The Battle of Russia (1943) Reel 5: Scorched Earth, Guerrillas & Moscow

Reel 5 of The Battle of Russia (1943) illustrates the decisive role of Soviet strategy and popular resistance in halting the German advance. The reel documents the Scorched Earth Policy, showing dramatic demolitions of dams, burning factories, and destroyed infrastructure designed to leave nothing useful for the enemy. It also highlights guerrilla warfare, with Russian fighters sabotaging railways, cutting communication lines, burning supply depots, and targeting German troops behind the front. The climax comes at the gates of Moscow, where German forces, despite the momentum of the Blitzkrieg, were stopped by a combination of tactical retreats, scorched earth strategies, and relentless Soviet resistance. This turning point demonstrated the resilience and ingenuity of the Russian people in defending their capital and shifting the course of the war.

• Soviet implementation of the Scorched Earth Policy, including demolitions of dams and burning factories
• Guerrilla fighters sabotaging railways, communication lines, and supply depots
• Attacks on German troops behind enemy lines
• Tactical retreats and defensive strategies leading to the halt of Blitzkrieg at Moscow
• Relentless Russian resistance and the defense of the capital in 1941