Barbarossa: March Toward Catastrophe

On June 22, 1941, Germany initiated Operation Barbarossa, a surprise invasion of the Soviet Union. The attack commenced at 3:15 AM with a massive assault along the entire land border. Two hours and fifteen minutes later, the Grossdeutscher Rundfunk radio station broadcasted Ferenc Liszt's "Preludes," chosen by Hitler and his propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels to accompany extraordinary war reports. This music soon became ominously associated with the invasion in the minds of ordinary Germans. The broadcast interrupted morning routines across millions of German households as people gathered around their radios to hear Goebbels read the "Proclamation of the Leader to the German People."

The invasion's commencement was preceded by a carefully orchestrated disinformation campaign. On June 21, 1941, a delegation from the Italian Ministry of Popular Culture, led by Alessandro Pavolini, visited Berlin. Their presence was intended to create the impression that no extraordinary events were unfolding. Only after the Italian delegation departed for their hotel late that evening did Goebbels discreetly meet with Hitler at the Reich Chancellery. They discussed the impending invasion for three hours before it began the following morning.

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The invasion's commencement was preceded by a carefully orchestrated disinformation campaign.