Odessa, Sevastopol, and the Collapse of Hitler’s Blitzkrieg
About This Footage
Reel 4 of The Battle of Russia (1943) depicts the extent of Germany’s Blitzkrieg into the Soviet Union and the determined resistance that ultimately broke its momentum. Maps show German control of 500,000 square miles of territory by December 1941, even as the Soviet government relocated to Kuibyshev with Moscow under threat. Despite heavy losses and devastation, Russian forces regrouped, forcing the Germans deeper into hostile territory and blunting their advance. The reel highlights the two-month defense of Odessa and the eight-month siege of Sevastopol, where Russian fighters battled street by street and room by room, forcing German soldiers from their tanks into close combat. Harrowing images of German casualties and the relentless resolve of Russian defenders underscore the failure of the Blitzkrieg. The reel concludes with Russia’s full mobilization, as civilians and soldiers united in defiance of the Nazi invasion.
Part of this Complete Film
The Battle of Russia (1943): Soviet Resistance & WWII Eastern Front