Germany invades the Soviet Union, June 22, 1941
Using more than 3 million troops, 19 panzer divisions, 3,000 tanks, 2,500 aircraft, and 7,000 artillery pieces, Hitler attacks the country he had asked to join the Axis powers just one month before. In his quest for world domination, Hitler saw that besides the United States and England his biggest threat was Russia in the east. In the first day, the Germans destroy or disable a thousand Russian aircraft. In only a few days, they advance 300 miles into Russia. By December, the Germans are 20 miles from the Kremlin, but the onset of winter and fresh Russian troops from Siberia stall their advance.