Operation Barbarossa
Map of Operation Barbarossa which commenced on June 22nd, 1941. Operation Barbarossa split the invading German forces into three armies, each with their own objective. Army Group North would travel through the Baltic States and capture Leningrad, Army Group Centre would head straight for Moscow and Army Group South was to capture Ukraine (Martin). When Hitler initially announced this plan, his generals were worried that it would spread their forces too thin but they did not voice their concern. The operation was executed well while warm weather lasted, even being hailed as liberators by some Russians due to their anti-Stalin sentiment. However, the operation would see its failure when Hitler had ordered Heinz Guderian, the general in charge of the panzers in Army Group Centre, to head south to assist Army Group South. Despite Guderian's objection, on August 23rd, 1941 he lead his panzers south to aid in the capture of Kiev, halting the assault on Moscow. This marked the first of many errors of the Eastern Front due to Hitler's incompetence. By the time Guderian's panzers rejoined Army Group Centre, the assault only lasted a few weeks before heavy rain set in on October 8th and the Germany army was put to a halt due to the mud (Lak, 578).
Link: https://www.usma.edu/history/SitePages/WWII%20European%20Theater.aspx
