OSHER 862 - World War II in Eastern Europe

Many of us think of World War II as having taken place primarily in the places where the forces of the United States and Great Britain fought. We know very little about World War II campaigns in Eastern Europe despite the fact that the vast preponderance of fighting happened there. This lecture series focuses on the specific events of the Eastern European campaign and the decisions that led to victory. We will carefully examine the pros and cons of the major decisions, the factors in play, and why the final outcome was what it turned out to be. We will examine Operation Barbarossa, the Battle of Stalingrad, and the amazing recovery and resilience shown by the Soviets. We will also discuss additional topics, including the role played by Soviet women.