
From Blitzkrieg to Barbarism – The War of Annihilation Against the Soviet Union
Overview
The documentary focuses on the German Wehrmacht’s invasion of Poland and the Soviet Union during World War II and its consequences for the German military. On June 22, 1941, “Operation Barbarossa” marked the start of a war of annihilation that claimed millions of lives. Hitler and his generals planned the destruction of the Soviet Union and its population. The Wehrmacht supported SS Einsatzgruppen in mass shootings and committed numerous war crimes. The anticipated quick victory failed to materialize due to a lack of reserves and alternative strategies, leading to the operation’s failure. Spiegel-TV author Nina Adler presents these events using previously unseen amateur footage from German soldiers and rare archival material from Russia. Expert interviews, including with military historian Rolf-Dieter Müller and authors Sönke Neitzel and Harald Welzer, round out the documentary and shed light on a war that forever changed the image of the Germans.
Top Cast
Rolf-Dieter Müller
Rolf-Dieter Müller
self
Rolf-Dieter Müller
self


Sönke Neitzel
Sönke Neitzel
self
Sönke Neitzel
self
Harald Welzer
Harald Welzer
self
Harald Welzer
self


Peter Buchholz
Peter Buchholz
Narator
Peter Buchholz
Narator


Michael Bideller
Michael Bideller
Narator
Michael Bideller
Narator


Antony Beevor
Antony Beevor
self
Antony Beevor
self
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