined I would be this exited about the most brutal war in the history of world. On the side note, my guy is here, Kostantin Rokossovsky, although not off to a great start. I hope you guys do a special about him soon, a polish born general who became a hero of soviet Union.

The final words of the Molotov's address to the nation became a motto, became words to live by for the next years, even in the darkest moments when all hope seemed to be lost: Our cause is right. The enemy will be destroyed. The victory will be ours!

0:01 Stalin at 3;00 am on June 22nd, 1941 when he hears about panzers crossing the border.

The greatest Madness in human history has begun.

Now THAT is a dramatic ending. It kinda reminds me of some of Sparty's WaH endings. Peering into my crystal ball, that seems fitting for a special Barbarossa episode.

Like everything else Hitler did, this took place on a weekend. In this case, on a Sunday.

I was enamoured by the Great War channel and i've been watching every episode. I didn't know this channel existed. Man i'm for a ride. Great to see you here Indy! You're one of my favourite,and most familiar voice to listen to.

I'm really dissapointed that during the roll call of all the generals we didn't get the pictures of the generals I generally know a lot of them by name but i know a lot more by picture and it would be very helpful

The prelude has ended. The REAL war starts now...

Invading Russia prank [gone wrong] [Berlin captured]

Given the current circumstances, "Operation Barbarossa" now needs to be referred to as "special operation Barbarossa".

ever since i started watching from when the first episode came out you guys have always knocked it out of the park with the production quality and everything that goes into these episodes. Its so satisfying to see this show become just as iconic as the great war one you did, absolutely amazing work keep it up 💪👍

Every week I think about how the channel reached peak quality in writing, acting and overall production. And every week the Time Ghost team take me for a ride. I'm loving all those extra episodes.

"The Great Patriotic War" begins

The grand review of units is honestly amazing. Eastory has really outdone himself on this one!

"May God aid us in this fight" then cuts to a church on fire. Great juxtaposition there, one of the many reasons why I love this channel.

Hitler: I created quite a plan to get Caucasian oil first then go to for the rest, I can't wait to see Halder executing my plan flawlessly without changing priorities because he knows better Halder:Hey Hey

Indy said there were some supplemental vids. Where can I find them?

The combination of bombastic music at the end and scenes of destruction was so sick and impressive.

Barbarossa fundamentally changed AF the course of human existence

No words. The suffering was immense. Has anyone seen the film “Come and See”? It’d be cool if the channel mentioned that film. It’s debatably the best war film ever made.

Now this is World War II.

The ending with the music over shots of destruction

That ending sent chills down my spine!

I like the little hear no evil-speak no evil-see no evil statue on the desk there. Very similar to how Stalin was acting towards the Germans up until they invaded lol

A neighbour of my grandparents in England was in hospital on that day, he was an old Commie. He sat up bolt upright when he heard of the German attack and shouted 'We've got 'em'.

I swear, this channel is such a treat. I love having it in the background or watching it in a break time.

I had the realization today that I started watching this channel during the Winter War when I was 20. If nothing happens to it or KZfaq, I'm going to be 25 by the time the war comes to an end. The thought of this carnage lasting long enough for many of us to become different people is terrifying to me, and not something which I've properly felt until now. So well done team. I was too late for The Great War, but I'm glad I wasn't too late for this.

"Into the Motherland the German army march"

I’ve been waiting three years for this: [Breaths in] *INTO THE MOTHERLAND THE GERMAN ARMY MARCHED*

70,000 casualties after all that conquest - Holy jesus

I love this series! Indy is captivating in his eloquence, gestures and in his simple change of tone to show the gravity of this history! The series does not romanticize war; it shows and emphasizes the war against humanity. I cannot believe there were two years of war before Germany invaded USSR. In hindsight, we neglect or we maybe we fail to comprehend the duration and scale of this global conflict. These weekly episode have helped me understand this history more than any simple summaries found in text books and in short documentaries. I just want to say thank you to them and I think I will start to contribute with more than just my view/ and likes. Also, Spartacus is a brilliant host and historian. Shouts out to the whole crew! I’ll watch this through the fall of Berlin.

my father was in the middle of barbarossa as germany invaded estonia :(

There is no sufficient complement or any comment I can give to this documentary. I thank the Ghost Army and all the Crew for producing this great work.

Very well done episode. The Franz Liszt at the end is chilling

That conclusion was epic and gave me goosebumps. The quality of this channel keeps growing and growing.

will there be any mention of Shostakovitch "Leningrad" symphony during the siege of Leningrad? I really hope so. The book "siege and symphony" is worth a read, as it is a bloody good book!

It is said that Turkish president İsmet İnönü literally danced with joy when he heard the news of german attack to russia because this relieved Turkey from the pressure of a possible german invasion

Hitler’s victorious music choice over the visuals of the atrocities caused by op Barbarossa...geeze.

@Indie & Co. A bone chilling ending, the combination of footage, music and dialogue created a atmosphere of ominous warnings of Armageddon Well done.

Germany: Have they told you who I am? Soviet Union: Some dead man

"Wait till you see." "Wait till I see what?" "Wait till you see what one man can do to another."

When I first heard about the Great War Channel back in the day I knew they would have to do a series on the Second World war. And what I was excited for the most was Operation Barbarossa. So I have been waiting for the past 6 years for this day I am glad to say it did not disappoint.

I know nothing of my Soviet ancestors, but watching this while keeping in mind that they lived through this is deep. I wonder how many of my family fought, both on the front lines and through war industry, and how much of my family died subsequently.

The intro was so chilling for me. Great job guys.

I was so excited for this coverage. It feels like Christmas. Great work so far and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead !

Another great video! I was always fascinated by the war in the east ever since I was a kid. When watching Hogan’s Hero’s as a kid I was curious about what the Russian front was that Shultz was always being threatened with so I began hitting the library. I was stunned to discover that we Americans had been facing only 20% of the German army the rest being in the east.

I think it is really important to say from the start that German unit sizes differ from Soviet sizes. A German infantry division is bigger than a typical Soviet one, so it is not really fair or logical to compare the number from each country.

You blow me away sometimes. I love Les Preludes and its finale at the end of this episode was amazing. When I first started studying the Soviet-German conflict 50+ years ago, it was told in terms of numbers of cities, divisions, soldiers, weapons and vehicles captured or killed/destroyed, and so on. It wasn't until Charles C Sharp's Soviet Order of Battle World War II that I read the following: "It is important to remember that in June 1941 the Soviet Army was on a peacetime establishment, and the rifle divisions were at the peacetime authorized strengths. There were, outside of the Far East, two such peacetime strength levels. They were called the "12" and the "6" divisions, based on manpower: 12,000 and 6,000 (approximately)." Those on the border military districts were the "12" with the interior military districts having the "6" It was expected that, in the event of an attack, reservists would quickly be assembled and these units would be brought up to full strength which didn't happen because of the speed of the German attack. For example, the assembly area for these reservists in the Western Military District was Minsk which was surrounded in 5 days. Stavka appears to have used these troops to form new rifle divisions to replace the ones lost at the front. Prior to the invasion, the most recent shtat (TO&E) for the rifle divisions was released in April '41 and reflected lessons from the Winter War. There wasn't a lot of time to 'get used to' the significant changes from the '39 shtat before the invasion. A new one would be released in July as the basis for the new rifle divisions. I have found that the shtaty provide an fascinating look at how the Soviets viewed the 'effective' way to set up their units for combat which evolves in the course of this conflict. They make an interesting contrast to the TO&Es of the axis.

This video was stuck in my reccomended for weeks... OK THEN, I'M WATCHING IT!!! Are you happy, robots?

The quality of the content in this channel is unbelieveable! Congratulations!

5:55 I know you said it a couple weeks ago, but it's still sad that you couldn't do your army group north day-by-day like you had planned

The difference in size between german and soviet divisions should have been mentioned, great video thougt!

I really gotta say, this music in the end gave me goosebumps. It is at this moment where you realice what has happened and we will see in future awesome videos

Indy I can’t thank you enough for this channel I’m telling everyone I know about you and your team. Keep up getting more money and quality videos.

Stalin's stubbornness echoes eerily with Freyberg's during the German invasion of Crete a few weeks ago, right down to the blatant denial on the day of the invasion itself

This whole WW2 series is really awesome! Hats off to your whole squad

The prelude with the footage at the end slaps tho

Top notch quality like always. Can't wait to see the episodes we get on other iconic dates.