In the early days of World War II the Germans scored a number of notable victories. The most important, from a strategic standpoint, was the relatively easy invasion and occupation of France. The French government believed that the Maginot Line, a line of strategic concrete fortifications, would be enough to protect the country from German attack. However, it proved no such thing, and was unable to withstand the might of the Wehrmacht, who with their superior arms and tactics were able to break through the line of fortifications that was supposed to keep them out.
Meanwhile, further East, the Germans also made serious inroads into Soviet territory, conquering virtually the whole of European Russia in double-quick time. Using the method of warfare known as Blitzkrieg, the Germans were swiftly able to destroy most of the Soviets' aircraft while they were already on the ground, making it virtually impossible for the defenders to hit back. Stalin didn't believe that Hitler would break the terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact so soon, as it would leave the Nazi dictator vulnerable to a war on two fronts. So when the Germans launched their attack—code-named Operation Barbarossa—in June 1941, the Soviets were woefully unprepared and suffered enormous civilian and military losses.
Eventually, the tide would be turned, but in the early days of the war, it seemed that the Germans were unstoppable.
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