Page "Operation Barbarossa" Paragraph 16

On 5 December 1940, Hitler received military plans for the invasion, and approved them all, with the start scheduled for May 1941.

On 18 December, Hitler signed War Directive No. 21 to the German High Command for an operation now codenamed " Operation Barbarossa " stating: " The German Wehrmacht must be prepared to crush Soviet Russia in a quick campaign.

" The operation was named after Emperor Frederick Barbarossa of the Holy Roman Empire, a leader of the Third Crusade in the 12th century.

The invasion was set for 15 May 1941.

In the Soviet Union, speaking to his generals in December, Stalin mentioned Hitler's references to an attack on the Soviet Union in Mein Kampf, and said they must always be ready to repulse a German attack, and that Hitler thought the Red Army would need four years to ready itself.

Hence, " we must be ready much earlier " and " we will try to delay the war for another two years.